‘Eaters headed for ESPN Bracket Buster

Winning 20 games three seasons in a row apparently has rewards.

The UC Irvine men’s basketball team, which has won 20 games the

past three years, but has not reached the NCAA Tournament, has been

selected to participate in the 2004 ESPN Bracket Buster Series.

In addition, when UCI hosts Utah State this season, the game will

be televised on ESPN2, marking the first ESPN telecast of the UCI

program from the Bren Events Center in 15 years.

The ESPN Bracket Buster event will take place Feb. 21, 2004, and

will include 46 teams from 11 conferences with the purpose of

providing national exposure in the weeks leading up to the selection

of the 65-team NCAA Tournament bracket. The participating schools and

conferences were unveiled in a national announcement on Tuesday.

A total of 10 games will be televised, including five games on

ESPN or ESPN2, and the remaining five on ESPN’s Full Court, a pay-per

view service.

The Bracket Buster is increasing from its inaugural year last

season when it had nine games.

The ESPN staff, in conjunction with commissioners from each of the

11 conferences, will collaborate as part of an ongoing evaluation of

the 46 teams and will determine pairings Feb. 1, 2004.

UCI is the lone Big West Conference squad and one of the

designated 23 road teams. The Anteaters will receive a return home

game from its Bracket Buster opponent in November or December of the

2004-05 season as part of the agreement.

“This is a game that will most likely enhance an already

challenging schedule for us,” UCI Coach Pat Douglass said in a

released statement. “It will be a diversion in the heat of the Big

West race, but at the same time, it is a great opportunity to

represent the conference and compete in a national setting.”

A week after the Bracket Buster event, the Anteaters will host

Utah State, Feb. 28, 2004 at 8:05 p.m. on ESPN2. It’s of little

wonder the game has gained a nationally televised contract. Four of

the last five meetings between the rivals have been decided by two

points or less.

Last year, UCI won both regular-season meetings as Mike Hood hit

the game-winning shot for a 75-73, overtime win at the Bren Center,

then he made two free throws in the final seconds of a 59-58 victory

in Logan. Utah State gained revenge with a 62-55 win over UCI in the

semifinals of the Big West Conference Tournament at the Anaheim

Convention Center last March 14.

The last ESPN telecast of UCI men’s basketball from the Bren

Center was March 2, 1989, when Utah State defeated UCI 95-94 in

overtime. The Anteaters led 74-60 with seven minutes remaining in

regulations of that game.