‘Eaters’ schedule ‘Pac’-ed

The UC Irvine men’s basketball team will test its strength against

Pac-10 foes USC and UCLA, two of seven nonconference games that

highlight the Anteaters’ 2004-05 schedule, which was released

Tuesday.

UCI’s nonconference schedule features games against opponents from

five different Division I conferences including the Pac-10, Big Sky,

West Coast, Western Athletic and Sun Belt.

After opening the regular season with a home game against Cal

State Dominguez Hills Nov. 19, UCI faces the Pac-10 opponents from

Los Angeles within the same week, traveling to USC Nov. 22 and UCLA

Nov. 27.

This will be the ‘Eaters’ first meeting with the Trojans in eight

years. USC leads the series, 3-1.

UCI faced the Bruins at Pauley Pavilion in 2000 and 2001, losing

by five points and one point, respectively. UCLA leads the series,

4-2.

The ‘Eaters host Sacramento State Dec. 4, then head north to face

Santa Clara in a first-ever meeting Dec. 14 before dueling former Big

West member, San Jose State Dec. 17.

UCI hosts New Mexico State, another former Big West member, Dec.

21. The Big West schedule begins earlier than normal this season as

the ‘Eaters journey to Cal Poly Dec. 28 and UC Santa Barbara Dec. 30.

UCI also has a pair of nonconference games against future Big West

member UC Davis, on the road Jan. 24 and at the Bren Events Center

Feb. 19.

“The schedule will be a strong test for us and hopefully the

nonconference portion provides the team with good preparation as we

work to regain a spot in the upper echelon of the Big West

Conference,” said UCI head coach Pat Douglass, who enters his eighth

season at UCI. “This schedule will be a challenging introduction to

Division I basketball for our new players.”

UCI’s roster will be filled with plenty of new faces with the

addition of four community college players and one high school

player.

Joining the ‘Eaters from the community college ranks are guard

Shamar Armstrong (Diablo Valley), forward Andrew Bruckner (College of

the Canyons), guard Aaron Fitzgerald (Jacksonville, Texas, Community

College) and forward Adam Metelski (Grayson County, Texas, College).

Forward Darren Fells played at Fullerton High last season.

The ‘Eaters finished 11-17 overall last season and tied for eighth

place in the Big West at 6-12.