‘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.
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