Front-loaded UCI may surprise

Last season, the UC Irvine men’s basketball team somehow managed to surpass expectations and still, in the eyes of some, underachieve.

The 2005-06 Anteaters upset then-No. 13-ranked Stanford in the preseason, but lost to two Division II schools to enter the Big West Conference season 4-8.

Coach Pat Douglass’ squad then won its first eight Big West games, but lost three of its last four conference contests to finish second behind now-three-time defending conference champion Pacific.

The second-place finish gave UCI a bye into the semifinals of the conference tournament, where it lost to Long Beach State, 75-73, on a last-second three-pointer. It was the fourth time in six seasons that UCI — which finished 16-13 and is 43-43 since its three straight 20-win seasons from 2000 to 2003 — lost in the conference tournament semifinals.

This year’s squad, with eight new faces on the 14-player roster, was picked to finish sixth in the eight-team field by Big West coaches.

But Douglass believes a veteran frontcourt, some talented transfers and a strong crop of freshmen will render those forecasts false.

“Put it this way,” Douglass said when asked to assess his colleagues’ powers of prognostication, “We won’t finish sixth.”

Darren Fells, a 6-foot-7, 250-pound center, is a third-year starter, while 6-6 senior forward Nic Campbell and 6-6 junior forward Patrick Sanders also started last season.

Fells averaged 9.8 points and a team-high 7.1 rebounds and Douglass believes both he and Sanders (8.6 points, 4.6 rebounds per contest) are ready to become marquee players.

Campbell (10.5 points, including 61 three-pointers and a 44.5% shooting percentage from three-point range) is battling a herniated disc, but is expected to return to the lineup at some point.

In addition to his shooting prowess, Douglass has praised Campbell’s intangibles.

“His intelligence on the court is essential to our play,” Douglass said.

Sanders, whose leaping ability is rivaled by few players in the conference, started 19 games last season.

Adam Templeton, who averaged 4.5 points off the bench as a freshman last season, started for Campbell in the Anteaters’ 82-65 exhibition win Thursday over St. Xavier, an NAIA school from Chicago.

The backcourt, however, is all new faces after first-team All-Big West point guard Aaron Fitzgerald and Ross Schraeder, the school’s career three-point field goal leader (233), completed their eligibility.

Schraeder led the team with 13.1 points per game last season, while Fitzgerald averaged 11.7 points and a conference-leading 6.6 assists.

Marcus McIntosh, who sat out last season after transferring from Texas A&M;, steps into the starting role at point guard.

Chuma Awaji, a junior transfer from Lon Morris College in Texas by way of Dorsey High in Los Angeles, is projected to start at the other guard spot when the ‘Eaters open the regular season Friday at 6 p.m. against South Alabama in the first of three games at the Basketball Travelers Classic at Fresno State.

They will face Winston-Salem State on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and take on Fresno State on Sunday at 5 p.m.

Michael Hunter, a freshman out of Aurora, Colo. who played last year at the Maine Central Institute, a prep school, and Justin Johnson, a freshman out of El Segundo High, will also contribute in the backcourt, Douglass said.

“I think our backcourt will be more athletic, which will enable us to extend our defense and create a few more turnovers,” Douglass, entering his 10th season at UCI, said.

The scoring load will be expected to be carried by Fells, Sanders, Campbell and Templeton early on. But, Douglass said, as the guards gain experience, they should fortify the offense with their ability to penetrate, as well as shoot from the perimeter.

Ajawi, who averaged 14 points and five rebounds as a sophomore at Lon Morris, had 15 points in 26 minutes against St. Xavier.

McIntosh, a chiseled 188 pounds, had nine points and four assists in the exhibition game.

Hunter and Johnson, at 155 and 165 pounds, respectively, will attempt to use their quickness to survive against bigger, stronger, more experienced foes.

Mark Kelley, a 6-8, 240-pound senior, is expected to add depth at center, though he is recovering from a hip-flexor injury that could sideline him for a few weeks.

Chad DeCasas, a heralded 6-5 freshman out of Capistrano Valley High, is also expected to contribute, though he has been slowed thus far by a sore shoulder.

Templeton, who along with Campbell provides the Anteaters with another deadly three-point threat, figures to continue to emerge after a solid freshman campaign. He made 24 of 54 three-pointers (44.4%) last season.

Wolfgang Gieler, a 6-9 redshirt freshman, and Chris Osborn, a 6-7 true freshman out of Arizona, will also provide depth.

Kevin Bland, a 6-8 junior who was Co-Player of the Year in the state community college ranks last season at San Joaquin Delta in Stockton, will redshirt after breaking his collarbone in August, Douglass said.

The Anteaters’ home opener is Nov. 14 against South Carolina, which has won the last two National Invitation Tournament titles.

UCI opens Big West play Jan. 4 at home against Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.