‘Eaters’ talent pool deep

With a penchant for planning and redshirting talented, sometimes experienced players, UC Irvine men’s water polo coach Marc Hunt admittedly views the pool as a vast caldron of personnel stew.

“You’ve got to have a five-year plan,” said Hunt, who picked up his philosophy from legendary predecessor Ted Newland.

That long-range foresight crystallized more concisely after the 2007 team reached the final of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. And, decisions were made to endure a modest 2008 in hopes of building something special for this season.

“With this team, I think we reflected back on that 2007 team and thought ‘OK, where are we weak?’ ” said Hunt, entering his fifth season at the helm. “How can we improve on that?”

Well, getting bigger, stronger and faster are all obvious answers to that question and Hunt has no problem acknowledging obvious gains in all those areas.

There is also improved depth, so much so that Hunt and first-year assistants and former UCI stars Dreason Barry and Genai Kerr are gladly dealing with a novel quandary in a program known for maximizing sometimes minimal talent reserves.

“We’ve never had these options before,” said Hunt, who returns the top five scorers from last season and also welcomes the return of several standouts who redshirted during an 11-15 season in which the Anteaters finished with the No. 8 national ranking. “I could put in a speed group and I could put in a big group. Coaching this team is a little bit different for us. In the past, we’ve had to go with a set six and those were the guys we counted on to get it done.”

That lack of depth has been exposed come tournament time, Hunt said. But, with a proven collection of versatile performers, who have embraced a tireless work ethic, the ’Eaters may have what it takes to contend with perennial powers USC, Stanford, UCLA and Cal.

“This is one of the hardest-working teams I’ve ever had,” said Hunt, whose No. 8-ranked team won all four matches at the season-opening Inland Empire Classic, Saturday and Sunday in Redlands. “They are really motivated and they want to do this. They believe in themselves and I believe in them.”

Junior driver Brandon Johnson is back after leading the team with 68 goals and earning third-team All-American recognition.

“Brandon is one of the top left-handers in the country,” Hunt said.

Senior setter Greg Enloe, who was named MPSF Co-Player of the Week after scoring 13 goals in Redlands, scored 52 goals last season.

Hunt said Enloe, a late cut from the U.S. team that competed in the World University Games over the summer, is in an elite class of setters at the collegiate level.

Senior Tom Kruip (28 goals last season) is also back, reuniting with brother Kyle, a fellow All-American at Golden West College who redshirted last season.

Senior setter Cole Bielskis, junior driver Kyle Baxter and freshman Serbian import Mihailo Jevtovic are also back in the mix after redshirting in 2008.

“Bielskis is going to be one of our main guys,” Hunt said. “It’s kind of nice to bring that experience back. He’s going to be the guy that sparks this team.”

Junior Griffin Lerman (26 goals last season) will contribute at two meters, while senior James Frank (23 goals in ’08) will join Johnson as the team’s “two main quarterbacks,” Hunt said.

Hunt said Frank is the fastest swimmer on the team and is one of several links to the 2007 roster.

“We go from being one of the youngest teams in the MPSF last year, to one of the more experienced teams in the conference,” Hunt said.

Matt Johnson, Brandon’s twin brother, returns at goalie, where he shared time with Eric Evered, now a senior, last season.

Both goalies have benefited from the presence of Kerr, a former national team goalie who has a gift for passing his knowledge along.

“Our goalies are better for having Genai coach them,” Hunt said.

Hunt is optimistic, but careful to temper expectations.

“People are asking me how good are we going to be?” Hunt said. “I tell them it doesn’t matter how good we’re going to be. It matters how good everybody else is.

“But it’s neat when you build something that’s years in the process. This is a vision that Newland and I talked about four or five years ago.”

UCI outscored its four opponents, 80-21, over the weekend, but will need to continually improve to ascend to the upper echelon of the rugged MPSF.

“A lot will depend on how we come together as a team and whether we can make sure our water polo IQ is going to improve,” Hunt said. “We need to continue to develop the nucleus of this team and develop how well we play together and how smart they really play.”

UCI is at the NorCal Tournament at Stanford, beginning Saturday by facing Long Beach State.