UCI picked for the second division

UCI men and women in Big West preseason polls.Anteaters men’s and women’s basketball teams slated to finish no higher than fifth in Big West preseason polls.The UC Irvine men’s and women’s basketball teams were both picked to finish in the lower half of the eight-team Big West Conference in preseason polls released Wednesday.

The Anteaters men’s team, coming off a 16-13 season, was picked fifth in the coaches’ poll and sixth in the media poll. The UCI women, 8-21 a year ago, were picked fifth in both polls.

Ross Schraeder and Aaron Fitzgerald represented UCI on the six-player men’s preseason all-conference team. Angie Ned was among six preseason all-conference women’s selections.

Cal State Fullerton and University of the Pacific were the top two choices, respectively, in both of the men’s polls. UC Santa Barbara and Cal State Northridge were third and fourth in the coaches’ poll and tied for third in the media poll.

Perennial champion UCSB topped both women’s polls, but the Gauchos were followed closely in both by Long Beach State. Cal State Northridge and UC Riverside were third and fourth in the women’s poll.

The UCI men, who defeated visiting Cal Poly Pomona, 94-56, in an exhibition game Tuesday, open their season Nov. 10 against George Mason in the first round of the 2K College Hoops Classic at Wake Forest University.

The UCI women debut with a home exhibition game Sunday at 2 p.m. against Team Concept.

-- Barry Faulkner