UCI, Douglass seek a rebirth

UCI men’s basketball preview storyA combined 27-30 after three 20-win seasons, Anteaters aim to return to Big West elite.Entering his ninth season at UC Irvine and two wins away from 500 as a college men’s basketball head coach, Pat Douglass has taken to reflection.

But it’s not the impending milestone -- compiled over 24 seasons at Eastern Montana, Cal State Bakersfield and UCI -- he has pondered as much as the last two rather unremarkable campaigns.

“We shouldn’t have dropped off like we did,” Douglass said of back-to-back records of 11-17 and 16-13 that followed three straight 20-win seasons, including two Big West Conference regular season titles.

“We went through a rut of winning 20 for three years, but we didn’t get into the NCAAs,” Douglass said. “My focus for the last two years was trying to get the roster right to compete at a high level and break through and get to the NCAAs.

“I think last year’s team got the most out of its ability. But I think we have the kind of experience now that we can take another step.”

Douglass repeatedly talked of rebuilding with last year’s team. But he speaks of this season, which opens tonight against George Mason in the 2K College Hoops Classic at Wake Forest University, as something of a rebirth.

“I guess, from an ego standpoint, I saw Pacific and Utah State do some things [the last two seasons] that I’d like to see us doing,” Douglass said.

University of the Pacific won its second straight conference crown and NCAA Tournament first-round game last season. Utah State, like Idaho, has left the conference.

Douglass will count on a mix of experienced returners and talented newcomers to try to propel the Anteaters back into the upper echelon of the Big West. UCI was picked to finish fifth by the coaches and sixth by the media in the eight-team conference.

Senior guards Ross Schraeder and Aaron Fitzgerald, both named to the preseason all-conference team, will lead the way.

Schraeder averaged a team-best 12.9 points last season. He shot 43.9% from three-point range to rank 11th in the nation. Fitzgerald, who led the conference in assists (5.2 per game) last season, also chipped in 12.7 points per contest.

The third member of the veteran backcourt, senior Jeff Gloger, tore the ACL in his right knee in May. A bout with mononucleosis delayed his surgery until July. Douglass said Gloger, a three-year starteris ahead of schedule on his rehabilitation. But Douglass said he is prepared for the possibility Gloger may not return this season.

“[Gloger] is a big loss,” Douglass said. “But we have to develop other players at his position. If we get Jeff back [potentially by January], that would be a bonus.”

Freshman Adam Templeton -- an All-South Dakota guard from Rapid City -- sophomore Patrick Sanders and senior Shamar Armstrong are all competing for time at Gloger’s wing spot.

“Templeton is a jewel,” Douglass said of the 6-foot-5 newcomer. “He’s a good all-around player who sees the game well and I think he’s going to be a good one.”

Darren Fells, who started 16 games and averaged 5.9 points and 4.9 rebounds as a freshman, has shifted to the post. Nic Campbell, a 6-6 forward, started 18 games and averaged 5.2 points last season.

Joining Templeton as a potential impact newcomer is 6-8 junior Mark Kelley, a transfer from Citrus College who scored 13 points in a 94-56 exhibition win against Cal Poly Pomona.

Adam Metelski, a 6-10 senior who averaged 3.4 points in limited minutes last season, will also be counted upon up front, Douglass said.

“I think whether we’re going to be a consistent team will depend on our defense and our rebounding,” Douglass said. “We’re kind of undersized, so our guards are going to have to rebound, as well as our big men.”

Douglass will count on Dustin Price, a transfer from Irvine Valley, to back up Fitzgerald.

The Anteaters, who play at Stanford, Pepperdine and Colorado, open at home Nov. 22 against Santa Clara.

THE ANTEATERS

2 Shamar Armstrong Sr.

3 Aaron Fitzgerald Sr.

10 Jeff Gloger Sr.

11 Nic Campbell Jr.

12 Mark Green So.

14 Ross Schraeder Sr.

15 Mark Kelley Jr.

20 Brandon Sievers Sr.

21 Patrick Sanders So.

22 Dustin Price Jr.

32 Adam Templeton Fr.

33 Darren Fells So.

40 Chad McDaniel Fr.

42 Adam Metelski Sr.

Coach: Pat Douglass (ninth year)20051110JR1KPMDINo Caption20051110ip98y1knMARK C. DUSTIN / DAILY PILOT(LA)UCI’s Aaron Fitzgerald (3) drives to the basket against the defense of Idaho’s Jerod Haynes last season. UCI plays its season opener tonight.