Anteaters open with Mustangs

Barry Faulkner

With four Big West Conference games in the next eight days, the UC

Irvine men’s basketball team may know sooner about its ability to

contend this season than how its New Year’s resolutions are working

out.

Coach Pat Douglass’ Anteaters (5-4) end a two-week layoff tonight

at 7 when they meet visiting Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (5-3) at the

Bren Events Center, in the Big West opener for both schools.

UCI, picked to finish third in the Big West preseason coaches and

media polls, takes on the Mustangs (picked No. 4), before

entertaining conference favorite and defending regular-season

champion UC Santa Barbara Monday night at 7.

The Anteaters then hit the road for conference clashes at Cal

State Northridge (Friday) and University of the Pacific (Jan. 10).

UCI is coming off its most disappointing performance of the

season, a 64-58 loss at Sacramento State Dec. 20.

The unexpected setback ended a three-game winning streak and, to a

great degree, any feelings of contentment the team may have taken

into the holiday break.

Cal Poly, which reached the conference tournament title game last

season, defeated Sacramento State, 76-60, on Dec. 6. The Mustangs

also defeated host Cal in the season opener, 13 days before Cal

topped the Anteaters, 65-57, Dec. 3 in Berkeley.

The Mustangs also won at USC, 93-78, on Dec. 22. Their losses are

against Colorado, Loyola Marymount and San Diego State.

Cal Poly is led by 6-foot-8 senior Varnie Dennis, who averages

19.4 points and 8.1 rebounds per game this season. A first-team

All-Big West returner, he had a career-high 38 points in Monday’s win

over Stanislaus State.

Shane Schilling, a 6-6 senior, averages 17.3 points and 6.5

rebounds, while 6-1 sophomore guard Kameron Gray, a transfer from

Chabot College (9.8 ppg) and Nick Enzweiller, a 6-6 junior transfer

from UTEP (9.5 ppg) are also keys for the Mustangs.

UCI has been balanced offensively, with four starters averaging in

double figures.

Stanislav Zuzak, a 6-11 senior, leads the way with 12.3 ppg,

followed by sophomore guard Mike Efevberha (12.0), Adam Parada, a 7-0

senior center (11.1) and sophomore point guard Jeff Gloger (10.1).

The 6-4 Gloger also leads the ‘Eaters in rebounding (7.1 per

game), assists (4.0) and steals (2.1).

UCI won or shared Big West titles in 2001 and 2002 and tied for

second last season. The Anteaters have won three straight Big West

openers.

The Mustangs may be without Coach Kevin Bromley, whose father died

Monday in Colorado. If Bromley is not on the bench, Tim Murphy, a

former UCI assistant and brother of current UCI assistant and former

star Todd Murphy, will take the reins.