Expect Some New Faces on Basketball Court

UC Irvine men’s basketball Coach Rod Baker, who could cry, has decided to laugh--at least for the time being.

The Anteaters will rely heavily on freshmen this season after the defection of starters Brian Keefe and Kevin Simmons and key reserve Clay McKnight. Into that breach come five freshmen. Fab they may not be, but they will be necessary.

For the moment, though, they are amusing to their coach.

“It’s been fun with all these new guys,� Baker said. “They make me laugh all time. Sometimes they are trying to, sometimes they are not.�

That sense of humor might come in handy as the season goes on.

Forward Paul Foster and guard Lamarr Parker are the only players guaranteed starting spots. With center Dan Augulis out indefinitely because of a knee injury, the other three positions have vacancy signs attached.

So an enterprising freshman or two could find a niche. Whether that’s good for the Anteaters in the short-term remains to be seen. Obviously, a lot will depend on how quickly they assimilate.

“As a group, their skill level and athletic ability are as good as any we have brought in here,� Baker said. “We want guys who are prepared to play. The only way they’re going to learn that is by being on the floor. They can practice until they are blue in the face, but it’s not the same as a game situation.

“It’s like football, they need some reps.�

For example: Brian Johnson, a 6-foot-6 forward, has been impressive in the early workouts. Then Sunday he looked every bit his age in practice.

“He came back down a little,� Baker said.

Baker said he plans to rotate all five on the floor this season, at least early in the season.

Johnson likely will play both forward spots. Juma Jackson, Phil Negrete and Jeremy Lee will all see time at shooting guard. Andrew Carlson, who is 6 feet 10, 248 pounds, will play inside.

Baker will get a clue to their progress Wednesday night, when the Anteaters face Global Sports All-Stars--a collection of mostly former Big West players--in an exhibition game. A week later, the Anteaters play Telecom, a club team from Portugal.

“I want to know who’s going to play hard and what I can expect from certain guys,� Baker said.

Basically, he can expect them to be freshmen. Baker will need patience and that sense of humor.

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If the group is as talented as Baker says, the question remains whether he will be around to reap the benefits from their on-the-job training.

Baker, in his sixth season as the Anteater coach, is also in the last year of his contract. He pursued the Maine job this summer before withdrawing his name from consideration.

It can make a player wonder whether Baker will be here a year from now.

“I have not had that conversation with them about it,� Baker said. “It’s not their concern.�

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Augulis, who started 22 games last season, underwent an MRI last week and had a cortisone shot on his left knee. He still doesn’t have a timetable for his return.

“He has tried to practice, but he hasn’t been able to string two days together without it hurting,� Baker said.

Also out indefinitely is guard Kevin Simpson, whose left knee is in the same shape as Augulis’.

On the upside of the injury front, Jackson is expected to start Wednesday. He missed a little more than a week of practice after receiving stitches in his right ear. The cause of the injury was not revealed.

“It wasn’t related to athletics and it didn’t happen in a drunken stupor,� Baker said. “It was a freshman injury.�

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Nicole Bucciarelli, a sophomore on the women’s soccer team, set the Anteater record for goals in a season (16) with a flurry over the weekend.

Bucciarelli has scored at least one goal in each of the last three games, including three Friday in a 5-1 victory over New Mexico. Bucciarelli, who has scored four game-winning goals this season, also scored Sunday in a 1-0 victory over Fresno State and in a 1-1 tie with Cal State Fullerton on Oct. 27.

The Anteaters certainly benefited from her play. They were 0-4-1 in their last five regular-season games a year ago but finished strong this year (4-0-1). The Anteaters will face Pacific in the Big West Conference semifinals Friday.

Bucciarelli also set the career school record with 28 goals.

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Cameron Lindee and Steve Tallakson, top doubles team on the Anteater men’s tennis team, are ranked 26th in the nation. They are seeded second in the Southern California Regional tournament, which begins Wednesday and ends Sunday. UCI is 36th in the nation.

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Coming Attractions

A look at key games this week for UC Irvine:

* Men’s basketball plays an exhibition game against Global Sports All-Stars at 7 p.m. Wednesday. The Anteaters were 15-12 and finished second in the Big West Conference in 1995-96.

* Women’s soccer faces Pacific in the Big West semifinals at 5 p.m. Friday at Cal State Fullerton. The Anteaters (12-6-1) are 4-0-1 in their last five games.

* Water polo faces Pepperdine in a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation game at noon Saturday at Heritage Park. The Anteaters are ranked fifth in the nation; Pepperdine is seventh.