Hoping to Make a Huge Splash

The cover of UC Riverside’s media guide is emblazoned with the slogan, “Ticket to the Big Time,” a play on the Highlanders’ joining the Big West Conference this season.

Riverside, in its first season as a full-fledged Division I school, is fairly thrilled to be in, thereby avoiding the scheduling problems and other pitfalls typical of mid-major independents. The Highlanders cannot compete in the Big West tournament until 2004, but they hope to start making an impact immediately.

“We’re going to have to take our hits and our lumps and I’m going to have to like it, whether I like it or not,” said Riverside Coach John Masi, who is 428-197 in 22 seasons with the Highlanders.

“I’ve been coaching long enough to know it’s not going to be easy. It’s going to take hard work, a few more recruiting classes and, at some point in the next few years, a breakout season.”

Riverside played a Division I schedule last season and finished 8-17. Against “big-time” opponents, the Highlanders defeated Oregon State, 67-63, at Corvallis, Ore., and lost at Wyoming and Stanford.

“I learned a good lesson--I was too negative with my team,” Masi said. “Everyone else had better personnel so I went zone, sat back and shortened the game by holding the ball, all the things contrary to what I believe philosophically.

“We won some games and surprised some people, but I didn’t give my players the right message. We have to play more aggressively, be more physical and mentally tough, and we have to go out expecting to win.”

Riverside was 2-10 last season against Big West opponents, beating Cal State Fullerton and UC Santa Barbara.

“You can’t buy the experience of playing at places like Utah State, Irvine and Long Beach,” Masi said. “Now our players know what to expect. The biggest concern is, can they concentrate for an 18-game [conference] schedule?”

Lloyd Cook, a 6-foot-6 forward, and guard Jason Perkins are Riverside’s only seniors. Mark Miller, a 6-6 junior forward, led the team in scoring last season, averaging 13.2 points. Vili Morton, a 6-8 sophomore forward, averaged 8.5 points and a team-best 7.2 rebounds.

“Vili didn’t get to show all he could do last year because, even as a freshman, he was double-teamed a lot,” Masi said. “I think he’s good for 10 points and 10 rebounds a game, if not more.”

Kevin Butler, a 6-3 sophomore, will start again at the point after averaging 5.2 points.

Junior guard Zadkiel Elder and sophomore guard Ted Bell are three-point threats. John Galbreath, a 6-6 transfer from Big Bend Community College in Washington, and 6-7 junior Aaron Hands will play in the frontcourt. Mike Zepeda, a 6-10 junior, could become a factor if he continues to improve. Guard Rickey Porter, who averaged 12.3 points last season for Santa Ana Mater Dei’s state championship team, is the top freshman.

Riverside travels to Portland, Arizona State and UCLA during its nonconference schedule before opening Big West play Dec. 20 at home against Santa Barbara.

Riverside, which made 11 Division II playoff appearances, has a winning record against Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (34-25) and fellow Big West newcomer Cal State Northridge (25-20), both of which preceded Riverside in the jump to Division I. The Highlanders are 8-9 against Fullerton, 13-15 against UC Irvine, 1-7 against Santa Barbara and 0-2 against Utah State.

Riverside is winless in 15 games against Long Beach and will play Idaho and Pacific for the first time this season.

“It’s an exciting time for our school and our program,” Masi said. “We can’t wait to get started.”