Irvine’s Season-Long Troubles Hit Home

In seven seasons as coach, Pat Douglass built UC Irvine into a perennial contender for the Big West Conference title and turned its home court at the Bren Center into something of a house of horrors for opposing teams.

But with consecutive home losses to Pacific and Cal State Northridge last week, Irvine has lost five in a row for the first time in five years and is widely considered one of the conference’s most disappointing teams.

Even in Irvine.

A smattering of boos followed the Anteaters to the locker room after their 64-52 loss to Pacific. And during Northridge’s 56-51 victory Matador fans chanted, “This is our house.”

“I don’t know what’s going on these last five games,” senior forward Stanislav Zuzak said. “It’s pretty bad right now.”

Early on, buoyed by the team’s streak of three consecutive 20-win seasons, there was some talk that this might be the season Irvine made its first trip to the NCAA tournament. Now in a sixth-place tie with Long Beach State in the conference standings, the Anteaters (9-11, 4-7) are rightfully concerned about qualifying for the eight-team Big West tournament.

“We’re not in the running against Utah State,” Douglass said, referring to the league-leading Aggies. “What we’ve got to do is put forth the type of play [needed to win] and continue to peak. That’s all I can do right now.”

Douglass benched center Adam Parada and Zuzak, Irvine’s two top scorers, for much of the first half against Northridge after their lackluster play against Pacific. Parada was held to one point by Pacific after averaging 17.3 the previous three games.

The Anteaters used a three-guard lineup against Northridge and built a five-point halftime lead, only to drown in a sea of missed shots and botched defensive assignments in the second half.

Douglass said no starting spot is guaranteed tonight at Cal State Fullerton.

“I’m going to play who I want to play,” Douglass said. “I would not expect us to be where we’re at right now. We’re almost to the end of the season, and we have not had that type of [leadership].”

Said Zuzak: “It’s just seems like we’re dazed out there. We just don’t have the answer right now.”

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Pepperdine and Fullerton have failed to live up to expectations. Now both teams are dealing with internal issues.

Pepperdine Coach Paul Westphal suspended freshman Shaun Davis indefinitely for violating team rules. Davis, who started every game at point guard, was suspended before the Waves’ game against Portland after playing only 16 minutes in a loss at Gonzaga.

Davis, who is expected to return to the team, was averaging 8.7 points and a team-leading 4.3 assists.

Fullerton dismissed senior shooting guard Derick Andrew for what first-year Coach Bob Burton called “conduct detrimental to the team.” A school spokesman said Andrew used an obscenity in yelling at Burton during a game at UC Santa Barbara on Jan. 31. Titan players have sat out 42 games because of injuries or suspensions.

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Concordia of Irvine is at it again. Last year’s surprise NAIA national champion is ranked second with a 22-1 record after defeating Westmont, 77-72, Tuesday night.

The Eagles are atop the Golden State Athletic Conference with a 13-0 record, one game ahead of fifth-ranked Azusa Pacific. The teams meet Feb. 21 at Azusa in a rematch. Concordia won the first game, 71-55, on Jan. 8.