Thursday, Dec. 5, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.
After finishing 15-12 last year and in second place in the Big West at 11-7, things finally appeared to be looking up for UC Irvine's basketball program.
Guess again.
Looks, as they say, can be deceiving. And while Rod Baker's team did indeed post a winning rec ord for the first time in his five seasons with the Anteaters, he found himself looking at another rebuilding project in 1996.
But unlike when he took over for Bill Mulligan in 1991, there doesn't appear to be a grace period this time around.
UCI lost point guard Raimonds Miglinieks and forwards Shaun Battle and Michael Tate to graduation. That in itself would have been cause for concern. But when Kevin Simmons, the team's top player, left for UNLV, guard Brian Keefe bolted for Boston College and freshman Clay McKnight left for Saddleback JC, the cupboard was left virtually bare.
Add to that the fact Baker is in the final year of his contract and his relationship with athletic director Dan Guerrero isn't exactly chummy, and it has all the makings of a long season at the Bren Center.
But Baker is prepared to take a stand against his critics.
He realigned his staff. He found players who are willing to do what he wants. He's not acting uptight. And he's not going to coach while looking over his shoulder.
"We're not on game-to-game contracts," he said. "My job's not to worry about what everyone's expectations are. When we step on the floor, we go out with the intention of getting better. When we get better, we have a chance to win every game."
The Anteaters step on the floor Saturday against 3-0 UNLV after beginning the 1996-97 season 0-3 on the road. A six-game skid dating to last season continued Wednesday night when UCI was routed by lowly Eastern Washington, 80-53.
Baker said his team eventually will overcome the departures of last year.
"We went the most tried and true way," he said of how he restocked his roster. "We got good players. They just happen to be young.
"We've been tentative, which is natural with a young team. We're still searching for a leader. That's one of our problems."
But Baker said attitude is not a problem with this group.
"I love our love of the game," he said. "Their attentiveness is great, the highest I've ever had."
Freshman off-guard Juma Jackson has been a nice surprise for the Anteaters. The 6-4 Jackson averaged 23 points his first two games and is giving UCI a go-to scorer.
Senior Paul Foster also is playing well, averaging 14 points and 6 rebounds in the early going. And sophomore point guard Lamarr Parker is averaging 9 points and 4 assists.
"We're battling," Baker said. "We just have to learn to start quicker. After eight minutes, we're playing people even. But we dig ourselves an early hole and we're playing uphill."
At 0-3, the hole is deeper than Baker imagined. And it could be tougher than he thought to climb out of.
Hoop du jour
* WARREN RETURNS: After missing the last two practices to give his dislocated right middle finger time to heal, senior forward Warren Rosegreen returned to the North Gym Wednesday and worked out. Rosegreen said he'll be ready for Saturday. More questionable is sophomore center Eric Lee's status. Lee's shoulder continues to bother him and he missed his third straight workout. The 6-foot-10 Lee was relegated to cardiovascular work in the Lied Athletic Complex Wednesday while his teammates practiced. Trainer Jerry Koloskie said Lee told him his shoulder was still stiff and he had trouble lifting his left arm above his head. ... Sunshine Smith's tendinitis in his knee flared up Wednesday and the senior guard was limping noticeably during practice. But Smith said he expects to play Saturday.
* ON THE TUBE: Saturday's game will be telecast live back to Las Vegas on KUPN Channel 21 (Prime Cable Channel 2) beginning at 7 p.m. Ken Korach and Glen Gondrezick call the action. The radio broadcast on KVEG 840-AM begins at 6:30 with Dave McCann and Tony Cordasco.
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