Scouting the UC-Irvine Anteaters Mustangs

Here's a quick look at Cal State Fullerton's next opponent. The Titans (11-6, 3-2) face UC-Irvine (6-12, 3-3). Tip-off is tonight at 7:00 PM at the Bren Center in Irvine, CA.

The Rankings

	W. Nolan	NPI	KenPom	Statsheet	Sagarin	AVG
UCR	151	118	94	150	99	122
CSF	223 (18)	161 (9)	192 (2)	233 (20)	180 (3)	198

UC Riverside Highlanders Scouting Report

• UCI has beaten Davis, Pacific and CSUN, all on the road. No notable wins. They did beat Hope by 22 where former Titan Steve Jurich had 10 points and 6 rebounds.
• The Anteaters have lost to CSLUB and CP-SLO at home and UCSB on the road. None of the games were close.
• Very inexperienced team with no seniors. Lat year's star, Eric Wise, transferred to USC where he will have one year remaining. The have seven freshman on the team. Nine players average 11 minutes or more per game.
• Returning Junior guards Mike Wilder and Daman Starring lead the team in scoring at 11.4 and 11.3 points per game. Wilder is the leading rebounder at 5.6 rpg.
• 6-9 junior Adam Folker is the one player who could pose a problem for the Titans. Folker is very physical and is a good rebounder and defender. Not really an inside scorer but that could change if Omondi Amoke is tasked to defending him. He is shooting 52% from the floor but only averages 5.6 ppg in 19 minutes per contest. Expect both of those to increase in this game if second year head coach Russell Turner knows anything about basketball.
• 6-0 junior point guard Derick Flowers leads the Big West in assists (4.3 apg) while also averaging 7.2 ppg.
• Because of their youth and lack of experience UCI turns the ball over quite a bit, averaging 15.4 per game. They are also a very poor free throw shooting team (65%), last in the Big West. Folker is especially bad at 25% which could be one reason UCI has not looked at him as a scoring option.
• 6-9 freshman post Will Davis II leads UCI in rebounding at 5.7 per game despite coming off the bench. He averages 22 minutes per game as well as 7.7 ppg. Not as physical as Folker but does block a lot of shots and is third in the Big West at 1.7 per game.
• UCI is a three-point shooting team. They shoot from behind the arc more than any other Big West team and they make a respectable 36% from that distance.
• Surprisingly, they don't appear to be afraid to push the ball and don't worry about clock management as much as the other lower tier Big West teams.
• Vegas: Titans by 3½ with a score of 74-71 (o/u 145½).

Keys to game

• The Titans don't match up against UCI as well as they do against UCR, but because of their youth and lack of experience, CSF should still have a favorable matchup.
• Biggest key is to stop the open looks from three-point range. The switching man defense we've played in the past would seem like a good option but one thing is clear: Titans have to eliminate the open looks.
• Zone probably isn't a good idea against the Anteaters and there's really no reason to play it. If we are afraid of foul trouble for Amoke, let Orane Chin guard Folker and/or Davis. John Underwood, if healthy, would be our best bet to contain the inside. No jumping allowed Mr. Underwood, just keep your feet on the floor and keep your arms straight up. Rebounds are more important than blocks.
• Would love to have one game where D.J. Seeley, Kwame Vaughn and Isiah Umipig all have good offensive games, but only two of three is necessary in this one.
• Continue rebounding as this is another game where we should have a big advantage.
• Tempo should be more conducive to the Titans preference so just need to limit the turnovers.
• This game is huge in terms of proving we belong in conversations with CSULB, UCSB and SLO and not with UCR, UOP, CSUN and Davis... and Irvine.

Links

• TV/Radio: Live Video (Big West TV) | CSF Radio (Internet)
• Forums: UCI Yuku Board
• Latest Cal State Fullerton release
• Latest UCI release
• Schedule
• Roster
• Statistics (PDF)