SoCalHoops Recruiting News
SoCalHoops Recruiting News
There was quite a bit of basketball last weekend as the official start of NCAA Division I practices got underway in SoCal at four schools: USC, Pepperdine, UC Irvine, and UC Riverside. Since we couldn't be in three places at once, we've had to depend on the traditional media for our info (as well as reports from friends and scouts). Here's what the LA Times had to say about the UC Irvine version of "Midnight Madness" in this past Sunday's edition of the paper (Orange County Edition):
Midnight Magic fills Bren Center
School spirit is high on the eve of UC Irvine basketball seasonRemember those days, when everyone in the whole school piled into the gym for a pep rally and the cheerleaders came out and the band played. Everyone sang the alma mater and all the athletes jogged single file into the building with their team uniforms on.
For those who haven't been to a pep rally lately, some things have changed. And for those who are in high school now, the ones in college get better.
On Friday "Midnight Magic" was held in the Bren Events Center at UC Irvine. The annual event kicks off the men's and women's basketball seasons. Both teams began practice during the weekend. Some of the traditional pep rally stuff took place at this event, which was free of charge.
The cheerleaders came out. There was really loud music playing. People chanted, "Go 'Eaters!" Sounds pretty traditional, right. But at the stroke of midnight, things started to get technical.
It was like opening night at a hockey game or something. The building went dark. Sparks of light flashed through the air. There was a big screen. Even that mysterious thick smoke shot up from the ground, like at a concert.
Then, now this was really cool, they played highlights from last season on the big screen to get everyone pumped up. The screen showed the men's basketball team winning the Big West Conference title and people storming the court.
Next, players were introduced. But the announcer didn't just say their names and have the team come out. The players said a few short words on the big screen and then jogged out. It made things a little more personal.
After that, the games began. Following all of the introductions, there were two contests: Battle of the sexes and the slam dunk contest.
In battle of the sexes, five players from the men's basketball team attempted three-pointers against five players from the women's team. Each player had to shoot under a time limit, with each shot made earning a point.
In the fourth round, Erin Tomlinson of the women's squad helped tie the score, 25-25.
The men sent up Adam Parada to shoot in the team's final round and he pulled the men ahead, 33-31, to win the contest.
"I was really nervous," Tomlinson said. "But it was more fun having everyone here and seeing the support that we get. This makes us look forward to the season. It gives us focus."
Tomlinson was nervous, but what about her opponents? Does anyone from the men's team get the jitters before the three-point contest?
"Only if they start missing," men's head coach Pat Douglass said.
This time, the men didn't miss many shots to pull ahead and get everyone pumped up for the slam dunk contest.
Four players from the men's team were rated on their dunks and two, Jordan Harris and Matt Okoro, advanced to the final round.
In the end, it was Harris who made the dominating dunk. "It was fun. We are all good friends and it was just fun and games," Harris said.
It wasn't all fun and games in the Bren Center, although that certainly was a part of the event. This event showed the basketball teams how much support they really have from the school, the students and their families and friends. People piled into the Bren Center, filling one side of the building that was available for seating.
"It creates a lot of excitement for our players," women's head coach Mark Adams said. "It's a good way to get their adrenaline going and feel excitement about the season."
The event also reminds students that basketball season is on the horizon.
"It shows a lot of school spirit and alerts people the season is going to start," Douglass said. "We have a recruit here and former players. It's a festive night for all."
Both the men's and women's teams have high hopes for the upcoming season.
In addition to winning the Big West Conference title last year, the men's team set a school record for most wins in a season with a record of 25-5. Senior guard Jerry Green is the team's most notable returner. Green was the Big West Player of the Year last year and is a Wooden Award preseason All-American this season.
The women's team has five returning starters, including senior forward Cindy Oparah, who was a first team All-Big West pick last season.
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