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UC Irvine Basketball: 2019-20 season preview for the Anteaters

By Donovan Darlington

SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 22: Evan Leonard #14 of the UC Irvine Anteaters dribbles the ball past Cartier Diarra #2 of the Kansas State Wildcats in the first half during the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at SAP Center on March 22, 2019 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images)
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 22: Evan Leonard #14 of the UC Irvine Anteaters dribbles the ball past Cartier Diarra #2 of the Kansas State Wildcats in the first half during the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at SAP Center on March 22, 2019 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images) /
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SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 22: Eyassu Worku #24 of the UC Irvine Anteaters dribbles the ball against Shaun Neal-Williams #1 of the Kansas State Wildcats in the first half during the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at SAP Center on March 22, 2019 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images)
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 22: Eyassu Worku #24 of the UC Irvine Anteaters dribbles the ball against Shaun Neal-Williams #1 of the Kansas State Wildcats in the first half during the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at SAP Center on March 22, 2019 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images) /

Non-Conference Schedule Breakdown

I honestly think UC Irvine has the non-conference schedule that suits them best. It is nowhere near a cake walk, but they also did not overload it and schedule a bunch of challenging games that will surely give them quite a few losses before heading into conference play.

They have two notable games against schools from power conferences, as well as two games against two other highly talented mid-majors. Within 3 days, UC Irvine will travel to Colorado on Monday, November 18, then travel to TCU on Thursday, November 21. I think they may keep it close with Colorado for a while, but they will ultimately go down. Against TCU, however, I think the Anteaters have a great chance to go in and steal one.

On Saturday, November 9th, UC Irvine has a challenging road game against a great mid-major in Pepperdine. I think the Anteaters will take this one. On Saturday, January 4th, UC Irvine plays the most challenging non-conference game on their schedule right before beginning conference play. They travel to Cambridge, Massachusetts to take on the Harvard Crimson. This is one of the best non-conference games between two mid-majors this season. I think the depth of the Crimson will just be too much for the Anteaters.

The rest of UC Irvine’s non-conference schedule is not too bad. I expect to see them win plenty of these: UC San Diego (Nov. 1), @San Diego (Nov. 5), @Pepperdine (Nov. 9), Life Pacific (Nov. 12), @Boise State (Nov. 15), @Colorado (Nov. 18), @TCU (Nov. 21), Detroit Mercy (Nov. 24), Louisiana (Nov. 26), Eastern Michigan (Nov. 30), Cal Baptist (Dec. 7), Pacific Union (Dec. 14), Kent State (Dec. 16, Sun Bowl Tourney), North Carolina A&T/UTEP (Dec. 17, Sun Bowl Tourney), @Illinois-Chicago (Dec. 20), Pacific (Dec. 20), @Harvard (Jan. 4).