Oct. 29, 2009

IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine sophomore forward Eric Wise has been selected to the preseason All-Big West Conference team in voting by the media.

Wise, one of six players on the team, led UCI in scoring at 14.0 points per game last season and he averaged 6.0 rebounds. He was named to the 2009 All-Big West Second and Freshman teams after starting 30 games and posting six 20-point games with a high of 25 in a Jan. 3 win over Cal State Fullerton. He averaged 17.0 points and 7.0 rebounds over the final six games last season.

Wise, UCI’s highest scoring freshman in the last 14 years, ranked seventh in the Big West in scoring (14.0), eighth in field-goal percentage (.445) and ninth in rebounding (6.0).

The Anteaters were eighth in the preseason Big West media poll as Long Beach State was picked to win the conference.

UCI hosts Concordia University in an exhibition game Nov. 9 at 7:05 p.m. at the Bren Center and opens the regular season facing the University of La Verne Nov. 13 at the Bren Center at 7:35 p.m.

The ‘Eaters travel to No. 3 Texas Nov. 15 for an 11:00 a.m. (Pacific Time) game on ESPNU.

Preseason Media All-Big West Conference Team
Eric Wise, So., F, UC Irvine
Larry Anderson, So., G, Long Beach State
Kyle Austin, Jr., F, UC Riverside
Joe Harden, Jr., G, UC Davis
Orlando Johnson, So., G, UC Santa Barbara
Mark Payne, Jr., G, UC Davis

Preseason Big West Media Poll
1. Long Beach State (17)  209
2. UC Santa Barbara (6)   178
3. Cal State Northridge     130
4. UC Riverside               127
5. Pacific (1)                   126
6. UC Davis                    114
7. Cal State Fullerton         90
8. UC Irvine                      76
9. Cal Poly                        30