2017–18 UC Irvine Anteaters men's basketball team

The Anteaters finished the 2016–17 season 21–15, 12–4 in Big West play to win the regular season Big West championship, the school's fifth regular season title. They defeated UC Riverside in the quarterfinals of the Big West tournament and the Long Beach State in the semifinals before falling to UC Davis in the championship game.{{Cite news |last=Dilbeck |first=Steve |date=2017-03-11 |title=UC Davis gets back at UC Irvine in ugly Big West tournament championship win |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/more/la-sp-big-west-basketball-20170311-story.html |access-date=2024-03-27 |work=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |issn=0458-3035}} As a regular season champion who did not win their conference tournament, the Anteaters received an automatic bid to the National Invitation Tournament as a No. 8 seed. There, they lost to No. 1 seed Illinois State in the first round.{{Cite news |date=2017-03-15 |title=Illinois State beats UC Irvine 85–71 in NIT |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2017/03/15/illinois-state-beats-uc-irvine-85-71-in-nit |access-date=2024-03-27 |work=chicagotribune.com |language=en-US |agency=Associated Press}} The season marked the school's fifth straight season with at least 20 wins.

{{College Athlete Recruit Start|40=no|collapse=no|year=2017}}

{{College Athlete Recruit Entry

| recruit = Solomon Ruddell

| position = #64 C

| hometown = Morro Bay, CA

| highschool = The Hill School

| feet = 7

| inches = 1

| weight = 235

| commitdate =

| scout stars =

| rivals stars = 3

| 247 stars = 3

| espn stars = 2

| espn grade = 69

}}

{{College Athlete Recruit Entry

| recruit = Collin Welp

| position = #95 PF

| hometown = Seattle, WA

| highschool = Seattle Prep

| feet = 7

| inches = 1

| weight = 235

| commitdate =

| scout stars =

| rivals stars = 0

| 247 stars = 0

| espn stars = 0

| espn grade = 63

}}

{{College Athlete Recruit End

| year = 2017

| rivals ref title =

| scout ref title =

| espn ref title = ESPN – UC Irvine Basketball Recruiting 2017

| rivals school =

| scout s =

| espn schoolid = 300

| scout overall = n/a

| rivals overall = n/a

| espn overall = n/a

| accessdate = 2017-12-04

| bball = yes

}}

{{CBB roster/Header|year=2017|team=UC Irvine Anteaters|teamcolors=y}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Max|last=Hazzard|num=2|pos=G|ft=5|in=10|lbs=170|class=so|rs=yes|home=Los Angeles, CA}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Justin|last=Wertner|num=4|pos=G|ft=6|in=4|lbs=203|class=fr|rs=yes|home=Memphis, TN}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Jonathan|last=Galloway|num=5|pos=F|ft=6|in=10|lbs=235|class=jr|rs=|home=Brentwood (Los Angeles), CA}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=John|last=Edgar Jr.|num=11|pos=F|ft=6|in=5|lbs=217|class=so|rs=|home=Chino Hills, CA|note=W}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Brandon|last=Smith|num=13|pos=F|ft=6|in=5|lbs=190|class=jr|rs=|home=Santa Ana, CA}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Evan|last=Leonard|num=14|pos=G|ft=6|in=1|lbs=190|class=so|rs=|home=Cerritos, CA}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Teo|last=Davidian|num=22|pos=G|ft=6|in=1|lbs=180|class=sr|rs=|home=Glendale, CA|note=W}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Darrian|last=Traylor|num=23|pos=G|ft=6|in=4|lbs=210|class=so|rs=yes|home=Las Vegas, NV}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Eyassu|last=Worku|num=24|pos=G|ft=6|in=2|lbs=170|class=fr|so=|home=Artesia, CA}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Spencer|last=Rivers|num=25|pos=G|ft=6|in=2|lbs=200|class=jr|rs=|home=Winter Park, FL|note=W}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Soloman|last=Ruddell|num=35|pos=C|ft=7|in=1|lbs=255|class=fr|rs=|home=Los Osos, CA}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Collin|last=Welp|num=40|pos=F|ft=6|in=9|lbs=235|class=fr|rs=|home=Seattle, WA}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Tommy|last=Rutherford|num=42|pos=F|ft=6|in=8|lbs=220|class=so|rs=|home=El Cajon, CA}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Riley|last=Welch|num=43|pos=G|ft=6|in=0|lbs=185|class=fr|rs=|home=Los Angeles, CA|note=W}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Elston|last=Jones|num=50|pos=F|ft=6|in=9|lbs=275|class=jr|rs=yes|home=Goodyear, AZ}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Brad|last=Greene|num=55|pos=C|ft=6|in=10|lbs=320|class=so|rs=|home=Lone Pine, CA}}

{{CBB roster/Footer

|head_coach=

• Russell Turner (Hampden–Sydney)

|asst_coach=

• Blaine Taylor (Montana)
• Ryan Badrtalei ({{college|UCLA}})
• Michael Wilder ({{college|UC Irvine}})

|roster_url=https://ucirvinesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/2017-18

|accessdate=March 27, 2024

}}

{{CBB schedule start|time=|rank=yes|ranklink=2017-18 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings|rankyear=2018|tv=|record=yes|attend=yes}}

|-

!colspan=9 style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|UC Irvine Anteaters}}| Exhibition

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Nov 3, 2017

| time = 7:00 pm

| nonconf = yes

| opponent = Alaska Anchorage

| site_stadium = Bren Events Center

| site_cityst = Irvine, CA

| attend = 3,035

| tv = Big West TV

| score = 73–66

| record =

}}

|-

!colspan=9 style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|UC Irvine Anteaters}}| Non-conference regular season

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Nov 10, 2017

| time = 6:15 pm

| nonconf = yes

| away = yes

| opponent = South Dakota State

| site_stadium = Frost Arena

| site_cityst = Brookings, SD

| attend = 2,669

| tv =

| score = 54–65

| record = 0–1

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Nov 12, 2017

| time = 3:00 pm

| away = yes

| nonconf = yes

| opponent = Denver

| site_stadium = Magness Arena

| site_cityst = Denver, CO

| gamename =

| attend = 1,202

| tv = Altitude

| score = 83–69

| record = 1–1

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Nov 14, 2017

| time = 7:00 pm

| nonconf = yes

| opponent = Chapman

| opprank =

| site_stadium = Bren Events Center

| site_cityst = Irvine, CA

| tv = Big West TV

| attend = 1,241

| score = 91–52

| overtime =

| record = 2–1

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Nov 17, 2017

| time = 6:00 pm

| nonconf = yes

| away = yes

| opponent = Kansas State

| site_stadium = Bramlage Coliseum

| site_cityst = Manhattan, KS

| gamename = Las Vegas Invitational

| attend = 6,451

| tv = ESPN3

| score = 49–71

| record = 2–2

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Nov 19, 2017

| time = 11:00 am

| nonconf = yes

| away = yes

| opponent = Arizona State

| site_stadium = Wells Fargo Arena

| site_cityst = Tempe, AZ

| gamename = Las Vegas Invitational

| attend = 5,394

| tv = P12N

| score = 78–99

| record = 2–3

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Nov 23, 2017

| time = 7:00 pm

| nonconf = yes

| neutral = yes

| opponent = Rider

| site_stadium = Orleans Arena

| site_cityst = Paradise, NV

| gamename = Las Vegas Invitational

| attend = 3,245

| score = 82–90

| record = 2–4

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Nov 24, 2017

| time = 11:00 am

| nonconf = yes

| neutral = yes

| opponent = Northern Arizona

| site_stadium = Orleans Arena

| site_cityst = Paradise, NV

| gamename = Las Vegas Invitational

| attend = 3,325

| score = 77–71

| record = 3–4

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Nov 26, 2017

| time = 3:00 pm

| nonconf = yes

| away = yes

| opponent = UCLA

| opprank = 23

| site_stadium = Pauley Pavilion

| site_cityst = Los Angeles, CA

| attend = 8,329

| tv = P12N

| score = 63–87

| record = 3–5

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Nov 29, 2017

| time = 7:00 pm

| nonconf = yes

| opponent = Whittier

| site_stadium = Bren Events Center

| site_cityst = Irvine, CA

| attend = 1,050

| tv = Big West TV

| score = 112–65

| record = 4–5

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Dec 2, 2017

| time = 7:00 pm

| nonconf = yes

| opponent = Nevada

| site_stadium = Bren Events Center

| site_cityst = Irvine, CA

| attend = 1,869

| tv = Big West TV

| score = 65–76

| record = 4–6

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Dec 6, 2017

| time = 6:00 pm

| nonconf = yes

| away = yes

| opponent = Utah State

| site_stadium = Smith Spectrum

| site_cityst = Logan, UT

| attend = 5,443

| tv = MWN

| score = 59–62

| record = 4–7

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Dec 9, 2017

| time = 6:00 pm

| nonconf = yes

| away = yes

| opponent = UTRGV

| site_stadium = UTRGV Fieldhouse

| site_cityst = Edinburg, TX

| attend = 602

| tv = WAC Digital

| score = 59–73{{Cite web|url=https://ucirvinesports.com/documents/2017/12/11//UCI_UTRGV_12_9.pdf|title = Uci Utrgv 12 9}}

| record = 4–8

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Dec 16, 2018

| time = 5:00 pm

| nonconf = yes

| away = yes

| opponent = Saint Mary's

| site_stadium = McKeon Pavilion

| site_cityst = Moraga, CA

| attend = 2,809

| tv = W.TV

| score = 66–73

| overtime =

| record = 4–9

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Dec 19, 2017

| time = 6:00 pm

| nonconf = yes

| away = yes

| opponent = Montana

| site_stadium = Dahlberg Arena

| site_cityst = Missoula, MT

| attend = 3,106

| tv = Big Sky TV/Pluto TV

| score = 68–86{{Cite web|url=https://ucirvinesports.com/boxscore.aspx?id=4889|title=Men's Basketball vs Montana on 12/19/2017 - Box Score}}

| record = 4–10

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Dec 21, 2017

| time = 6:30 pm

| nonconf = yes

| neutral = yes

| opponent = Idaho

| site_stadium = CenturyLink Arena

| site_cityst = Boise, ID

| gamename = Boise Showcase

| attend = 4,096

| tv = Big Sky TV/Pluto TV

| score = 67–59

| record = 5–10

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Dec 28, 2017

| time = 7:00 pm

| nonconf = yes

| opponent = New Mexico State

| site_stadium = Bren Events Center

| site_cityst = Irvine, CA

| attend = 2,036

| tv = Big West TV

| score = 60–65

| record = 5–11

}}

|-

!colspan=9 style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|UC Irvine Anteaters}}| Big West regular season

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Jan 4, 2018

| time = 7:00 pm

| away = yes

| opponent = UC Davis

| site_stadium = The Pavilion

| site_cityst = Davis, CA

| attend = 1,203

| tv = Big West TV

| score = 53–64

| record = 5–12

| conference = 0–1

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Jan 6, 2018

| time = 7:00 pm

| opponent = Long Beach State

| site_stadium = Bren Events Center

| site_cityst = Irvine, CA

| gamename = Black & Blue Rivalry

| attend = 1,723

| tv = Big West TV

| score = 86–73

| record = 6–12

| conference = 1–1

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Jan 11, 2018

| time = 7:30 pm

| opponent = Cal State Fullerton

| site_stadium = Bren Events Center

| site_cityst = Irvine, CA

| attend = 1,484

| tv = FS West

| score = 64–67

| record = 6–13

| conference = 1–2

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Jan 13, 2018

| time = 7:00 pm

| away = yes

| opponent = Cal State Northridge

| site_stadium = Matadome

| site_cityst = Northridge, CA

| attend = 559

| tv = Big West TV

| score = 71–54

| record = 7–13

| conference = 2–2

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Jan 18, 2018

| time = 7:00 pm

| opponent = Cal Poly

| site_stadium = Bren Events Center

| site_cityst = Irvine, CA

| attend = 1,429

| tv = ESPN3

| score = 80–73

| record = 8–13

| conference = 3–2

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Jan 20, 2018

| time = 9:00 pm

| away = yes

| opponent = UC Santa Barbara

| site_stadium = The Thunderdome

| site_cityst = Santa Barbara, CA

| attend = 3,823

| tv = ESPNU

| score = 58–70

| record = 8–14

| conference = 3–3

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Jan 24, 2018

| time = 7:00 pm

| opponent = UC Riverside

| site_stadium = Bren Events Center

| site_cityst = Irvine, CA

| attend = 1,361

| tv = ESPN3

| score = 79–40

| record = 9–14

| conference = 4–3

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Jan 31, 2018

| time = 7:30 pm

| away = yes

| opponent = Long Beach State

| site_stadium = Walter Pyramid

| site_cityst = Long Beach, CA

| gamename = Black & Blue Rivalry

| attend = 2,833

| tv = FS Prime Ticket

| score = 75–68

| record = 10–14

| conference = 5–3

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Feb 3, 2018

| time = 7:00 pm

| away = yes

| opponent = Cal State Fullerton

| site_stadium = Titan Gym

| site_cityst = Fullerton, CA

| attend = 1,506

| tv = ESPNU

| score = 63–25

| record = 11–14

| conference = 6–3

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Feb 7, 2018

| time = 7:00 pm

| opponent = Cal State Northridge

| site_stadium = Bren Events Center

| site_cityst = Irvine, CA

| attend = 1,198

| tv = ESPN3

| score = 77–56

| record = 12–14

| conference = 7–3

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Feb 10, 2018

| time = 5:00 pm

| away = yes

| opponent = UC Riverside

| site_stadium = The SRC

| site_cityst = Riverside, CA

| attend = 504

| tv = Big West TV

| score = 62–52

| record = 13–14

| conference = 8–3

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Feb 15, 2018

| time = 8:00 pm

| opponent = Hawaii

| site_stadium = Bren Events Center

| site_cityst = Irvine, CA

| attend = 1,424

| tv = ESPN3

| score = 61–62

| record = 13–15

| conference = 8–4

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Feb 17, 2018

| time = 7:00 pm

| away = yes

| opponent = Cal Poly

| site_stadium = Mott Gym

| site_cityst = San Luis Obispo, CA

| attend = 2,403

| tv = Big West TV

| score = 75–58

| record = 14–15

| conference = 9–4

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Feb 22, 2018

| time = 7:30 pm

| opponent = UC Santa Barbara

| site_stadium = Bren Events Center

| site_cityst = Irvine, CA

| gamename = Homecoming

| attend = 2,318

| tv = FS Prime Ticket

| score = 69–49

| record = 15–15

| conference = 10–4

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Feb 24, 2018

| time = 10:00 pm

| away = yes

| opponent = Hawaii

| site_stadium = Stan Sheriff Center

| site_cityst = Honolulu, HI

| attend = 7,353

| tv = Spectrum Sports HI

| score = 66–57

| record = 16–15

| conference = 11–4

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Mar 3, 2018

| time = 7:30 pm

| opponent = UC Davis

| site_stadium = Bren Events Center

| site_cityst = Irvine, CA

| attend = 5,000

| tv = ESPN3

| score = 84–90

| overtime = OT2

| record = 16–16

| conference = 11–5

}}

|-

!colspan=9 style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|UC Irvine Anteaters}}| 2018 Big West Conference men's basketball tournament

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Mar 8, 2018

| time = 6:00 pm

| neutral = yes

| seed = 3

| opponent = Hawaii

| oppseed = 6

| site_stadium = Honda Center

| site_cityst = Anaheim, CA

| gamename = Quarterfinals

| tv = FS West/Prime Ticket

| score = 68–67

| attend = 3,311

| record = 17–16

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Mar 9, 2018

| time = 9:30 pm

| neutral = no

| seed = 3

| opponent = UC Santa Barbara

| oppseed = 2

| site_stadium = Honda Center

| site_cityst = Anaheim, CA

| gamename = Quarterfinals

| tv = ESPNU

| score = 61–58

| attend = 3,984

| record = 18–16

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Mar 10, 2018

| time = 9:00 pm

| neutral = yes

| seed = 3

| opponent = Cal State Fullerton

| oppseed = 4

| site_stadium = Honda Center

| site_cityst = Anaheim, CA

| gamename = Championship game

| tv = ESPN2

| score = 55–71

| attend = 5,664

| record = 18–17

}}

{{CBB schedule end|rank=| poll=AP poll|timezone=Pacific Time}}

Source{{Cite web |title=2017-18 Men's Basketball Schedule |url=https://ucirvinesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule/2017-18 |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=ucirvinesports.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=UC Irvine Anteaters Basketball 2017–18 Schedule – Anteaters Home and Away – ESPN |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/team/schedule/_/id/300/uc-irvine-anteaters |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=ESPN.com}}

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Category:UC Irvine Anteaters men's basketball seasons

Category:2010s in sports in Orange County, California

UC Irvine Anteaters

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