It's that quirky mascot with its even quirkier rallying cry. Mascots like that are hot this time of year, but what's even hotter is the team bearing its name.
The third-seeded UC Irvine Anteaters and their legion of Zot are going dancing for the first time after claiming the Big West Conference Tournament title, Saturday night at the Honda Center with a 67-58 win over 5-seed Hawaii. It's the first-ever Big West tournament win for the 'Eaters, breaking a streak of 0-4, and the first-ever appearance for the program in the NCAA Tournament.
"I'm just really satisfied and excited for our program and the UCI community to get to have this experience," said UC Irvine head coach Russell Turner. "Our players were recruited here to leave a mark on this community, and I feel like with our win tonight, they did that."
Turner has the most popular kid on campus in center Mamadou Ndiaye on his team. His wife works at the UC Irvine Medical Center. When the wins started piling up a couple years after he took the program over and the whole "Zot" thing got catchier and catchier, the alumni and the students started catching on a little more. Suddenly, Turner and the 'Eaters had the support of the community at a school that wasn't really known for one.
Proud of this program. Feels good to make history. Let's make some more history next weekend! Thank you to all the fans! #TogetherWeZot
— Russ Turner (@coachrussturner) March 15, 2015
And finally, they were able to reward that community after coming so close in the previous two years.
"Winning changes people," Turner said. "It can change schools and and that's what we hope to do - have a positive impact."
Two years ago, the Anteaters had their coming out party when they ousted the No. 1 seed in Long Beach State to earn a trip to the finals as the No. 4 seed. Last year, they cut down the nets at the Bren Events Center for the first time since 2001 and only the third time ever as the regular season champs.
Kansas, it is not; this isn't a program with much tradition. But that's been the plan all along since Turner came on board and recruited guys like Ndiaye, all-conference guard Luke Nelson and tournament MVP Will Davis II: Start new traditions.
Luke Nelson is completely beside himself! WHAT A WIN! #TogetherWeZot pic.twitter.com/BsXIAvakGp
— TOGETHER WE DANCE (@UCImbb) March 15, 2015
"That was one of the things that drew me here," Nelson said. "Knowing I could be a part of school history and do something special that has never been done here before."
Nelson used to record college basketball games in his childhood home of Henley, England. The drama, the atmosphere, the court storms - it might not be the typical dream of a kid in the U.K., but for Nelson, it was something that he wanted to be a part of.
The point guard was the essential piece to this whole puzzle: The Anteaters possess dominant bigs, complimentary bigs and role players on the wings. But Nelson can quarterback the entire operation on the floor while still hitting big three-point shots.
"The reason i recruited him is so we would have nights like tonight," Turner said. "Luke was 1-for-5 tonight from three, but every time he shot it I expected it to go in, because I've seen him in big games that were as meaningful for his national team as they were for our program tonight."
We are UC Irvine, and we are BIG WEST CHAMPS! #TogetherWeZot pic.twitter.com/fXsE5MnP84
— TOGETHER WE DANCE (@UCImbb) March 15, 2015
But the true foundation of this team isn't the flashy sophomores: It's seniors Davis and guard Travis Souza. The longtime teammates that played both travel and prep school ball together bring energy on the court and leadership off of it.
Davis became the first player to ever record double-doubles in all three tournament games and was rewarded for his efforts with the Tournament MVP award, but consider it a reward for his entire body of work.
"When we got here my sophomore year, we had the mindset that we were going to win everything," he said. "Then we realized that it wasn't that easy. Last year, we had the same mindset and we lost. This year, I felt like we had to make it - it's my senior year and there's no other option. We came out and we played our hearts out and we played victorious."
Hawaii, playing for an interim coach and trying to exorcise some of the demons from the NCAA investigation, took the Anteaters down to the wire in the championship game. The Rainbow Warriors defended so well against one of the top defensive teams in the conference. They took care of the basketball and they started out so fast.
An epic 2nd half surge helped UCI earn its first ever ticket to the Big Dance. Tonight's Championship #infographic pic.twitter.com/NuNL1Ox8mO
— TOGETHER WE DANCE (@UCImbb) March 15, 2015
They did everything right, but in the second half it somehow came out wrong. They overachieved by most standards this season, but now the tough part is waiting to see if the hammer will drop once again and if the 'Bows will still be playing for interim head coach Benji Taylor next season or not.
"Of course I wanted to go to the Tournament and win the championship, but at the same time, we had a 22-win season," said guard Garrett Nevels. "No one expected us to be here, but we stuck together as a team and made it this far and had a great season."
CSUN women repeat as champs
Big West Tournament semifinal recap: UC Irvine, Hawaii to square off in final
Tournament MVP Ashlee Guay once again led the Matadors to the promised land as No. 2 Cal State Northridge eliminated No. 1 Hawaii in the Big West Women's championship game, Saturday afternoon on Prime Ticket.
Last year's trip to the Dance was fun, but it also served to get the awe-factor out. This year, the Matadors are ready to dance deeper.
"Last year I think they were bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at the NCAA Tournament and excited to be there and just happy to be there," said head coach Jason Flowers. "Our goals we set at the beginning of the year is much more than just being happy to be at the NCAA Tournament."
