2013–14 UC Riverside Highlanders men's basketball team

2013–14 UC Riverside Highlanders men's basketball
Conference Big West Conference
2013–14 record 10–21 (5–11 Big West)
Head coach Dennis Cutts (1st year)
Assistant coach Mike Miller
Assistant coach Justin Bell
Assistant coach Stephen Sauers
Home arena UC Riverside Student Recreation Center
2013–14 Big West men's basketball standings
Conf     Overall
Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT
UC Irvine 13 – 3   .813     23 – 12   .657
UC Santa Barbara 12 – 4   .750     21 – 9   .700
Long Beach State 10 – 6   .625     15 – 17   .469
Hawaii 9 – 7   .563     20 – 11   .645
Cal State Northridge 7 – 9   .438     17 – 18   .486
Cal Poly † 6 – 10   .375     14 – 20   .412
Cal State Fullerton 6 – 10   .375     11 – 20   .355
UC Riverside 5 – 11   .313     10 – 21   .323
UC Davis 4 – 12   .250     9 – 22   .290
† 2014 Big West Tournament winner

The 2013–14 UC Riverside Highlanders men's basketball team represented the University of California, Riverside during the 2013–14 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Highlanders are led by first year head coach Dennis Cutts and played their home games at the UC Riverside Student Recreation Center as members of the Big West Conference. They finished the season 10–21, 5–11 in Big West play to finish in eighth place. They lost in the quarterfinals of the Big West Conference Tournament to UC Irvine.

Season

Preseason

Sam Finley was the only recruit that UC Riverside signed in their 2013-14 class, and the shooting guard from Corona, California, signed his Letter of Intent on November 16, 2012.[1][2] The 6'2", 180 pound guard was rated as a two-star prospect by ESPN.com.[3] Finley averaged 19.4 points per game in his senior season for Centennial High School.[1]

On July 10, 2013, Jim Wooldridge, who had been the Highlanders' head coach for the past six seasons, was named UC Riverside's interim athletic director, replacing Brian Wickstrom, who left to take the AD job at the University of Louisiana at Monroe.[4] Wooldridge had amassed 70 wins over six years as the Highlanders' head coach. Longtime assistant coach Dennis Cutts was named as Wooldridge's interim successor.[4]

Cutts announced the team's complete season schedule on July 23, 2013.[5] The Highlanders' notable games featured road match-ups against San Diego State, Southern Utah, Air Force, and North Texas. UC Riverside also announced that they would play host to teams such as Montana State, Pepperdine, and Northern Illinois. The Highlanders' 16-game conference slate included one home game and one away game against each of the other eight members of the Big West Conference.[5]

On August 14, 2013, Cutts announced the hiring of 23 year coaching veteran Steven Sauers to fill the open assistant coaching spot left vacant when Cutts took the head coaching job.[6] Sauers had previously served as the director of basketball operations for the Seton Hall Pirates, and also spent time as an assistant for Marist and Iona.[6]

The Highlanders played one preseason exhibition on November 1, against Ponoma-Pitzer, winning by a score of 83–73. Chris Patton led the Highlanders with 27 points in the exhibition victory.[7]

Roster

2013–14 UC Riverside Highlanders men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year High School/Junior College Home town
G 0 Gruninger, NickNick Gruninger style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 160 lb (73 kg) Jr Davis HS
Snow CC		 Kaysville, UT
G 1 Finley, SamSam Finley style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 185 lb (84 kg) Fr Centennial HS Riverside, CA
G 3 Standifer, CharlesCharles Standifer style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 185 lb (84 kg) Jr Capital Christian HS Sacramento, CA
F 5 Johns, TaylorTaylor Johns style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 220 lb (100 kg) So Sacred Heart Prep San Francisco, CA
G 10 Jones, StevenSteven Jones style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 175 lb (79 kg) So Taft HS Winnetka, CA
F 11 Owens, TreTre Owens style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 185 lb (84 kg) So Farragut Career Academy Rota, Spain
F 15 Harriel, ChrisChris Harriel style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 185 lb (84 kg) Sr King HS
Portland State		 Moreno Valley, CA
F 20 Gruber, ColinColin Gruber style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 190 lb (86 kg) Jr Harbor HS
Northern Arizona
Cabrillo CC		 Aptos, CA
F 21 Devenny, LucasLucas Devenny style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 240 lb (109 kg) Sr Piner HS
UC Santa Barbara		 Santa Rosa, CA
F 24 Thornton, StevenSteven Thornton style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 205 lb (93 kg) Jr Golden Valley HS Santa Clarita, CA
G 35 Quick, AustinAustin Quick style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 180 lb (82 kg) Jr Murrieta Valley HS Murrieta, CA
F 54 Patton, ChrisChris Patton style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 246 lb (112 kg) Sr Nazareth College Prep
Southern Idaho
Neosho CC		 Melbourne, Australia
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Schedule and results

Source:

Date Opponent Result Record Site (Attendance)
Exhibition
11/1/2013* Pomona-Pitzer W 83–73  0–0 UC Riverside Student Recreation Center (N/A)
Non-conference games
11/8/2013* at San Diego State L 41–77  0–1 Viejas Arena (12,414)
11/13/2013* Pepperdine L 66–69  0–2 UC Riverside Student Recreation Center (N/A)
11/16/2013* Montana State W 72–67  1–2 UC Riverside Student Recreation Center (2,355)
11/23/2013* at Southern Utah W 74–59  2–2 Centrum Arena (1,507)
11/25/2013* at Seattle L 68–69  2–3 KeyArena (1,883)
12/2/2013* Loyola Marymount L 69–73  2–4 UC Riverside Student Recreation Center (370)
12/5/2013* La Verne W 92–77  3–4 UC Riverside Student Recreation Center (347)
12/14/2013* at Air Force L 52–62  3–5 Clune Arena (1,702)
12/16/2013* at Northern Colorado L 60–63  3–6 Butler–Hancock Sports Pavilion (952)
12/20/2013* UIC W 57–56  4–6 UC Riverside Student Recreation Center (145)
12/22/2013* Northern Illinois L 64–71  4–7 UC Riverside Student Recreation Center (236)
12/29/2013* at Sacramento State L 67–69  4–8 Colberg Court (504)
1/2/2014* Waldorf W 85–43  5–8 UC Riverside Student Recreation Center (213)
1/4/2014* at North Texas L 72–76  5–9 The Super Pit (1,872)
Conference games
1/9/2014 at Cal State Fullerton L 73–78  5–10 (0–1) Titan Gym (879)
1/11/2014 UC Irvine L 52–72  5–11 (0–2) UC Riverside Student Recreation Center (1,965)
1/16/2014 at UC Davis W 81–69  6–11 (1–2) The Pavilion (2,013)
1/19/2014 at Hawaiʻi L 69–100  6–12 (1–3) Stan Sheriff Center (7,705)
1/23/2014 UC Santa Barbara L 65–68 OT 6–13 (1–4) UC Riverside Student Recreation Center (1,236)
1/25/2014 Cal Poly W 61–58  7–13 (2–4) UC Riverside Student Recreation Center (1,196)
1/30/2014 at Cal State Northridge L 89–93 OT 7–14 (2–5) Matadome (1,287)
2/6/2014 Cal State Fullerton W 72–69  8–14 (3–5) UC Riverside Student Recreation Center (783)
2/8/2014 Long Beach State L 76–88  8–15 (3–6) UC Riverside Student Recreation Center (1,064)
2/13/2014 Hawaiʻi L 76–87  8–16 (3–7) UC Riverside Student Recreation Center (1,074)
2/15/2014 at UC Irvine L 52–70  8–17 (3–8) Bren Events Center (2,986)
2/20/2014 at UC Santa Barbara L 54–55  8–18 (3–9) UC Santa Barbara Events Center (2,417)
2/22/2014 at Cal Poly L 64–69  8–19 (3–10) Mott Gym (2,029)
3/1/2014 Cal State Northridge W 106–105 2OT 9–19 (4–10) UC Riverside Student Recreation Center (663)
3/6/2014 UC Davis W 78–65  10–19 (5–10) UC Riverside Student Recreation Center (1,485)
3/8/2014 at Long Beach State L 67–74  10–20 (5–11) Walter Pyramid (2,151)
Big West Tournament
03/13/2014 vs. UC Irvine
(Quarterfinals)		 L 43–63  10–21 Honda Center (3,693)
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. ( ) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Pacific Time.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "UCR: Centennial’s Sam Finley signs letter of intent". pe.com. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
  2. ↑ "SAM FINLEY SIGNS NATIONAL LETTER OF INTENT TO PLAY BASKETBALL AT UC RIVERSIDE". GoHighlanders.com. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Sam Finley". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "UC RIVERSIDE'S JIM WOOLDRIDGE NAMED INTERIM ATHLETICS DIRECTOR". GoHighlanders.com. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "INTERIM HEAD COACH DENNIS CUTTS ANNOUNCES 2013-14 MEN'S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE". GoHighlanders.com. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "MEN'S BASKETBALL ADDS 23-YEAR VETERAN STEPHEN SAUERS TO COACHING STAFF". GoHighlanders.com. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
  7. ↑ "MEN'S BASKETBALL PICKS UP 83-73 PRESEASON VICTORY OVER VISITING POMONA-PITZER". GoHighlanders.com. Retrieved November 2, 2013.