UC Irvine is the top seed in the Big West Tournament, which starts Thursday in Anaheim. The Anteaters only lost three conference games this year. One was the last time they played, a two point loss to Cal State Northridge. Before that they'd won six straight games. A three-point road loss to UC Santa Barbara was another defeat while the only other was by seven to Long Beach State. The Anteaters face LBSU in this first tourney game. While they've already avenged the loss to the 49ers by winning the rematch 70-55 on February 19th, don't expect UC Irvine to be at anything but their best Thursday. That loss to CS Northridge last week gives them added motivation and it's not like the Anteaters had a strong enough regular season where they can afford a loss this weekend. They need the conference's auto bid. Whether they get it or not remains to be seen, but there should be not much trouble blowing out a Long Beach State team that won only three games away from home and gave up over 80 points/game. Play UC Irvine