COLLEGES:

The axiom advises not to try to fix what isn’t broken. But, after a 1-8 start that included five different starting lineups, the UC Irvine men’s basketball team was clearly dealing with a compound fracture.

So, Coach Pat Douglass elected to try an experimental treatment, hoping 6-foot-8 freshman forward Adam Folker could personify a cure for the second worst start in school history.

Folker, who had missed all six of his field-goal attempts and had more turnovers (five) than rebounds (four) through his first seven appearances, totaling just 43 minutes of playing time, answered the call.

Folker, who averaged 31 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists and four blocked shots last season at Markham High in Ontario, Canada, had six points, nine boards, two blocks and just one turnover in 38 minutes in a loss to host Missouri State in his first start Sunday, the second of three games at the Travelers Tip-Off Tournament.

And while his stat line was less impressive Monday against Norfolk State (two points and four rebounds in 17 minutes), he converted his only field-goal attempt to help UCI post only its second victory in 11 contests.

With Folker at power forward, 6-8 senior Kevin Bland operated primarily at small forward, while 6-5 freshman Eric Wise played primarily at center.

Bland, who had been spending most of his time at center, clearly enjoyed the change. He produced 18 rebounds and 13 points in Monday’s win, the former obliterating his previous career high of 12.

And the aforementioned front line had 30 of the Anteaters’ 45 rebounds, allowing a team that had been outrebounded by nine per game heading into the tournament, to post a 10-rebound advantage against Norfolk State. The ’Eaters, in fact, won the rebounding battle in all three tournament games, posting a combined 114-93 edge. That cumulative effort reduced the per-game average deficit for the season to 4.7 rebounds.

 Lineup shifts may continue in the backcourt as well, where junior Michael Hunter and sophomore Patrick Rembert may be sharing more time together in future alignments, allowing senior Brett Lauer, shooting 50% on 40-three-point attempts this season, during which he has started seven times, to provide spark off the bench.

 Arguably, the UCI lineup may never reach its potential this season, since junior Darren Moore, a transfer from Citrus College, was sidelined for the season by a torn patella tendon after just six games, including four starts.

Many believe Moore, a long 6-foot-3 with more strength than UCI guards typically possess, provided the Anteaters with something they have been lacking in recent years.

Moore’s ability to penetrate and finish over both guards and frontline defenders as well, will be sorely missed. And, as perhaps the team’s best on-ball defender among the guards, his absence leaves the ’Eaters markedly more susceptible to penetration by opposing guards (e.g. the home loss to Seattle).

Though Moore averaged just 5.7 points per game this season, he may be irreplaceable.

 And how might the UCI lineup look with former Anteaters Adam Templeton (now at Drake) and Adam Rodenberg (Northern Iowa).

Templeton, a 6-5 redshirt junior, has started all 12 games this season for Drake (9-3), which beat Iowa, 60-43, Dec. 20. Templeton, who left UCI after his sophomore season in 2007, is averaging 6.3 points per game and shooting 41.9% from three-point range.

Rodenberg’s season ended after six games (all starts) last season due to a sports hernia. He then transferred at midseason to Northern Iowa, for which he made his debut Sunday.

In 21 minutes off the bench, the 6-6, 235-pounder had three points and five rebounds.

 While the UC Irvine women’s basketball team, lacking depth and consistency, faces a tough go this season, watching first-year coach Molly Goodenbour on the sideline is worth the price of admission.

It is clear that the former Stanford star, who guided Division II Chico State to a 52-11 record the last two seasons, will not abide uninspired, thoughtless play.

And with the sparse crowds at women’s games, fans can hear every constructively critical word Goodenbour, who is usually composed, yells.

 Kari Pestolesi, a first-team All-Big West Conference performer in her first two seasons for the UCI women’s volleyball team, is spending part of her holiday vacation sharpening her beach volleyball skills.

Pestolesi is among a small group of players invited by USA Volleyball to the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista for a training session today through Tuesday.

Pestolesi, a 5-11 outside hitter, teamed with UCI senior Devon Sutherland to win the Big West beach volleyball championships in April and represented the U.S. in the World University beach volleyball championships in Germany in July.

BARRY FAULKNER may be reached at (714) 966-4615 or at [email protected].