PEEK AT THE WEEK:College hoops set to tip off

Most of the time in basketball, the transition game is important, and when it’s performed correctly, it can be a thing of beauty.

Coincidentally, in the local sports scene, it is a time of transition and the change is appealing.

The last of the college basketball exhibition games loom, but so do the start of the games that count.

Meanwhile, the high school sports fall season charges on to the playoffs.

That’s where the college basketball teams want to be when the regular season ends.

It seems as if there is always optimism when Coach Pat Douglass’ UC Irvine squad begins the men’s basketball season. The golden opportunity remains: to become the first team in the program’s history to earn an NCAA Tournament berth.

The quest begins Friday, when the Anteaters face South Alabama at Fresno State, where the three-day Basketball Travelers Classic takes place. The ‘Eaters take on Winston-Salem State on Saturday and Fresno State on Sunday.

The Vanguard men and women open their season Saturday at the Pit, welcoming Holy Names from Oakland. Before that, the Vanguard women play an exhibition game at Arizona State tonight at 6.

Kelly Schmidt leads the Lions, who finished 32-2 last year and share the NAIA’s No. 1 preseason ranking with Union of Tennessee. Coach Russ Davis’ Lions will face Holy Names Saturday at 5:30 p.m.

First-year Lions coach Fred Litzenberger is eager to guide the men’s team in its home debut at 7:30 p.m Saturday.

The Orange Coast College women’s basketball team, which reached the state semifinals last year, opens at the Mt. San Antonio College Tournament Friday.

Mt. SAC defeated OCC in the state semifinals last year.

The OCC men, led by Coach Steve Spencer, open Thursday at the Ventura Tournament.

College women’s soccer, Vanguard at Azusa Pacific, NAIA Region II championship, 1 p.m. today: The Lions might be a bit wide-eyed, as they will play in their first region championship.

A win would also give the Lions a record 14 wins this season.

College men’s soccer, Vanguard at Azusa Pacific, NAIA Region II championship, Saturday, 1 p.m.: Coach Randy Dodge, who also guides the Lions’ women’s team, will take another shot at a regional crown.

Community college football, Golden West at Orange Coast, 5 p.m. Saturday: Officials for the annual rivalry game were about to call it, “Beach Bowl XL,” until it was discovered that it’s the 39th meeting between the teams.

It has been 40 years, however, since the first game in the series.

Orange Coast looks to be favored, but Golden West leads the series 19-17-2.

CIF Southern Section Girls’ volleyball playoffs: Corona del Mar High, Estancia, Newport Harbor and Sage Hill take part, beginning Tuesday.