With UC Riverside's season-opening road ordeal almost over, pending tonight's game at Southern Utah, it seemed like an ideal time to play Twenty Questions. Of course, given the Highlanders' difficulties in finishing things this season, we might not get to 20.

1. So, is the glass half-empty or half-full?

Considering the circumstances, and the expectations, the Highlanders and their coaches have to be heartened even if the win-loss column (0-5) doesn't reflect it. Few expected them to be up 10 points at Arizona State in the second half, to be within striking distance for a while at Fresno State, or to be tied at halftime at UCLA.

2. Wasn't John Masi overly harsh after the UCLA game when he said, "We need better players to compete with these guys?"

Just painfully honest, but it's nothing he hasn't been saying all along. Last year, the Highlanders had three, maybe four bona-fide Division I players. This year, the talent level is a little better, but Masi estimates he needs at least one more recruiting class to get into the middle of the pack in the Big West.

3. Were the Highlanders really, as one anonymous poster on an Internet bulletin board suggested, "the worst team to come into Pauley in the last 10 years?"

Not even close. This guy must not have been paying attention when Morgan State came into Pauley two years ago and crumbled, 100-39.

4. So, when do they play UCLA again?

Not so fast. Masi is committed to playing two Pac-10 foes a year, and the Highlanders will play at USC and at either Cal or Washington State next season. Chancellor Ray Orbach suggested UCR might be on UCLA's schedule again in 2003, but nothing's official.

5. Is Masi being a little disingenuous when he talks about how rough it has been to start with six straight road games, seeing as he signed off on the schedule?

Maybe, but he does point out that "this is where the program is . . . this is the situation we're in." A young Division I program that plays in a 3,168-seat gym shouldn't expect many scheduling breaks, especially when those road-game guarantees help the program meet expenses. UCR did have a home game lined up Nov. 23 against Eastern Washington, but it fell through when the Eagles arranged a game at Minnesota that weekend.

6. And when UCR finally does get a stretch of games at home, it's after finals and all the students will be gone. What's up with that?

The students don't show up anyway, so maybe it's just as well.

Here's an example of what they're up against: One fan with a UCR sweatshirt at Pauley the other night identified himself as Eric Sha, a sophomore from Garden Grove. He attends UCR, but said he doesn't go to games at the Rec Center, where admission is free for students. His reasoning for driving 70 miles and paying $17 at Pauley: "I've always been a UCLA fan . . . I mostly came here to watch UCLA play."

7. Should they promote next Saturday's home opener with Division III UC Santa Cruz as "Guaranteed Win Night?"

UCR's marketers aren't touching that one.

8. Will they be the last Division I team to play a home game?

No. Alcorn State, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Northwestern State and Florida AM all are on the road until January. But none of them had to play two Top 25 teams in their first five.

9. Whatever happened to Ted Bell?

Last year, when Bell got the ball, he came up firing. Now he hesitates, often forfeiting the open shot because of that hesitation. It might take a big game for him to get his confidence and his stroke back.

10. What to do at shooting guard, then?

Three players have started at that position already -- Bell, Jake Wessel and Mark Miller (0 for 7 from the field against UCLA). Maybe it's time to give Jason Perkins a shot.

11. Shouldn't John Galbreath be getting more shots, and maybe some plays run for him?

Remember: 30 points a game in Washington JC ball doesn't necessarily translate to big numbers in Division I. Still, he should be getting more than two shots in 34 minutes, as he did against UCLA.

12. Is it too soon to think about where UCR might finish in its first Big West season?

A lot will depend on the Highlanders' response to these first six games. But on the CollegeRPI.com site, their RPI ranking of 293 is better than conference foes Cal State Northridge (301) and Idaho (323, out of 324), and right behind Cal State Fullerton (276), which is 1-5.

13. What about . . .

Sorry. We're out of space.

Jim Alexander can be reached by fax at (909) 782-6009, or by e-mail at jalexander@pe.com .