The 2020-21 UC Irvine men's basketball team might be one of the youngest teams in the NCAA, however the Anteaters have two experienced and talented leaders at the helm.

Head coach Russell Turner announced senior center Brad Greene and junior forward Collin Welp as team captains for the 2020-21 season.

Greene and Welp are both all-conference players and return as UCI's leading rebounder and scorer, respectively. The pair has helped UCI win back-to-back Big West regular season championships, a Big West Tournament and an NCAA Tournament game.

Now as the leaders of a very young team, the goals for the season remain the same, "As a team we are looking to win another Big West Regular Season Championship, Conference Championship and advance in the NCAA Tournament. This is an achievable goal for our team given our talent and competitive drive," remarked Greene. "Given that our team is young and lacks collegiate experience, the talent of the team and the want to win will be our driving forces through the season."

"One goal we've discussed as a team is to come to the gym and compete every day," added Welp. "We're one of the youngest teams in the country so every opportunity we get to get better or show how good we can be we have to take. We also want to win the Big West Tournament and advance in the NCAA Tournament at the end of the season."

Both Anteaters have helped the UCI program reach record breaking heights, while also achieving several personal accolades. Welp was named the 2020 Big West Sixth Man of the Year, an all-conference first team selection, a 2019 Big West All-Tournament player and returns as UCI's leading scorer. His personal goals for this season include stepping into this new leadership role and helping his team win as many games as possible.

Greene, the Big West's top returning rebounder and an all-conference honorable mention pick, was a redshirt during UCI's 2019 NCAA Tournament run. With last season's Big West Tournament and NCAA Tournament cancelations, he has yet to play on the big stage and that is a personal drive for him this season.
 
"I am looking to win a conference championship and get the chance to advance in the NCAA Tournament. With last year being cut short, and another opportunity missed for me to play at that level, I want the chance to show I belong there."
 
With the uncertainty of everything that surrounds the ongoing pandemic, Greene and Welp have been tasked with leading the young Anteater team through these unprecedented times, keeping spirits high and maintaining all eyes on the prize.
 
"There has been an excitement and eagerness to get back to game play and competing. After a lot of uncertainty, once games and schedules were announced there is a renewed energy to get back out there. The returners are looking forward to getting back to where we left off, redshirts looking to show how they have been working, and freshmen to show what got them here. The competitiveness that is shown through practice reflects this and we can't wait to show it on the court," said Greene.
 
"We've had a really positive vibe in practice this far," added Welp. "Everyone is really excited to finally get back out on the court playing games after such a long time of being in quarantine. I've just been trying to remind the guys to not get too far ahead of ourselves and take it a day at a time because it's important we take advantage of every opportunity we get to get better whenever we're in the gym together."

With five new faces on the roster, Welp and Greene are both excited to bring the newcomers and redshirts into the fold and build a great team chemistry.

"The new guys are making a great impact on the team. They each offer something valuable to the team and bring a competitive spirit. They are meshing well with everyone, which offers a greater chemistry within our team. As we head into season the new guys are going to have to not only adapt to the level of play, but also play with confidence," said Greene.
 
"We have a really talented group of incoming freshmen and some guys seeing the court for the first time after a redshirt year. The adjustment period was shortened because of our condensed preseason practice schedule, but they are picking up things really fast, excited to learn and gain experience. They'll have a really important role on the team because we have such a young team we really need everyone to contribute in one way or another," added Welp.

While they continue to mentor the 13 underclassman on the team, Greene and Welp continue to improve aspects of their individual game and had plenty of time during the extended offseason.

"I worked on my agility and explosiveness to improve how I move around the court. A lot of my career had been focused on losing weight, I took a step back from that to also develop my offensive skill set alongside my confidence," said Greene.

"I spent a lot of time this offseason working on my body and getting in better shape than I've ever been in. Whether that was lifting weights, working on my athleticism, or going to the track and working on my speed and endurance. I wanted to make sure that I was able to play at a high level for extended minutes in games over a long season if the team needs it," added Welp.

While Greene and Welp are tasked with leading this 2020-21 Anteater squad, they both remember the 'Eaters that came before and helped shape them into the leaders they are today.

"We've had a high standard of winning even before I got to the team and I feel like following the lead of guys like Jonathan Galloway, Eyassu Worku, and Max Hazzard, as well as others that have been successful or won championships over their career, have really helped me become the leader and player I am now," added Welp.
 
"Jonathan Galloway and Jaron Martin are two captains I have had that influenced the way I carry myself not only as a team captain but as a player. Both of these individuals have influenced me through the way they carried themselves on the court, but also through the way they made themselves heard. Their presence through both their work tendencies and in how they used their voice with the team on and off the court have created the model of leadership that I try to follow," remarked Greene.
 
Along with influential past players, Greene and Welp both credit the Anteater coaching staff for helping them develop the confidence, skills and leadership they possess today.
 
"The coaching staff, especially Coach Badrtalei and Coach Turner, have helped me the most in getting to the leadership role I have now. The trust and confidence they both showed in not only my character but the player that I am pushed me to understand more about the game," said Greene.
 
Welp added "All of the coaches I've had since being at UCI have helped me become a better leader and player."
 
UCI is set to tip off the 2020-21 season Wednesday, Nov. 25^th at 3:30 p.m. against Pepperdine at Viejas Arena.