The UC Irvine men's basketball team looks to build upon a historic 2024-25 campaign that rewrote the record books.  Coming off a school-record 32-7 season that ended in title game of the NIT, UCI enters the 2025-26 season with renewed energy and fresh faces ready to carry the torch. While new personnel brings exciting possibilities and untapped potential, the winning culture and championship expectations remain firmly entrenched at UCI. To get ready for another exciting year here are five things to look forward to in 2025-26.

WARMING-UP WITH THE SUN DEVILS
In an exciting change from what used to be closed scrimmages, UCI will play two exhibition games against Power4 teams open to fans.

UCI will entertain Arizona State Sunday (Oct. 12) at noon at the Bren Events Center.

The Sun Devils were 13-20 overall last season, ending the year in the first round of the College Basketball Crown Tournament.

UCI will travel up the 405 to visit UCLA for another exhibition, Oct. 28 at Pauley Pavilion. Tip is 7:00 p.m.

"We wish we would be able to play these types of teams in the regular season, but it's a reality of the rules and scheduling philosophies that we can't get Power4 teams to play us," head coach Russell Turner said.  "These exhibitions allow our fans to see us in these games in what in previous year's would have been closed door scrimmages."

THEY'RE BAAACK
A trio of talented guards, Andre Henry, Jurian Dixon and Derin Saran, return to the Anteater lineup this season.

Henry, the 2023-24 Big West Defensive Player of the Year, suffered a leg injury early last season but is back to full speed and health. Henry was averaging 7.6 points over the first nine games a year ago. In 2023-24, the graduate student played and started in all 34 games, averaging 10.3 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.

Dixon was named Big West Freshman of the Year after averaging 8.8 points per game. He was second on the team in steals (35) and was the top ranked starting guard in field goal percentage (.432). Dixon posted a career-high 23-point performance, that included a perfect 9-9 at the free throw line at UC Santa Barbara on Mar. 8, 2025.

Saran is back after a year at Stanford where he played five games before being sidelined with an injury. In 2023-24, Saran averaged 10.1 points and 3.4 rebounds with 51 assists and 27 steals.

"Derin looks entirely different physically," Turner noted. "His physical growth has been dramatic from where he was when he left us. That's a credit to how hard he has worked."

Other returning perimeter players that will figure into the Anteater game plan are Torian Lee, Ben Egbo and Tishan Ahir. Lee, played in all 39 games and was one the team's best three-point shooters, knocking down 35.

Another talented player, Langston Redfield will redshirt this season.

BIG MEN
"The big guys will be looking to step into greater roles this year and are hungry and versatile," Turner said. "We don't have the same weight as we had with Bent and Devin, but we have excellent players in the interior and good depth."

Forward Kyle Evans will provide veteran leadership in the post. He played in all 39 games last season, posting a team-best .670 field goal percentage (71-106) and is the returning blocks leader with 48 a year ago. He averaged 4.4 points and 3.4 rebounds per game as a junior.

Elijah Chol totaled 25 rebounds, 26 points and 20 blocks in 29 games, while Akiva McBirney-Griffin returns after a redshirt year. In 2022-23, McBirney-Griffin made eight starts and averaged 2.3 points and 1.7 rebounds on the season.

"Kyle provides some veteran leadership even though he has only been in the program one year," Turner said. "Kyle is expecting to increase his role and grow in what he can provide individually. He benefitted from coming into a program, that he fits into really well, in terms of the things that he does at a high level so he should be able to build on last season's performance."

"I'm excited for Eli who has been patiently waiting for the opportunity that is here for him this year than was available last year," Turner continued. "Akiva had an injury that kept him out all last year and he is healthy now and moving really well and playing better than I've seen him before. He has been a contributing player for us off the bench and as a starter and play effectively so I'm excited for him too."

Depth will come from newcomers Harrison Carrington and Nes Emeneke. Carrington is a junior transfer from Colorado where he saw action in 30 games for the Buffs, averaging 3.1 points and 1.2 rebounds. Emeneke is a talented freshman from Archbishop Riordan High School who will add good rebounding and shot blocking as well as being physical presence, while Hodges, who hails from San Juan Hills High School, is a highly competitive, versatile player with an outstanding shooting stroke.

NEW FACES
Along with the new post players, four new freshmen guards join the Anteater squad - Tama Isaac, Bryce Goldman, Luke Isaak and Joshua Palmer.

Isaac, from New Zealand, is coming off an impressive performance at the U19 World Cup.

"Tama is a point guard and a tone setter and an outstanding individual defender at this stage and someone who makes his team better with all of the different things he does well on offense," Turner noted.

Goldman played his prep career at Chaminade, while Isaak is from San Ramon High School and Palmer from St. Bernard High School.

"Bryce is one of the most energetic and competitive guys. Luke is a great shooter and a smartest guys and easiest to play with and Palmer is a son of a coach and he adapts to things quickly."

While not new to the roster, Jevon Jester Jr. will make his court debut after redshirting last season.

"Jevon is a talented two-way player both offensively and defensively that is working hard to see where he fits in our hierarchy right now but I'm excited for him and his future."

LOCK DOWN D
A hallmark of head coach Russell Turner's squads is defense.

"I'm excited about the defensive potential of this group," Turner ended. "We are different defensively than last year's group and hoping we can be better than what was a historically good defensive team. It won't be easy and we have a long way to go on that, but I know we are going to emphasize our defensive performance as being a big part of what enables us to win. We have good buy-in and physical talent for the stuff that we do defensively and excited to see the versatility this team has."

Last year, the Anteaters were third in the nation in defensive rebounds (29.08) and 10^th in field goal percentage defense (39.3).