UC Irvine Basketball: 2019-20 season preview for the Anteaters

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SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 22: Tommy Rutherford #42 of the UC Irvine Anteaters controls the ball against Makol Mawien #14 and Barry Brown Jr. #5 of the Kansas State Wildcats in the second half during the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at SAP Center on March 22, 2019 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

Projected Starting Frontcourt

The UC Irvine front court will be equally as strong, if not stronger in 2019-20. The front court has now lost Jonathan Galloway, a First Team All-Big West selection from last year’s team, as well as Elston Jones. Filling in for them may be tough at first, but I think this UC Irvine team has the size and depth in the front court to ease the pain Galloway’s absence might bring. Tommy Rutherford was the other starting forward in addition to Galloway who’s back and will start again for the Anteaters.

Collin Welp is also back to be a strong force for this UC Irvine front court once again. This year, he will start. Last season, UC Irvine favored a backcourt dominant starting lineup. Things may very well stay they same, but I think they might play larger this year. Their extra size will come from the presence of Freshman Emmanuel Tshimanga. I think he might be given the start at center.

Collin Welp | 6’9 | 215 | Sophomore

Collin Welp is the son of the late Christian Welp, a Washington Huskies basketball legend and former NBA player. Welp was only one of the many UC Irvine players to come from NBA bloodlines. As a freshman last year, Welp brought fire and great leadership ability right from the start. He was third on the team in scoring, first of the frontcourt players, averaging 8.6 ppg while grabbing 4.3 ppg.

When he was on the court he was making game changing plays. When he was off of the court, he was rallying the team from the bench, always being the first guy to react when his teammates in battle made great things happen. It’s quite something that Welp managed to average 8.6 ppg while only being given 16 minutes per game. He will certainly be given more this year. I think he is capable of being one of the best forwards in the Big West.

Tommy Rutherford | 6’8 | 240 | Senior

Tommy Rutherford was a starter with Jonathan Galloway in the front court last season. As a junior, he averaged 6.7 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. He is big, smart with the basketball, and makes clutch plays down low when it matters the most. From watching UC Irvine, I noticed that just like Collin Welp, Rutherford also has outstanding leadership. His leadership this year as a senior may be extremely important to the success of this UC Irvine squad. I think he will also establish himself as one of the better forwards in the Big West.

Emmanuel Tshimanga | 7’0 | 300 | Freshman

Emmanuel Tshimanga is a Freshman from Montreal, Canada. I think he will be important to this UC Irvine team right from the start in 2019-20. For teams that lose a lot of depth, it is often necessary to give good minutes to their Freshmen players immediately. For replacing that size that Galloway had, I think Tshimanga will start at center. At 7’0, 300 lbs, Tshimanga will be a very threatening force down low and may instanly give other teams in the Big West trouble underneath the basket.