Jan 9, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins center Thomas Welsh (40) guard Aaron Holiday (3) guard Isaac Hamilton (10) and guard Bryce Alford (20) during the second half against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
With the UCLA Basketball 2016-17 season fast approaching, we take a look at what the Bruins are going up against and predict the outcome.
The UCLA Basketball team begins their new season in just about a month and they will hope to improve off of their 15-17 record from last season.
The Bruins brought in three elite freshmen to help a core of veteran players get back to competing for a Pac-12 Championship and a return to the NCAAs.
But before that happens, the Bruins have a tricky schedule to run through. Though it will be a tough task, this UCLA Basketball team is up to the challenge.
Here is the GJB prediction for the 2016-17 season:
Fri, Nov 11, vs Pacific – WIN
Sun, Nov 13, vs CSUN – WIN
Tue, Nov 17, vs San Diego – WIN
Sun, Nov 20, vs Long Beach State – WIN
There is absolutely no reason why UCLA shouldn’t be 4-0 by the time they get to the Wooden Legacy tournament. The Bruins will have played five games at this point (which includes an exhibition game against Masters University). This means the chemistry should be good, especially after their Australian tour.
Wooden Legacy (tournament)
Thu, Nov 24,vs Portland at Fullerton – WIN
Fti, Niov 25 vs Dayton or Nebraska – WIN/LOSS
Sun, Niov 27, Final Round WIN/LOSS
I do not doubt that the UCLA Basketball team will be better than last season, but there will be questions regarding the coaching of Steve Alford. Can he make the appropriate changes to make this team elite? Part of that has to do with game planning and adjustments. Will Alford have them? I am not sure, which is why it is possible the Bruins drop at least one of these games and finish the tournament 2-1.
Jan 9, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Aaron Holiday (3) reacts with guard Isaac Hamilton (10) after making a three pointer during the second half against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Non-Conference Schedule (continued)
Wed, Nov 30, vs UC Riverside – WIN
Sat, Dec 3, at Kentucky – LOSS
Sat, Dec 10, vs Michigan – WIN
Wed, Dec 14, vs UC Santa Barbara – WIN
Sat, Dec 17, vs Ohio State (in Las Vegas) – WIN
Wed, Dec 21, vs Western Michigan – WIN
Here is where things get interesting. The Bruins should be 6-1 heading into this final stretch of the non-conference season. They will need to get their game faces on as they prepare to do battle with three huge opponents.
The first will be against Kentucky. Last season, the Bruins shocked the #1 Wildcats at Pauley and you can guarantee UK has not forgotten, especially with this game at Rupp Arena. This will be UCLA’s second loss of the season.
The Bruins then jump into a Big Ten battle with Michigan, which should not be as bad as Kentucky, but will be no cake walk. The Bruins then play UC Santa Barbara before they head to Vegas for the CBS Sports Classic against Ohio State.
A victory against Western Michigan should wrap up the non-conference schedule with an 11-2 record.
February 4, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans guard Katin Reinhardt (5) moves the ball against UCLA Bruins center Thomas Welsh (40) during the second half at Galen Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Pac-12 Schedule
Wed, Dec 28, at Oregon – LOSS
Fri, Dec 30, at Oregon State – WIN
Thu, Jan 5, vs Cal – WIN
Sun, Jan 8, vs Stanford – WIN
Thu, Jan 12, at Colorado – WIN
Sat, Jan 14, at Utah – LOSS
Thu, Jan 19, vs Arizona State – WIN
Sat, Jan 21, vs Arizona – WIN
Wed, Jan 25, at USC – WIN
So Pac-12 play is finally here and if our predictions are accurate, the Bruins should be 11-2 at this point. Good, but concerning.
Last season, the Bruins had a fantastic non-conference schedule that included wins over #1 Kentucky and Gonzaga. That all went down the tubes as the Bruins ran out of gas by conference play and they ended their season 10th in the Pac-12.
But that was last year. This season, the Bruins should be better equipped to take on the pressures of the Pac-12.
With that, UCLA starts with a loss at Oregon. Along with another road loss, the Bruins should be able to boast a 7-2 conference record (18-4 overall) by the time they hit the halfway point of the Pac-12 schedule.
And yes, UCLA WILL beat Arizona at Pauley and USC at the Galen Center. UCLA should sweep USC this season after the embarrassment the Trojans handed the Bruins last season.
Feb 27, 2016; Stanford, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Aaron Holiday (3) is blocked by Stanford Cardinal center Grant Verhoeven (30) in the 2nd half at Maples Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
Pac-12 Schedule (continued)
More from Go Joe Bruin
Wed, Feb 1, at Washington State – WIN
Sat, Feb 4, at Washington – LOSS
Thu, Feb 9, vs Oregon – WIN
Sun Feb 12, vs Oregon State – WIN
Sat, Feb 18, vs USC – WIN
Thu, Feb 23, at Arizona State – WIN
Sat, Feb 25, at Arizona – LOSS
Wed, Mar 1, vs Washington – WIN
Sat , Mar 4, vs Washington State – WIN
UCLA now has good footing in the Pac-12 for the first time in three years. By this point, if our projections are correct, the Bruins should be in the top 3 of the conference.
After a win over USC on January 25, the Bruins should be 7-2. The schedule does not get any easier, but the Bruins should finish strong. At least a lot stronger than they were at the end of last season.
The only downfall from this season of improvement is the fact that the UCLA Basketball team will not get a road sweep. In the Alford-era, UCLA has never swept a Pac-12 road trip.
Luckily, they will not get swept either. Games at Arizona and Washington will be the only losses they sustain towards the end of the season. Other than that, the Bruins should finish 14-4 in the Pac-12 Conference and 25-6 overall record.
With that finish, UCLA could be in the running for the regular season Pac-12 title. They will also get back to the NCAA Tournament, potentially with a #2 or #3 seed. You heard it here first.
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