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Montana State Vs UCLA : Welcome Back UCLA Basketball!

By Mike Regalado

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Welcome back UCLA basketball! The Bruins return Friday night to Pauley Pavilion for the first game of the 2014-15 season! Are you ready for a late night of Bruin hoops? Because UCLA has got you covered! In a grand entrance to the new season of college basketball, the Pac-12 Networks has three games coming to you, with the Bruin’s game third of the triple-header as they face the Montana State Bobcats of the Big Sky Conference. Let’s Go Bruins!

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Tip-Off: 9 p.m. PT

Location: Pauley Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA

Tickets: uclabruins.com

TV: Pac-12 Networks

Radio/On-line: KLAC AM 570 (Los Angeles)/TuneIn

Odds: N/A

Mar 21, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Bryce Alford (20) and guard Norman Powell (4) react as they head to the locker room after the first half of a men

Preview: The UCLA Bruins are a shell of what they were last season as Kyle Anderson, Jordan Adams, Zach LaVine, David Wear and Travis Wear have all moved on from the Bruins. Norman Powell, Tony Parker and Bryce Alford are the most experienced players on the team with Noah Allen and Wanaah Bail making guest appearances in only a few games last year. They also get redshirt freshman Isaac Hamilton in for active duty as he will be sharing the point guard duties with Alford. Aside from the inexperience, of the entire team, there is some talent here that can master the Bruin’s up-tempo offense.

In regards to depth, having a thin back court is an issue as it affects the balance of the entire team. Luckily, head coach Steve Alford bulked up the front court with freshmen that are not only tall and excellent at rebounding, but can shoot and handle the ball as well.

Kevon Looney, Thomas Welsh and Gyorgy Goloman will all look to help out the Bruins in their effort to find an identity for the up-coming season. I can tell you this though, being at the exhibition against Azusa Pacific where the Bruins won 80-53, there are a lot of things the Bruins need to work on (like defense), but the most relieving sight was watching long arms reaching up for every ball off the glass and at the end of those arms were bodies with UCLA jerseys on them. There will be rebounds, people!

As for the Montana State Bobcats, they are coming out of the Big Sky Conference as a team in transition. Last year they were 14-17 which capped off four consecutive losing seasons for former head coach Brad Huse who resigned because of it. Montana State then hired Brian Fish who has been with Oregon Ducks head coach Dana Altman for the last decade. Though he looks to bring some of that Pac-12 swagger with him, it is going to be a tough road as he loses the top two scores from last season. Marcus Colbert is the returning leading scorer who averaged 9.4 points per game last season. Other than that, the Bobcats are a young squad that will be looking to shape their own identity when they face the Bruins.

For more in-depth basketball coverage, including preview guides, analysis and opinion, stay with Go Joe Bruin.