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UCLA Basketball: Australia Tour Schedule Announced

By Mike Regalado

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
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 /
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The UCLA Basketball team has released their 3-game, 10-day schedule of their upcoming tour of Australia.

The UCLA Basketball team is heading to the land down under (cue Men At Work).

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All summer we have been hearing about the Bruin’s trip to Australia and yesterday UCLABruins.com released the schedule and information about the 10-day trip.

From August 19-31 the UCLA Basketball team will be touring three cities in the great country of Australia as well as playing three exhibition games to prepare for the 2016-17 season.

Here is the game schedule for the tour:

  • Tuesday, August 23, 7 p.m. (2:30 a.m. PT) vs Sydney University at Brydens Stadium
  • Satruday, August 27, 7 p.m. vs Melbourne United (of Australia’s National Basketball League) at the State Basketball Centre
  • Monday, August 29, 7 p.m. vs Brisbane Bullets (NBL) at the Logan Metro Indoor Sports Centre

Aside from playing games in Sydney, Melbourne and the Gold Coast (respectively), the Bruins will visit several locations during their stops in each city.

Part of their tour includes visits to the Taronga Zoo, Sydney Opera House, Melbourne’s 88-story Eureka Skydeck, the site of the Australian Open (tennis), the Melbourne Cricket Grounds, the Currumblin Wildlife Park and Surfer’s Paradise at the Gold Coast Beach.

UCLA Bruins
UCLA Bruins /

UCLA Bruins

With the NCAA allowing teams to venture to far-off lands every four years, this Australia trip will be the first time the UCLA Basketball team travels outside the US in the preseason since the team visited Beijing and Shanghai in 2012 as part of the Pac-12 Conference goodwill tour.

This will also be the first time the Bruins play with incoming freshmen Lonzo Ball, TJ Leaf and Ike Anigbogu.

After going 15-17 last season, the UCLA Basketball team looks to improve with these three freshmen who are joining an experienced core of players that consists of Isaac Hamilton, Bryce Alford, Thomas Welsh, Aaron Holiday and Prince Ali.

A lot of the buzz around this team heading into the season is centered around Ball who is expected to be a game changer.

Last year, Ball and his brothers, LiAngelo Ball and Lamelo Ball (both UCLA Basketball commits) led Chino Hills HS to an undefeated season and an official national championship.

Ball is essentially a baller. He not only has advanced skills as a point guard and distributor, but is also a superb outside shooter. With the influx of high end talent the Bruins have coming in, Ball and the other freshmen could help boost UCLA’s status and hopefully return them to an elite level in 2016-17.

Next: Let's Forget About Alford

Go Bruins!