UCLA Basketball: 5 Things to Look For From Australia

1 of 6

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 /

The UCLA Basketball team is in the land down under for a three-game tour. With that, we will look at five things that could define the team for the 2016-17 season.

This is weird, basketball before football? Yes indeed as the UCLA Basketball team is already back from their summer vacation and it isn’t even Novemeber yet.

Starting tomorrow, the Bruins will start their 3-game tour of Australia in preparation for the new season and we get to take an early look at the newest edition of UCLA basketball.

The Bruins start their pre-preseason against Sydney University on August 23 at 7 p.m. Sydney Time, which means it will be on at 2 a.m. Pacific Time. Follow @GoJoeBruinUCLA on twitter for updates.

Since the end of last season where the Bruins were handed a first round loss to USC in the Pac-12 Tournament, finished 15-17 and were 10th in the conference, it has been a mission of Head Coach Steve Alford to change the perception of UCLA Basketball.

From a recruiting standpoint, he looks to have made improvements. This year the Bruins will be joined by Lonzo Ball, TJ Leaf and Ike Anigbogu. They will join a core of veterans which consists of Bryce Alford, Isaac Hamilton, Thomas Welsh, Aaron Holiday and Prince Ali.

So will these additions to the team as well as internal changes help elevate the Bruin’s status? That is what we will find out Tuesday morning. So with that, here are five things will be looking at as the Bruins start there

Next: Lonzo Ball, The Beginning