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UCLA Basketball: Bruins Ranked 16th in Preseason AP Poll

By Mike Regalado

Jan 30, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins center Thomas Welsh (40) gets a high five from head coach Steve Alford as he leaves the game in the second half against the Washington State Cougars Pauley Pavilion. UCLA won 83-50. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 30, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins center Thomas Welsh (40) gets a high five from head coach Steve Alford as he leaves the game in the second half against the Washington State Cougars Pauley Pavilion. UCLA won 83-50. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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The UCLA Basketball team will start the 2016-17 season with a #16 ranking in the inaugural AP Top 25 Poll.

The UCLA Basketball team has just gotten the seal of approval from one of the most important media outlets, the AP Poll, as one of the Top 25 teams in the nation.

UCLA will start the season at #16 in the poll. BOOM!

After finishing 15-17 last year, the Bruins look to turn things around with three stellar freshman, a core of veterans and a new outlook on the program.

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The Bruins return key components Bryce Alford, Isaac Hamilton and Thomas Welsh who look to lead the charge, but also have a lot of help.

Aside from returners Aaron Holiday, Prince Ali and Gyorgy Goloman, UCLA has PG Lonzo Ball, PF T.J. Leaf and C Ike Anigbogu joining the roster and the talent they bring will kick the offense up a notch.

This season, UCLA will be running an uptempo offense which Ball will direct at the point guard spot. It will be a fast, efficient style which will utilize a lot of ball movement, outside shots and inside scoring.

The Bruins also have a treacherous schedule to navigate through as they play at Kentucky, twice against Oregon, at home against Michigan and in the CBS Sports Classic in Las Vegas against Ohio State. Treacherous, but exciting.

This is the first AP Top 25 preseason ranking for the Bruins since the 2013-14 season where they came in at #22.

Next: Preseason Rankings and Award Watch Lists

The Top five teams are as follows: #1 Duke, #2 Kentucky, #3 Kansas, #4 Villanova and #5 Oregon.