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UCLA Basketball: Bruins vs. the Pac-12 Preview

By Mike Regalado

December 10, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Lonzo Ball (2) dunks to score a basket against the Michigan Wolverines during the second half at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
December 10, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Lonzo Ball (2) dunks to score a basket against the Michigan Wolverines during the second half at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 21, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Lonzo Ball (2) shoots against the Western Michigan Broncos in the second half at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 21, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Lonzo Ball (2) shoots against the Western Michigan Broncos in the second half at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /

Pac-12 Preview, Cont.

Clearly, this is a different team than UCLA Basketball displayed last season. Lonzo Ball, TJ Leaf and Ike Anigbogu are three freshmen that have really helped elevate the Bruins back to an elite level.

They have fit in perfectly with veterans Bryce Alford, Isaac Hamilton, Thomas Welsh and Aaron Holiday and should do good things against their conference opponents. Last season, the Bruins had most of these pieces in place, but bad roster management and a thin depth chart helped lead to their late season downfall.

That changes this season. Not only do the Bruins have depth, but all of their pieces are fitting nicely into place. They also have Ball who is an expert at pacing the game in UCLA’s favor.

The result: 13-0 in non-conference and a #2 ranking. So what will happen in the Pac-12?

Related Story: Predicting the UCLA Basketball 2016-17 Season

In my preseason schedule analysis, I predicted the Bruins would go 14-4 in the Pac-12. I still believe this will happen with losses all away from Pauley Pavilion at Oregon, Utah, Washington and Arizona, but that could change.

Looking at each of these four team’s non-conference performances and how the Bruins have done on the road, it is possible for the Bruins to go into Utah and Washington and win. That means possibly losing at Oregon and Arizona, though that could also turn out wins for the Bruins, but let us not get ahead of ourselves.

If UCLA beats Oregon in their first Pac-12 game of the season, that will set the tone for the rest of the schedule.