Based on what we saw from the UCLA Basketball team this season, here are 5 bold predictions for the Bruins for the 2017-18 season.
The 2016-17 season is over which means we can now look to the 2017-18 season for the UCLA Basketball team.
There are several unknowns with the Bruins, especially in regards to who is going to stick around for next year, but there is also a lot of consistency to build off of.
With that in mind, here are five boldl predictions for UCLA next season.
1. Welsh and Anigbogu Will Be The Most Dominant Frontcourt Duo in the Pac-12
The Bruins are losing a handful of players, though two that should be staying, will also be important to the style and consistency of UCLA Basketball heading into next season.
Soon-to-be senior center Thomas Welsh and sophomore Ike Anigbogu will dominate their opponents all next season and will be the best front court in the Pac-12 Conference. You heard it here first.
Welsh has become a very effective offensive player, especially with his baseline and mid-range jumpers. He was also the leading rebounder on the Bruins so if he can put on a few pounds, all while working on his defense, then he also has a case to be the best big man In the conference.
Anigbogu is already well-suited to play defense underneath the rim and has shown that he can be dominant around the boards, but he can also throw down some ferocious dunks, which will be very intimidating for the rest of the conference.
With both of these big men leading UCLA’s front court next season, they should be the best duo in the conference, if not the country.
2. The 2017 Recruits Will Be Collectively Better Than The 2016 Class
Lonzo Ball is an amazing player that did it all and made everyone around him better. TJ Leaf was a scoring machine down low and adapted very well to the college game. Ike Anigbogu was a defensive presence that continues to develop. A good group, but UCLA will have a better one next year.
Next season, the Bruins add six freshman (though none of them will be as generational as Lonzo Ball) and should collectively have a bigger impact than the 2016 class.
Ball, Leaf and Anigbogu were difference makers for the Bruins this season as they went from a 15-17 team, to a 31-5 team, but it gets even better next year.
With quality becoming a quantity next season, the Bruins will not only have one of their deepest squads in the Steve Alford era, but their rotation should keep players fresh, as well as give UCLA plenty of arsenal to go against any and all opponents next season.
Three players made a big difference this past season and next year, the six new Bruins will continue that trend, which will lead to…
3. UCLA Will Beat Kentucky and Avenge Their Sweet 16 Loss, Go Undefeated in Non-Conference
The Bruins play Kentucky for the fifth time in four years in next season’s CBS Sports Classic. UCLA is going to win by 20 points. You think I’m playin’?
Both of the Bruins and the Wildcats will lose several players in the off-season, but they both will reload and try to outdo one another once again.
This time, UCLA will not only win, but they are going to get the victory by a huge margin in New Orleans for the CBS Sports Classic. This will make John Calipari cry, another bold prediction.
That victory will, once again, be the cherry on top of a perfect non-conference season. UCLA was able to go 13-0 behind Ball and company this past year.
With the new squad in place, they will repeat that feat at the end of 2017, which will lead to bigger and better things as the season progresses.
4. UCLA Will Go Undefeated at Pauley Pavilion
The UCLA Basketball team only lost once at Pauley Pavilion last season when they got embarrassed by the Arizona Wildcats. After what happened in that game, the Bruins will defend home and go the entire season without a loss in Westwood.
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They will definitely not lose to any cupcakes that come to Westwood in the non-conference, and when it comes time to take on the Pac-12, the Bruins will send every team that comes into their home back to where they came from with an “L”.
One of the main reasons for this, like UCLA Basketball fans did this past season, is that there will continue to be a reason to pack Pauley. The UCLA Basketball team is once again back on top and all the talent that they will bring in will have the house that Wooden built as raucous as ever..
This will ultimately lead to…
5. UCLA Will Win the Pac-12 and Make the Final Four
Here’s another first in regards to next season… the UCLA Basketball team will win the Pac-12 Conference regular-season championship AND make it to the Final Four.
Talk about a bold prediction.
After having one year of experience with an uber talent-laden squad, Steve Alford will continue to improve his coaching and development of the players as they continue to play at a high-level. UCLA did well this past season, but there were still obvious flaws.
Defense needs to improve and roster management needs careful attention with the depth the Bruins have coming in. Knowing how to play with a large group of talented athletes will help Alford to understand how to navigate through next season’s schedule.
Next: UCLA Basketball: Who is Staying, Going and a Potential Depth Chart
You probably think I’m crazy and you’re probably right. Go Bruins.