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UCLA Basketball: Predicting the non-conference record for 2017-18

By Muna Osisioma

February 4, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Prince Ali (5) moves to the basket against Southern California Trojans during the first half at Galen Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
February 4, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Prince Ali (5) moves to the basket against Southern California Trojans during the first half at Galen Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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February 4, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Prince Ali (5) moves to the basket against Southern California Trojans during the first half at Galen Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
February 4, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Prince Ali (5) moves to the basket against Southern California Trojans during the first half at Galen Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

UCLA Basketball released their non-conference schedule for the 2017-18 season today. It’s time for the non-conference edition of our too early predictions.

The UCLA Basketball team has to find a way to replace five key players who contributed 72% of the scoring in 2016-17. The good news is that Thomas Welsh and Aaron Holiday are back and lead a rotation that features three elite freshmen.

In the absence of any key injuries, the 2017-18 Bruins should be deeper and more athletic than the 2016-17 version.

Let’s take a look at what that means for the 2017-18 non-conference slate (which was recently released):

Fri, Nov 10, vs. Georgia Tech (in Shanghai, China)—WIN

This will be a tricky game for the Bruins. Coach Josh Pastner led the Yellow Jackets to 21 wins, a Georgia Tech record for a first year coach. Georgia Tech will be even better next year as they return three out of their top four leading scorers from 2016-17. However, UCLA has more talent than Georgia Tech and will hold them off.

Wed, Nov 15, vs. Central Arkansas—WIN

 Fri, Nov 17, vs. South Carolina State—WIN

Both of these teams struggled last season with Central Arkansas finishing the season at 8-24 and South Carolina State completing an 11-20 season. These are the type of teams that UCLA should easily dispatch at home.