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UCLA Basketball: Predicting the conference record for 2017-18

By Muna Osisioma

SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 17: Head coach Steve Alford of the UCLA Bruins reacts against the Kent State Golden Flashes during the first round of the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Golden 1 Center on March 17, 2017 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 17: Head coach Steve Alford of the UCLA Bruins reacts against the Kent State Golden Flashes during the first round of the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Golden 1 Center on March 17, 2017 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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UCLA will need more of this from
UCLA will need more of this from /

Week of Jan. 3-7: (2-0)

at Cal—WIN

Cal Basketball’s future is murky. After Cuonzo Martin left for Missouri, the Bears promoted assistant coach Wyking Jones to replace him. The plan was to use Jones’s relationship with players to prevent a mass exodus. It didn’t work. 4-star Guard Jemarl Baker asked out of his commitment and headed to Kentucky. Top returning scorer Charles Moore soon followed. Sprinkle in the losses of Ivan Rabb, Jabari Bird and Grant Mullins and the Bears have a long season ahead of them.

at Stanford—WIN

Stanford on the road will be UCLA Basketball’s first big Pac-12 test. The Cardinal will field a very experienced team in 2017-18. It all starts with All Conference Forward Reid Travis who is the leading returning scorer and rebounder in the Pac-12. Two seniors, Michael Humphrey and Dorian Pickens, will join Travis and strengthen what could be the Pac-12’s most improved team. This could go either way but UCLA will earn a tough victory.

Related Story: UCLA Basketball: Will the defense improve in 2017-18

Week of Jan. 10-14: (2-0)

vs. Colorado—WIN

vs. Utah—WIN

These games might go differently if they were on the road. However with Colorado missing Derrick White and Xavier Johnson, and Utah dealing with Kyle Kuzma’s exit, these are games that UCLA should win at home. Colorado and Utah are always in the mix in the Pac-12 and 2017-18 will feature more of the same. But once again UCLA Basketball will benefit from facing teams with roster questions at Pauley.