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UCLA Basketball: Bruins fall two spots in week 1 AP Top 25 poll

By Mike Regalado

MEMPHIS, TN - MARCH 24: Head coach Steve Alford of the UCLA Bruins looks on in the second half against the Kentucky Wildcats during the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament South Regional at FedExForum on March 24, 2017 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
MEMPHIS, TN - MARCH 24: Head coach Steve Alford of the UCLA Bruins looks on in the second half against the Kentucky Wildcats during the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament South Regional at FedExForum on March 24, 2017 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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After the loss of three players and a too-close-for-comfort 63-60 win over Georgia Tech, the UCLA Basketball team falls two spots to #23 in the AP Poll.

It only took about ten minutes to realize that the UCLA Basketball team is not what they were predicted to be in the off-season. That is in large part to the situation surrounding three Bruins that were arrested last week in China for allegedly shoplifting.

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In one swipe (pun intended), UCLA lost talent and depth.

That showed when the Bruins played their season opener last Friday against Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets also suspended two players (starters) but was able to keep the game close. What was an early second half double-digit lead for UCLA, turned into a 3-point act of survival.

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The result has knocked the Bruins down two notches in week 1 of the AP Top 25 Poll as UCLA comes in ranked at #23.

The Bruins are coming off a successful 31-5 season. Unfortunately they lost five players to the NBA Draft and graduation (four of them starters). The Bruins reloaded with six players in a Top 10 recruiting class and were expected to help keep the Bruins’ uptempo style of play going, but after last week, UCLA has to figure out an alternate strategy.

The Bruins needed some time to sync up in their season opening win. Aaron Holiday and Thomas Welsh in particular had slow starts, but eventually logged double-digit points. Surpringly, both 5-Star freshmen, Jaylen Hands and Kris Wilkes, came out with a ton of energy and helped lift UCLA over Georgia Tech.

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In that contest, Wilkes put up 18 points which was fueled by his 4/6 three-point shooting. Hands was second on the team in scoring with 14 points.