UCLA Basketball: Predicting 2019 the non-conference schedule

Now that the UCLA basketball team knows who they will be playing in the non-conference portion of their season, Go Joe Bruin predicts how they will do.

The UCLA basketball team came out with their non-conference schedule earlier today, and at first glance, it does not look that treacherous, but with the team shifting gears to a completely different style of basketball, it could pose some problems.

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Still, the Bruins have a lot of talent, and if they focus on what head coach Mick Cronin is teaching them, they could come out of the non-conference with a favorable record. Let us see what they are up against…

Nov 6 (Wed) vs. Long Beach State

Long Beach State is no pushover. Dan Monson has held that ship together pretty well over the last 12 years. Unfortunately, he has not had a winning season since 2015-16. Still, the Bruins do not want to slip up in their first game of the season and should come away with a win. 1-0

Nov 10 (Sun) vs. UC Santa Barbara

Joe Pasternack has done a great job with UCSB in the last two years, going a total of 45-19. Last season, the Gauchos only lost nine games, but seven of those were on the road. That does not bode well for UCSB but does bode well for UCLA. 2-0

Nov 15 (Fri) vs. UNLV

Over the last two seasons, the Running Rebels have made improvements, but are still an average Mountain West team. Though this contest (which is the first of a home-and-home) will be a good battle for both sides, UCLA should walk away with a win. 3-0

Nov 18 (Mon) vs. Southern Utah

Nom nom, cupcake, nom nom. 4-0

Nov 21 (Thu) vs. Hofstra

This could sneak up and bite UCLA if they are not careful. Though Hofstra went 27-8 and 15-3 in the Colonial Athletic Conference last year, they still won’t match up with the Bruins, so that’s another win. 5-0