The non-conference games for UCLA in the 2023-24 college basketball season have been released and there are some highlights from the upcoming schedule.
It is late July but it is too soon to look forward to the start of the 2023-24 college basketball season. UCLA announced their non-conference scheduled games that are set and these November and December games will potentially show how well UCLA’s season is going into their last year of Pac-12 conference play.
With not much going on in college basketball this time of year, fans, and alums of colleges are checking social media and searching the internet to see what teams their school is and have scheduled for their upcoming non-conference schedule. The Bruins with their announcement of their non-conference schedule, have some UCLA fans planning on attending certain home games or even playing a late November trip to Hawaii to see the Bruins play in the Maui Invitational.
There are some solid games scheduled as well as some interesting matchups for the Maui Invitational. Scheduling a relatively tough and challenging non-conference slate of games could have an impact on the NCAA Tournament seeding for the Bruins in 2024.
Let’s take a closer look at the games that UCLA has announced as well as the three potential games the Bruins may play in the Maui Invitational.
No. 1
First regular season non-exhibition game
Opponent: ST. FRANCIS (PA) RED FLASH
Conference: Northeast Conference (Finished in fourth place last season)
Date: Nov. 6
Location: Los Angeles, CA Pauley Pavilion
No. 2
Second non-conference game
Opponent: LAFAYETTE LEOPARDS
Conference: Patriot League (Finished in a four-way tie for sixth place last season)
Date: Nov. 10
Location: Los Angeles, CA Pauley Pavilion
No. 3
Third non-conference game
Opponent: LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY SHARKS
Conference: Northeast Conference (Finished in last place last season)
Date: Nov. 15
Location: Los Angeles, CA Pauley Pavilion
No. 4
The first game of the Maui Invitational
Opponent: MARQUETTE GOLDEN EAGLES
Conference: Big East Conference (Finished in first place last season)
Date: Nov. 20
TV: ESPN2
Time: 6:30 p.m. in Maui (8:30 p.m., PT)
Location: Lahaina, HI, Lahaina Civic Center
Preview of the match-up: UCLA vs. Marquette
No. 5
The second game of the Maui Invitational
*Likely Potential Opponent: KANSAS JAYHAWKS
Conference: Big 12 Conference (Finished in first place last season)
Date: Nov. 22
Location: Lahaina, HI, Lahaina Civic Center
*Preview of the likely match-up: UCLA vs. Kansas
No. 6
The third game of the Maui Invitational
*Potential Opponent: PURDUE BOILERMAKERS
Conference: Big Ten Conference (Finished in first place last season)
Date: Nov. 21
Location: Lahaina, HI, Lahaina Civic Center
*Preview of the potential match-up: UCLA vs. Purdue
No. 7
Seventh non-conference game
Opponent: UC RIVERSIDE HIGHLANDERS
Conference: Big West Conference (Finished in third place last season)
Date: Nov. 30
Location: Los Angeles, CA Pauley Pavilion
No. 8
Eighth non-conference game and first true road game
Opponent: VILLANOVA WILDCATS
Location: Philadelphia at Wells Fargo Arena
No. 9
The ninth non-conference game and the fourth game played on a neutral court
*Potential Opponent: NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS
Location: CBS Sports Classic (location to be determined).
*Preview of the potential match-up: UCLA vs. North Carolina
No. 10
Tenth non-conference game
Opponent: CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE (CSUN)
Conference: Big West Conference (Finished in tenth place last season)
Date: Dec. 19
Location: Los Angeles, CA Pauley Pavilion
No. 11
Eleventh non-conference game
Opponent: MARYLAND TERRAPINS
Location: Los Angeles, CA Pauley Pavilion
Preview of the match-up: UCLA vs. Maryland
According to the UCLA Bruins athletic website, UCLA’s whole 31-game schedule, with every game time and TV/Streaming details, will be finalized and made official in September. The Bruins’ regular-season Pac-12 schedule includes 16 home games, four neutral-site contests, and 11 road games.