UCLA vs. South Carolina State: College basketball game preview, TV schedule

The No. 23 ranked UCLA has had anything but a normal start to the college basketball season. With Cody Riley, Jalen Hill, and LiAngelo Ball back in the United States, coach Steve Alford may finally be able to focus on the basketball side of things.

TV schedule: Friday, Nov. 17, 9:00 p.m. ET. PAC-12 Network

Arena: Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, California

There’s now been some finality in the story involving three UCLA Bruins players arrested for shoplifting in China. It became an international incident that even the president of the United States had to play a role in. With the players back, Steve Alford announced in a press conference that each will be suspended indefinitely from all basketball-related activities.

They weren’t able to play in the season-opener against Georgia Tech, but, luckily for them, the Yellow Jackets were also missing their key players. UCLA (1-0) took advantage of that, squeaking out a 63-60 win.

The freshmen who weren’t suspended led the way, with Kris Wilkes and Jaylen Hands responsible for half the team’s points. The lack of depth is going to be a problem for them in the foreseeable future, but not this upcoming game.

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South Carolina State (0-3) hails from the MEAC and is one of those programs that schedule road games in the non-conference in order to fund their athletics. It’s been evident thus far, losing by over 30 points in road games against Yale, Boston College, and Wisconsin.

The Bulldogs have only averaged 52.0 ppg so far and does not have a player averaging in double figures right now. Sophomore Damani Applewhite is the top player for the team, with his 24.3 mpg, 8.7 ppg, and 3.7 rpg all best on the team.

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This is a good game for UCLA to expand its bench by as much as it can, having only eight scholarship players. It could be a while before we see those three players play in a Bruins’ uniform, so this should be seen as an opportunity for someone to play themselves into the main rotation.

Prediction: UCLA 93 – South Carolina State 60