UCLA Basketball: Top 5 non-conference games for 2018-19

DAYTON, OH - MARCH 13: Kris Wilkes #13 of the UCLA Bruins is defended by Amadi Ikpeze #32 and Idris Taqqee #1 of the St. Bonaventure Bonnies during the second half of the First Four game in the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at UD Arena on March 13, 2018 in Dayton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

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DAYTON, OH – MARCH 13: Head coach Steve Alford of the UCLA Bruins questions the referee against the St. Bonaventure Bonnies during the second half of the First Four game in the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at UD Arena on March 13, 2018 in Dayton, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /

5. Notre Dame, Home, December 8th

Notre Dame caught the injury bug last season and have lost senior stars Matt Farrell and Bonzie Colson to graduation. Both players were seen as top-tier performers, but Colson was universally considered as one of the best players in the nation. Breakout senior center Martinas Geben is also gone after averaging 11.1 ppg and 8.0 rpg in his final season.

The Fighting Irish have talented players coming back and have a strong recruiting class coming in which has the program set up nicely for the future. Temple Gibbs is a breakout star who averaged 15.3 ppg and 3.0 apg as a sophomore last season. Rex Pfleuger did not take the next step like many anticipated, but he is still a valuable two-way player who moves the ball and plays unselfishly. John Mooney is a stretch four man who was Notre Dame’s best shooter at 42% from three-point range.

These are some solid veterans, but the X-factor for this team will be DJ Harvey and the Fighting Irish really need him to be healthy to reach their full potential. Harvey is a big versatile wing who was playing nearly 20 mpg as a freshman before injuries cut his season short in mid-January. He can play the 4 in smaller lineups which could create more offense for Notre Dame.

All four of these veterans are going to be heavily relied upon, but stretch four Nate Laszewski and scoring combo guard Prentiss Hubb could easily outperform expectations as freshmen. Incoming transfer big man Juwan Durham has a strong pedigree but has struggled with injuries throughout his college and high school career. Notre Dame will probably land close to the Tournament bubble, but they have considerable upside to finish higher.

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