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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LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 08: Prince Ali #23 of the UCLA Bruins drives to the basket against the Stanford Cardinal during a quarterfinal game of the Pac-12 basketball tournament at T-Mobile Arena on March 8, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Bruins won 88-77. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

4. Ohio State, Neutral, December 22nd

Ohio State lost its two best players in Keita Bates-Diop and Jae’Sean Tate, but PG CJ Jackson and big man Kaleb Wesson are ready for bigger offensive roles. Jackson had a breakout junior season as he averaged 12.6 ppg and 3.9 apg. Wesson is a load inside and is very difficult to move out of the paint. The 6’9” 270 lbs center averaged 10.2 ppg and 4.9 rpg in just over 20 mpg.

This duo will be supplemented by an impactful graduate transfer addition, shooting guard Keyshawn Woods. The addition of Keyshawn Woods is enormous and gives Ohio State a second proven perimeter scorer, along with Jackson. He averaged double figures for Wake Forest last season so he has proven he can score at this level.

Related Story. 10 under the radar freshmen. light

Two underrated impact players for Ohio State are freshman guard Luther Muhammad and junior forward Andre Wesson. Muhammad is one of the most under the radar freshmen in the country as he can score at all three levels and is an excellent defender. At 6’4”, he has the size to play with Woods and Jackson in the backcourt if Coach Holtman chooses a smaller look. Andre Wesson averaged a nondescript 2.9 ppg, but he is extremely valuable as a glue guy and defensive four-man.

The Buckeyes are a fringe tournament team, but because the game will be played in Chicago (neutral site) this is likely a Quadrant 1 game which would do wonders for UCLA’s profile. Ohio State undoubtedly lost a lot of talent, but they have the pieces to return to the Big Dance.

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