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UCLA Basketball: 2018-19 season preview for the Bruins

By Adam Childs

NEW ORLEANS, LA - DECEMBER 23: Jaylen Hands #4 of the UCLA Bruins reacts after scoring during the second half of the CBS Sports Classic against the Kentucky Wildcats at the Smoothie King Center on December 23, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - DECEMBER 23: Jaylen Hands #4 of the UCLA Bruins reacts after scoring during the second half of the CBS Sports Classic against the Kentucky Wildcats at the Smoothie King Center on December 23, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 09: UCLA Bruins mascot Joe Bruin poses on the court before the team’s semifinal game of the Pac-12 basketball tournament against the Arizona Wildcats at T-Mobile Arena on March 9, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Wildcats won 78-67 in overtime. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 09: UCLA Bruins mascot Joe Bruin poses on the court before the team’s semifinal game of the Pac-12 basketball tournament against the Arizona Wildcats at T-Mobile Arena on March 9, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Wildcats won 78-67 in overtime. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

Steve Alford and UCLA Basketball struggled through last year and then lost in the NCAA play-in game. Can the Bruins right the ship and cool Alford’s already hot seat?

Last season started off with a trip to China and three players being suspended for shoplifting. Things didn’t get much better as the Bruins never really got on track and they stumbled to a 21-12 record. But in a weak Pac-12, an 11-7 conference record was not exactly what the Bruins had envisioned. Follow that up with a play-in game loss to St. Bonaventure and the cries for Steve Alford’s job got louder.

The Bruins no longer have to worry about LaVar Ball and his sons and that distraction, which is definitely a good thing. Alford has brought in a great recruiting class and if the freshman can live up to expectations this could be a turn around year for the Bruins and in turn, save Alford’s job.

Alford brought in six big-time recruits to help save his job. They did lose Shaquille O’Neal’s son Shareef to a heart ailment and that will hurt. But the other five freshmen look to make an immediate impact and could make UCLA a force this year.

The Pac-12 is still overall a down conference and is ripe for the picking. Arizona and Oregon look like they could be the class of the conference, but if Alford can get his young team (zero seniors) clicking early on they have a legitimate shot at the conference title. But if it doesn’t work this could be the beginning of the end for Alford at UCLA.

Here’s a full breakdown of the projected starters, key reserves and non-conference schedule, along with where they stand nationally and in the conference as we preview their season.

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