UCLA Basketball: 2018-19 season preview for the Bruins

By Adam Childs | Oct 24, 2018

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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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) /

Key Non-Conference Games

Nov. 22 – vs Michigan State
Nov. 23 – vs North Carolina or Texas
Dec. 8 – vs Notre Dame
Dec. 15 – vs Belmont
Dec 19 – @ Cincinnati
Dec. 22 – vs Ohio State (at Chicago)

After four games that should not test the Bruins much their non-conference schedule ramps up to one of the most challenging in the country. They start by heading to Las Vegas where they play Michigan State and then either North Carolina or Texas. They could very easily be an underdog in both of those games no matter who they play in the second game. This should be a good early test to see how the young guys can handle the pressure of the big stage.

They then come home to play back to back games against Notre Dame and Belmont, both of which are potential tournament teams. Belmont is a very good mid-major team and the Bruins better not sleep on them.

They finish out their tough stretch at Cincinnati and Ohio State in Chicago. Even though the OSU game is a neutral site game, it will be more of a road test. If they can win one or both of these games it will show the Bruins that they can go into a hostile environment and win big games.

This non-conference schedule will definitely go a long way in showing if the Bruins are a tournament team and more importantly if they can be taken seriously in the Pac-12.

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