UCLA Basketball’s 2023-24 may be one of the most interesting in recent memory for the program. Mick Cronin’s team is dealing with several notable losses on the court and is about to make a seismic move from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten.
On Monday, the Bruins announced the non-conference schedule for the upcoming season, which will officially begin for UCLA on Nov. 6. The rest of the team’s schedule is expected to be finalized in a couple of months.
UCLA will also play an exhibition against Cal State Dominguez Hills on Halloween.
How will UCLA fare during its last non-conference slate as a member of the Pac-12 as the Bruins prepare to move to the Big Ten?
The Bruins have the benefit of not leaving Pauley Pavilion until they head to Hawaii for the Maui Invitational in late November. They also don’t have any games scheduled for opposing team’s campuses, though the trip to play Villanova at the Wells Fargo Center can be considered a true road game.
UCLA lost a handful of program stalwarts from last season, including Jaime Jaquez Jr., Tyger Campbell, and Jaylen Clark, all of whom appear to be forging a professional path in either the NBA or G-League. Prized freshman Amari Bailey also left after one year for the NBA.
Former Utah guard Lazar Stefanovic will play a big role for Cronin, giving the team a reliable shooter. The Bruins will also lean heavily on big man Adem Bona, returning for his sophomore season.
Let’s take a closer look at UCLA’s non-conference schedule.
Regular Season Games
These are the “normal” regular season in UCLA’s schedule. In-season tournaments, named rivalry games, and challenges are excluded from this section.
November 6 vs. Saint Francis
Like most major programs, UCLA is starting the season with a relative cupcake in Saint Francis University. The team finished in the top half of the Northeast Conference last year, but that obscured a losing record overall. The good news is we no longer have to put “PA” after Saint Francis, as Saint Francis (BK) has eliminated its college athletics altogether. Sigh.
November 10 vs. Lafayette
Lafayette is the second of three straight opponents trekking from the East Coast to take on the Bruins at Pauley Pavilion. After serving as the acting coach for five games following a complaint made against Mike Jordan, Mike McGarvey was named to the full-time job in March, his first head coaching gig at the D1 level. The Leopards should be as competitive as any non-Colgate team in the Patriot League, but shouldn’t scare UCLA much.
November 15 vs. Long Island University
Long Island University brings an end to the homecoming stretch to start the year for UCLA. The Sharks were horrific last year, winning three games all season – two of those were against non-D1 opponents. They’ll probably be bad again this year, though there’s nowhere to go but up. One-time NBA assists leader Rod Strickland is entering his second year as head coach of the program.
November 30 vs. UC Riverside
After Maui, UCLA returns home to take on a team closer to home than its first few opponents. UC Riverside had a good year in 2022-23, finishing with 22 wins and a third-place position in the Big West. They may have been a favorite in the conference this year before Zyon Pullin transferred to Florida. Instead, the Highlanders look more like a middle-of-the-pack team in that league.
December 9 at Villanova (at Wells Fargo Center)
This should be UCLA’s toughest game in non-conference play, excluding the tournaments and special competitions. Kyle Neptune’s first season at Villanova was rough, but he should have the Wildcats in better shape this season, particularly ahead of this de facto home game for the Philadelphia school. The experience on Villanova’s roster – Eric Dixon, Justin Moore, Hakim Hart, TJ Bamba – should pose problems for the Bruins’ youth.
December 19 vs. Cal State Northridge
The Matadors of Cal State Northridge were one of the Big West’s worst teams a year ago, securing only four conference wins, resulting in the ouster of Trent Johnson. The new coach is Andy Newman, who just took Cal State San Bernardino to the D2 Final Four. CSUN should still hover around the Big West basement, though.
December 22 vs. Maryland
A home game against the Terps is an intriguing way to end non-conference play and set the stage for the rest of UCLA’s season. This will be the first time Maryland has been in Pauley Pavilion in four decades. During the first game of the home-and-home series last year, UCLA trounced Maryland in College Park, winning 87-60. With Jahmir Young returning for another year, these teams should be more evenly matched. Maryland will be eager to return the favor from last season.
Tournaments and Other Contests
The big tournament on UCLA’s schedule is the Maui Invitational in November, which has one of its most stacked fields of all-time. There’s also the CBS Sports Classic in December.
November 20-22: Maui Invitational (in Lahaina, HI)
Shortly after UCLA announced its schedule, the Maui Invitational bracket was officially released, meaning the Bruins know their first round opponent: Marquette. That’s a tough break for Cronin and squad, as the Golden Eagles return a ton of talent from last year and should be one of the best teams in the country, led by Tyler Kolek.
Depending on the result of the game, UCLA will either get Kansas (yikes) or Chaminade (whew). One can imagine the Jayhawks will persevere over Chaminade, so a loss to the Golden Eagles could at least give UCLA the chance to leave Hawaii with one victory, unless Chaminade is feeling upset-minded.
The teams on the other side of the bracket are Tennessee, Syracuse, Purdue, and Gonzaga, none of which would be easy contests for the Bruins. UCLA is guaranteed to face one of them on their last day in Lahaina.
December 16: CBS Sports Classic (Venue is TBD)
The CBS Sports Classic is on UCLA’s schedule, but without an opponent and without a venue. Back in May, Rocco Miller of The Bracketeer reported that the Bruins would take on the North Carolina Tar Heels in Atlanta, but we’ll wait on some sort of confirmation about that. All that being said, UNC returns Armando Bacot and is smarting from last season’s disappointment, so they’ll be motivated. RJ Davis is back too, while Harrison Ingram transferred in.
As UCLA gears up for its final run in the Pac-12, its non-conference schedule – featuring at least one future conference foe – will put the Bruins to the test.