We dont just play for us, we play for Kareem [Abdul-Jabbar], Reggie [Miller], Baron [Davis], Russell [Westbrook].. You want the big stage. Ben Bolch has been a Los Angeles Times staff writer since 1999. Since Lewis agreed to take the Ball State head coaching job before UCLA was even knocked out of the Sweet 16 by North Carolina, replacing him was one of the first items on Cronin's to-do list. What I've learned is now that I'm a California guy, my line to people is 'You just gotta ride the wave.'". Tyger had to do all the creating, so his lifes going to be a lot easier with Dylan Andrews, Amari Bailey and Will McClendon.. Many fans might assume that a freshman who averaged 3.3 points per game while shooting 32.2% would have no choice but to return. . 13 recruiting class after finishing the 2022 recruiting cycle ranked as the No. UCLA has walk-ons Russell Stong, Jack Seidler, Evan Manjikian and Logan Cremonesi on the roster, too. All Rights Reserved. If a loaded freshman class can blend with some of the familiar faces, this team is talented enough to overtake Arizona and claim its first Pac-12 regular-season title since 2013. 18 4 2. Though just a career 24.3% 3-point shooter, Clark is effective inside the arc and could be UCLA's best defender, which means he's in line for big minutes this season. Both players were starters on the 2022-23 team that . The McDonald's All-American looks like a safe bet to fill one of the starting spots opened by the departures of Juzang and Bernard. As he uses the extra season of eligibility available because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Singleton figures to be a reliable bench option to the tune of 15 to 20 minutes per game -- and maybe more if he can become a positive on the defensive side. Follow Connon on Twitter at @SamConnonFollow All Bruins on Twitter at @FN_AllBruinsLike All Bruins on Facebook at @FN.AllBruinsSubscribe to All Bruins on YouTube, Read more UCLA stories: UCLA Bruins on Sports IllustratedRead more UCLA men's basketball stories: UCLA Men's Basketball on Sports Illustrated. Why is Frank McCourt really pushing this? With the Bruins returning everyone from last springs Final Four run, many are considering them a national title contender. 6-10 | 230| Redshirt-Fr. Copyright 2023 Pac-12 Conference. The 2022-23 men's college basketball season will begin Nov. 7 with a full day's slate of games. The official 2022-23 Men's Basketball schedule for the UCLA Bruins Skip To Main Content . If all goes well, the Bruins newfound speed and attacking style will make them ungracious guests. Gone from a 27-8 team that reached the Sweet 16 in March are leading scorer Johnny Juzang, all-around wing Jules Bernard and trusty big man Cody Riley. 42 overall point guard in the 2022 class, and he'll be a natural understudy to Campbell. Does he miss?! The move to two regionals returns, with Albany . One might need to enlist math whiz Russell Stong IV, the walk-on guard who is obtaining degrees in mechanical engineering and business economics, to figure out all the possible roster permutations. Covers Pac-12 Football as well as other teams in the West and the NFL and NBA as a Se write an occasional sports law column for SuperWest Sports, and host the AP & Spence sp Rowan Kent writes a weekly column about college basketball and other topics for Super Greg Kokot writes about motorsports for SuperWest Sports. "Just from different teams leaving different conferences, I think the key is you gotta still maintain your identity, so that'll be my focus," Cronin said. 6 2 2. (); : Naas Cunningham Overtime Elite (Atlanta, GA) 6-7 / 180. UCLA men's basketball lost assistant coach Michael Lewis and replaced him with Serbia native Ivo Simovic. All ten players from the previous year's Final Four . Bolch was once selected by NBA TVs The Starters as the Worst of the Week after questioning their celebrity journalism-style questions at an NBA All-Star game and considers it one of his finer moments. Source: Amari Bailey Will Stay in Draft, Not Return to UCLA Thats not to say the coaching staff is ignoring what has amounted to a free-agent frenzy under less restrictive transfer rules. Bernard and Riley played 130 and 118 games, respectively, over four seasons, and Juzang was the team's leading scorer for the past two. Bolch is also the author of the recently released book 100 Things UCLA Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die. He previously covered UCLA basketball from 2010-11 before going on to cover the NBA and the Clippers for five years. In a stark contrast from several teams expected to repeat their successes from last season, the Bruins will return virtually everyone from their March Madness run including all five pieces of their starting lineup. Jaylen Clark, who Cronin said would have already broken out last year if it weren't for a preseason concussion and extended midseason COVID hiatus, could finally do so this year. Stay, Go, Hello: Roster outlook for UCLA Bruins basketball in 2022-23 By Eric Bossi, Bruin Report Online: Friday night, UCLA's season ended with a Sweet Sixteen loss after North Carolina's C aleb Love went nuclear during the second half. The news comes as a blow to Texas' 2023-24 roster outlook less than 24 hours . Their departures, along with farewells from bench wings Peyton Watson and Jake Kyman, mean UCLA will have a different look when the 2022-23 begins in November. Originally from Nigeria, he finished his high school career at Prolific Prep in Napa, California. with a lending company that included his sister, Plaschke: North Carolina ends UCLAs quest for another miracle season, UCLAs March Madness run ends in heartbreaking Sweet 16 loss to North Carolina. But in an era when rosters are often entirely overhauled in a single offseason, there is still plenty of experience on this Bruins squad and not a single transfer. These two programs have been the dominant forces of college basketball for a long time and are hoping to get back to prominence after some time away from the top of the game. UCLA ran it back with everyone from its 2021 Final Four run, only to careen into heartache two wins short of a return trip to college basketballs biggest stage. Aidin covers the NBA Western Conference for SuperWest Sports. All rights reserved. Adem Bona Prolific Prep (Napa, CA) 6-9 / 225. Friday night, UCLA's season ended with a Sweet Sixteen loss after North Carolina's Caleb Lovewent nuclear during the second half. 8 point guard and No. Jaime Jaquez Jr. had ankle surgery. Gone from a 27-8. Even less certain is the status of starters Tyger Campbell, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Johnny Juzang, who returned this season in hopes of helping his team raise a national championship banner while boosting his NBA stock. "Amari Bailey's a great passer, great ball-handler as is Dylan Andrews. Sam Connon is the Publisher and Managing Editor at All Bruins, in association with the FanNation and Sports Illustrated networks. After enrolling in the middle of the 2020-21 season, Etienne played in some high-leverage situations just weeks after arriving on campus. Ive had to tell all the people that were interested that are my age or older, Cronin said, that Darren, Rod and I have come to grips with, we need a younger guy on our staff not necessarily 25, but we need somebody younger than us. (); : He may not log a ton of minutes unless Cronin is OK with playing Andrews and Campbell together, but he should be able to claim a role on this roster. Campbell has two seasons of eligibility remaining and could very well utilize at least one while continuing to give the Bruins the steady playmaker they have come to rely on since Cronins arrival. (); : However, he should have plenty of opportunities to earn minutes during his second season on campus. There were times when he couldnt even jump. UCLA cant hold on to the lead after North Carolina embarks on a late 12-2 run on the way to a 73-66 win in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Men's Basketball Championship - West Region - 1st Round, Men's Basketball Championship - West Region - 2nd Round, Men's Basketball Championship - West Region - Sweet 16. Campbell was instrumental in UCLAs success early on, recording double-digits in eight of the Bruins first 13 games. Cronins steady and consistent opening five rarely shifted throughout the season, particularly after Chris Smiths injury all five started at least 26 games and supplied at least 54.5% of minutes played for the Bruins, per KenPom. ); The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion, StubHub Ticket Market Place. NCAA Basketball: Ranking the last 25 NCAA Tournament champions, NCAA Basketball: 25 best NCAA Tournament upsets since 2000, NCAA Basketball: 25 best individual runs in the NCAA Tournament, NCAA Basketball: 25 biggest Selection Sunday snubs since 2000, NCAA Basketball: 25 best cinderella stories since 2000, NCAA Basketball: 20 best current home court advantages in college hoops, NCAA Basketball: 10 best National Championship finishes of all time. UCLA Basketball: 2021-22 season preview and outlook for Bruins - Page 2 INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 03: Johnny Juzang #3 of the UCLA Bruins reacts with Cody Riley #2 in the first half against. ET. However, he should have plenty of opportunities to earn minutes during his second season on campus. Juzang is projected as a second-round selection by many mock draft boards in the wake of an inconsistent, injury-plagued season. Jaquez also figures to be nimbler after recently undergoing a procedure to remove bone spurs and chips from his left ankle, according to his father, Jaime Jaquez Sr. The doctors couldnt believe when they looked in there what they saw and what he was able to do with what he had in there, the elder Jaquez said, alluding to his sons late-season offensive dominance. 6-4 | 205| Redshirt Sr.Singleton is a tried and true 3-point specialist with a career 43.8% mark from beyond the arc across 127 career appearances. Abramo Canka |6-7| 200| Fr.Canka signed on Aug. 3 as a late addition to the 2022-23 roster. The No. They would all be forgetting that NBA teams draft primarily on upside, with Watsons considered the highest among the current UCLA players given his superior length and athleticism. 6-10 | 255 | Redshirt-Sr.Nwuba is a solid reserve center with 55 career appearances. But in an era when rosters are often entirely overhauled in a single offseason, there is still plenty of experience on this Bruins squad and not a single transfer. His assist-to-turnover ratio ranked sixth nationally last season, and he improved his 3-point shooting percentage from 25% to 41%. The Bruins are allocating recruiting resources overseas while adding five-stars and building around seniors with the Big Ten move two years out. Interviews are ongoing, with a hire expected to be made by the end of this month. Rutgers graduate transfer Myles Johnson has a stake in starting here almost immediately, but Riley is the safe bet after playing in and starting in 31 games last season. In theory, next season could become the final chapter in a trilogy. 247Sports basketball director Eric Bossi noted in Bailey's scouting report that the combo guard shines off of ball screens and in transition, and Cronin praised him for being a "relentless competitor.". He may not log a ton of minutes unless Cronin is OK with playing Andrews and Campbell together, but he should be able to claim a role on this roster. Myles Johnson stepped away from the game. 11:41 am ET, Miami (Ohio) WBB coach resigns after investigation, Texas joins Top 25 And 1 after landing Abmas, Five-star prospect Ron Holland decommits from Texas, Ranking college basketball's top 40 transfers of 2023, No. 6-keys: media/spln/collegebasketball/reg/free/stories, at section: | slug: ucla-basketball-roster-starting-lineup-prediction-bench-rotation-depth-outlook-for-2022-23-season | sport: collegebasketball | route: article_single.us | The SuperWest Sports News Feed does not link to stories behind a paywall. Coach Mick Cronin has spent the past few months identifying each of the oncoming challenges, and decided to make the most of the shifting landscape. Returning for his third campaign in Los Angeles is floor general Tyger Campbell, who captained the 11th-most efficient offense in the nation last year and led the Bruins in assist rate (30.2%), and ranked 32nd in the nation in assists per game (5.4). 13 recruiting class after finishing the 2022 recruiting cycle ranked as the No. 8 point guard and No. He was particularly big off the bench in the 2021 NCAA Tournament during the Bruins' surprising Final Four run. Down the line,. More. UCLA coach Mick Cronin talks with guard Tyger Campbell during the Bruins season-ending loss to North Carolina in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament on Friday. 6-4 | 205| Redshirt Sr.Singleton is a tried and true 3-point specialist with a career 43.8% mark from beyond the arc across 127 career appearances. Cronin ticked off every wing player by name before chuckling over the thought of a transfer cracking that lineup. I want to feel ready to make an impact and contribute to a team, and I dont think theres a better place to get ready to do that than playing for Coach Cronin and playing for the Bruins on a special team Its almost a no-brainer when you consider that, put that together with what we have the opportunity to do this year.. March Madness is always a challenging period for college basketball fans hoping . He is serving his second stint as the UCLA beat writer, which seems fitting since he has covered almost every sports beat except hockey and horse racing. Watson was also coming on strong toward the end of the season, playing more in control on offense to go with his consistently stellar defense in limited minutes. With big men Cody Riley and Myles Johnson departing, the front court is a question mark. In a five-game February run in the starting lineup, Clark averaged 14.8 points per game on a scorching 56.9% shooting before returning to the bench. After redshirting in 2018-19 following a torn ACL, the former four-star prospect has become one of the nation's steadiest point guards over the past three seasons. You cant go out without someone asking for a picture nowadays, junior guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. said with a laugh. Bernard and Riley played 130 and 118 games, respectively, over four seasons, and Juzang was the team's leading scorer for the past two. UCLA 2024 Basketball Prospects. You want the recognition. The lone question mark, arguably, comes at center, where Cody Riley thrived for a majority of the season, particularly after Jalen Hills exit from the team halfway through the season. . Just one of two Bruins to start all 32 games, with the other being Campbell, Jaquez maintained the teams highest offensive rating among significant contributors, per KenPom and was one of UCLAs biggest gears in their March Madness run, averaging marks of 15.0 points, 6.3 boards, 3.0 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: collegebasketball | pageType: stories | But the Bruins got in as a First Four team and made the most of their opportunity, soaring to the Final Four behind the bucket-getting, You cant go out without someone asking for a picture nowadays, junior guard, /article/2023/04/30/ucla-drops-stanford-rubber-match-10-7, /article/2023/04/30/six-buffs-sign-nfl-contracts, /videos/stanford-sweeps-2023-pac-12-mens-golf-championships-behind-michael-thorbjornsen, Women's Lacrosse: Pac-12 Women's Lacrosse Tournament Game 1: #4 Arizona State vs #5 California, Women's Lacrosse: Pac-12 Women's Lacrosse Tournament Game 2: #3 Colorado vs #6 Oregon, Women's Lacrosse: Pac-12 Women's Lacrosse Tournament Semifinal: #1 USC vs TBD. The No. 6-10 / 255. 1 shooting guard in the 2022 class, Bailey helped lead USA Basketball to a gold medal at the 2019 FIBA Americas U16 Championship in Brazil. True freshman Adem Bona, widely regarded as one of the most athletic post prospects in the country, will challenge redshirt sophomore Mac Etienne for a starting spot. Will McClendon Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, NV) 6-3 / 190. UCLA basketball roster: Starting lineup prediction, bench rotation, depth outlook for 2022-23 season The Bruins have to replace a few key players but should be Pac-12 contenders yet again. After dropping out of the starting lineup due to early-season offensive woes, Bernard gained another opportunity after Smiths injury and, by the end of the regular season, helped keep UCLAs season afloat. The teams leading rebounder throughout the season, Jaquez led the team in minutes which ultimately produced 21 double-digit performances, including a crucial career-best 27 points in the First Four duel with Michigan State. Pac-12 * vs. Washington. He missed last season due to an ACL tear, but if he's 100% healthy, Etienne should play significant minutes in the front court this season. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. As a five-star prospect and McDonald's All-American, Bona could be a significant portion of the answer.