UCLA Preview Capsule

UCLA Preview Capsule

By The Associated Press=

UCLA

Last season: 15-17.

Nickname: Bruins.

Coach: Steve Alford.

Conference: Pac-12.

Who's gone: F/C Tony Parker, G/F Jonah Bolden.

Who's back: G Isaac Hamilton. Senior led the Bruins with 16.8 points per game last season. G Bryce Alford. He enters his final season playing for his father. He averaged 16.1 points and a team-high 5.2 assists last season. C Thomas Welsh. The 7-foot junior averaged 11.2 points and 8.5 rebounds. G Aaron Holiday. He averaged 10.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists playing 31 minutes a game as a freshman last season, but could be relegated to coming off the bench. F G.G. Goloman. The 6-foot-11 junior averaged 12.1 minutes last season. G Prince Ali. Solid defensive player who averaged 11.8 minutes last season.

Who's new: G Lonzo Ball. Well-regarded for his court vision and playmaking ability. The highly touted freshman is expected to be a one-and-done prospect. F T.J. Leaf. The athletic 6-foot-9 power forward was a McDonald's All-American who scored 3,022 points in his prep career. F/C Ike Anigbogu. The 6-9, 250-pounder gives the Bruins a different look at center than Welsh and could play his way into a larger role.

The Skinny: Alford guided UCLA to just the fourth losing season in school history since John Wooden was hired in 1948. He's got nearly everyone back and bolstered by one of the top recruiting classes in the country, including national player of the year Ball, the Bruins have nowhere to go but up after missing the postseason.