UCLA Basketball: Adem Bona Explains Bruins' Identity As Team Stumbles Towards Finish Line
Your UCLA Bruins have had a relatively uneven go of it in 2023-24.
The club is currently 14-15 (9-9 in the Pac-12 Conference), and has just two more games remaining on its regular season slate, against Arizona and Arizona State.
In speaking with gathered media following a team practice Tuesday, the club's best player and defensive anchor, sophomore center/power forward Adem Bona, spoke about how the club is attempting to adhere to a defined identity as it stumbles towards the end of its regular season and the Pac-12 Tournament next week.
“As a team, I believe that we have an identity of playing hard, of playing tough and playing together," Bona said. "I do want to show our identity as a team. We want to play hard for this team, for UCLA.”
Bona, at least, has had a solid second stint with the Bruins this year.
The 6'10" big man is posting averages of 12.2 points on 59.2% field goal shooting, 5.8 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, 1.2 assists, and one steal per bout, across 29 games. During his freshman season on a much better UCLA club (they finished 31-6 en route to a Sweet Sixteen appearance) was honored with selections to the Pac-12 All-Defense and Pac-12 All-Freshman teams, as well as being named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year. It remains to be seen if he'll nab a Pac-12 All-Defense or All-Pac-12 accolade this season.
