UCLA has been selected No. 20 in the preseason USA Today men's basketball coaches poll, as announced Thursday. The Bruins will open their season against Pacific on Friday, Nov. 11, in Pauley Pavilion.

The Bruins return four of their five starters from last season's team, which finished the year 15-17 with a 6-12 mark in the Pac-12. Back from last season are senior guards Isaac Hamilton (16.8 ppg) and Bryce Alford (16.1 ppg). Hamilton enters the season as the Pac-12 Conference's top returning scorer, while Alford enters 2016-17 as the conference's No. 3 returning scorer behind Oregon's Dillon Brooks. Also back from last season's starting five are junior center Thomas Welsh (11.2 ppg, 8.5 rpg) and sophomore guard Aaron Holiday (10.3 ppg).
 
UCLA welcomes a talented trio of freshmen, all hailing from southern California – Lonzo Ball (Chino Hills High School), TJ Leaf (Foothills Christian High School in El Cajon, Calif.) and Ike Anigbogu (Centennial High School in Corona, Calif.). Ball, a 6-foot-6 point guard, and Leaf, a 6-foot-10 forward, were McDonald's All-Americans during their senior year of high school.
 
UCLA will play as many as five games against teams ranked in the top 15 of the USA Today preseason poll and could play up to 19 of its 31 regular-season contests against teams either ranked in or receiving votes in the preseason poll. The Bruins' schedule includes a road game at No. 4 Kentucky (Dec. 3), two games against No. 5 Oregon (Dec. 28 on the road, Feb. 9 at home) and two games versus No. 11 Arizona (Jan. 21 at home, Feb. 25 on the road).
 
The Bruins are among three Pac-12 programs ranked in the preseason poll. Other Pac-12 teams include No. 5 Oregon, No. 11 Arizona. In addition, four other Pac-12 teams have earned votes in the others receiving votes category.
 
This marks the first time in which UCLA has been ranked in the preseason USA Today coaches poll since 2013-14 (was No. 23) and the program's highest preseason ranking in this poll since 2012-13 (was No. 13).