UCLA Announces Non-Conference Schedule
June 09, 2017 | Men's Basketball
LOS ANGELES – The UCLA men's basketball team will play 13 non-conference games this upcoming season, including a trio of December meetings at Michigan (Dec. 9), against Cincinnati in Pauley Pavilion (Dec. 16) and versus Kentucky in New Orleans (Dec. 23).
The Bruins will open their schedule against Georgia Tech in Shanghai, China in the Pac-12 China Game on Friday, Nov. 10 (which will be Saturday afternoon in Shanghai). Exclusive ticket packages are still available via Anthony Travel by clicking here.
In addition, the team's non-conference schedule includes eight games in Pauley Pavilion and two Hall of Fame Classic contests in Kansas City, Mo. The Bruins will play at Michigan on Dec. 9 and will travel to New Orleans for a CBS Sports Classic contest against Kentucky on Dec. 23.
"When we assemble our schedule each year, we're trying to prepare our guys for the grind of Pac-12 play and, ultimately, for the NCAA Tournament," UCLA head coach Steve Alford said. "When you look at the teams we're going to play, combined with the travel involved, we believe that this is a tough non-conference schedule. While it may only be June, I know that our players can't wait to get back into Pauley to get the season started."
UCLA's 13-game non-conference schedule has the potential to include as many as five teams that competed in the 2017 NCAA Tournament. The Bruins faced two of those teams, Cincinnati and Kentucky, in last season's tournament field. UCLA's complete schedule, including all 18 Pac-12 Conference games, will not be finalized until later this summer.
Upon returning home from Shanghai after the game against Georgia Tech, UCLA will open its Pauley Pavilion schedule against Central Arkansas on Nov. 15 as part of the Hall of Fame Classic. The Bruins will also face South Carolina State on Nov. 17 in a Hall of Fame Classic contest in Pauley Pavilion.
The Bruins will fly to Kansas City, Mo., and play two games against either Baylor, Creighton or Wisconsin at the Sprint Center in the Hall of Fame Classic on Nov. 20-21.
A four-game homestand will follow against UC Irvine (Nov. 26), CSU Bakersfield (Nov. 29), Detroit Mercy (Dec. 3) and Montana (Dec. 6) before the Bruins travel to play at Michigan on Saturday, Dec. 9.
UCLA will face Cincinnati (Dec. 16) and South Dakota (Dec. 19) in Pauley Pavilion before capping its non-conference schedule against Kentucky in the CBS Sports Classic in New Orleans on Saturday, Dec. 23.
In addition, the Bruins will host one exhibition game in Pauley Pavilion before the team departs for Shanghai in early November. The game date and opponent have not been finalized.
Season ticket packages are on sale now starting at less than $19 per game. To secure your seats in Pauley Pavilion for the 2017-18 season, call (310) 206-5991 or visit uclabruins.com/tickets.
2017-18 UCLA Men's Basketball Non-Conference Schedule
| Day | Date | Opponent | Site/Venue |
| Fri. | Nov. 10 | vs. Georgia Tech | Shanghai, China |
| Wed. | Nov. 15 | Central Arkansas | Pauley Pavilion |
| Fri. | Nov. 17 | South Carolina State | Pauley Pavilion |
| Mon. | Nov. 20 | at Hall of Fame Classic | Kansas City, Mo. (Sprint Center) |
| Tue. | Nov. 21 | at Hall of Fame Classic | Kansas City, Mo. (Sprint Center) |
| Sun. | Nov. 26 | UC Irvine | Pauley Pavilion |
| Wed. | Nov. 29 | CSU Bakersfield | Pauley Pavilion |
| Sun. | Dec. 3 | Detroit Mercy | Pauley Pavilion |
| Wed. | Dec. 6 | Montana | Pauley Pavilion |
| Sat. | Dec. 9 | at Michigan | Ann Arbor, Mich. |
| Sat. | Dec. 16 | Cincinnati | Pauley Pavilion |
| Tue. | Dec. 19 | South Dakota | Pauley Pavilion |
| Sat. | Dec. 23 | Kentucky | New Orleans, La. (Smoothie King Center) |
Non-Conference Opponent Breakdown
| Opponent | Conference | '16-17 Record | '16-17 Conf. Record | '16-17 Conf. Finish | '16-17 NCAA Tourney | '16-17 NIT |
| Georgia Tech | Atlantic Coast (ACC) | 21-16 | 8-10 | 11th | 4-1 | |
| Central Arkansas | Southland | 8-24 | 7-11 | t-8th | ||
| South Carolina St. | Mid-Eastern Ath. (MEAC) | 11-20 | 7-9 | t-7th | ||
| Baylor | Big 12 | 27-8 | 12-6 | t-2nd | 2-1 | |
| Creighton | Big East | 25-10 | 10-8 | t-3rd | 0-1 | |
| Wisconsin | Big Ten | 27-10 | 12-6 | 2nd | 2-1 | |
| UC Irvine | Big West | 21-15 | 12-4 | 1st | 0-1 | |
| CSU Bakersfield | Western Athletic (WAC) | 25-10 | 12-2 | 1st | 3-1 | |
| Detroit Mercy | Horizon League | 8-23 | 6-12 | 7th | ||
| Montana | Big Sky | 16-16 | 11-7 | t-5th | ||
| Michigan | Big Ten | 26-12 | 10-8 | t-5th | 2-1 | |
| Cincinnati | American Athletic (AAC) | 30-6 | 16-2 | 2nd | 1-1 | |
| South Dakota | Summit League | 22-12 | 12-4 | 1st | 0-1 | |
| Kentucky | Southeastern (SEC) | 32-6 | 16-2 | 1st | 3-1 |