Kris WilkesKris Wilkes

Kris Wilkes (photo by Scott Chandler)

UCLA Tabbed Second in Pac-12 Preseason Poll

Men's Basketball

Men's basketball picked to finish second in Pac-12 standings.

Opens in a new window 2018-19 Information Guide Opens in a new window Pac-12 Media Day Central

SAN FRANCISCO – The UCLA men's basketball team has been slated to finish second in the Pac-12 Conference's preseason media poll, as announced at Pac-12 Men's Basketball Media Day on Thursday.
 
Oregon was selected first in the preseason poll and received 16 of 25 possible first-place votes. UCLA secured six first-place votes. Washington was chosen third in the preseason poll (two first-place votes), and Arizona was tabbed to finish fourth (receiving one first-place vote).
 
USC, Arizona State and Colorado were slated to finish fifth, sixth and seventh, respectively.
 
Rounding out the remaining five programs in the preseason poll were Utah (eighth), Stanford (ninth), Oregon State (10th), California (11th) and Washington State (12th).
 
Media have correctly picked the Pac-12 winner in 16 of 26 previous tries, while the winner has been accurately chosen in 18 of the 29 all-time preseason votes.
 
Last season, UCLA compiled a 21-12 overall record and went 11-7 in Pac-12 play (tied for third place in the league standings). Last June, UCLA had two players selected in the NBA Draft – Aaron Holiday in the first round (Indiana Pacers) and Thomas Welsh in the second round (Denver Nuggets).
 
UCLA will be represented at Pac-12 Men's Basketball Media Day on Thursday by head coach Steve Alford and sophomore guards Kris Wilkes and Jaylen Hands.
 
Live television appearances featuring Wilkes and Hands will take place at 1:40 p.m. (PT) on the Pac-12 Network. Coach Alford's live appearance on the Pac-12 Network is scheduled at 1:00 p.m.
 
Coach Alford and Wilkes will appear live on ESPNU during the Pac-12's "media day" hour-long show, airing from 3:00-4:00 p.m. (PT). They are tentatively scheduled to be on the ESPNU program at 3:35 p.m. (PT).
 
UCLA opens the regular season in Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom on Tuesday, Nov. 6, against Purdue Fort Wayne (6 p.m., PT). The Bruins will host one exhibition game on Saturday, Oct. 27, against the New York Institute of Technology (7:30 p.m., PT).
 
Season tickets for 2018-19 (click here) are available, starting at less than $18 per game.
 
A limited number of mobile-only Fast Break Passes, which allows access to all 19 home games, can be purchased for $149. Tickets to non-conference games are also on sale, including the showdown against Notre Dame on Dec. 8. Call (310) 206-5991, email tickets@athletics.ucla.edu, or click on the links above to secure your seats today.
 
Fans can click here to sync the men's basketball schedule to a personal calendar, to receive automatic schedule updates, and more. Stay up-to-date with the latest UCLA men's basketball news by downloading the redesigned UCLA Bruins Mobile App via iTunes and Google Play. 
 

2018-19 Pac-12 Men's Basketball Preseason Poll

Rank Team Votes
1. Oregon (16) 288
2. UCLA (6) 264
3. Washington (2) 249
4. Arizona (1) 205
5. USC 203
6. Arizona State 165
7. Colorado 161
8. Utah 122
9. Stanford 109
10. Oregon State 102
11. California 45
12. Washington State 37