UCLA Basketball Announces 2015-16 Non-Conference Schedule
The Bruins’ non-conference schedule features eight home games in Pauley Pavilion, a trip to the Maui Jim Maui Invitational from Nov. 23-25, a road game against Gonzaga on Dec. 12 and a CBS Sports Classic contest versus North Carolina at Barclays Center in Brooklyn (NY) on Dec. 19.
“Our team was tested early and often last season due to a demanding non-conference schedule, something that paid huge dividends in March, and we’re confident that this year’s non-conference schedule will present similar challenges as we prepare for Pac-12 play,” UCLA head coach Steve Alford said. “I’ve maintained all along that we want to upgrade our program’s schedule in hopes of playing tough and exciting marquee games, and I’d say we’ve moved even further in that direction this year when you consider the talent in the Maui Invitational field, Kentucky’s first-ever game in Pauley Pavilion, facing a veteran Gonzaga team on the road and a cross-country trip to take on North Carolina in Brooklyn. This non-conference schedule figures to be one of the strongest in the nation, and I know our players can’t wait to take on this challenge.”
UCLA’s 13-game non-conference schedule has the potential to feature as many as eight teams that competed in the 2014-15 postseason. The Bruins’ complete schedule, including all 18 Pac-12 Conference games, will not be finalized until later this summer.
UCLA will open its regular-season schedule against Monmouth on Friday, Nov. 13. Prior to the Maui Invitational, the Bruins will host consecutive home games versus Cal Poly (Nov. 15) and Pepperdine (Nov. 19).
The Maui Jim Maui Invitational, played at the Lahaina Civic Center on the island of Maui, boasts a field that includes Kansas, Indiana, St. John’s, UNLV, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest and host school Chaminade University. The Bruins last played in the Maui Invitational in Nov. 2011. Kansas, Indiana and St. John’s each competed in last season’s NCAA Tournament, while Vanderbilt earned a trip to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT).
Following the trip to Maui, UCLA will host CSUN on Nov. 29 before playing Kentucky for the first time in Pauley Pavilion on Dec. 3. The Bruins will close that three-game home stretch against Long Beach State on Dec. 6.
After fall quarter final exams, UCLA will play at Gonzaga for the first time in school history on Dec. 12 before hosting Louisiana-Lafayette on Dec. 15. The Bruins will play in the CBS Sports Classic for the second straight season, taking on North Carolina at Barclays Center (Brooklyn) on Dec. 19. UCLA will close its non-conference schedule with a home game against McNeese State on Dec. 22.
In addition, UCLA will host one exhibition game against Cal State Los Angeles on Friday, Oct. 30.
Single-game tickets for UCLA’s non-conference games (except the Kentucky game) are currently on sale. Tickets to the game against Kentucky will only be available through the purchase of a ticket package. Season ticket packages are on sale now and start at just $199. To order, please call (310) 206-5991 or visit uclabruins.com/basketballtickets.
UCLA’s Non-Conference Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Venue |
| Nov. 13 | Monmouth | Pauley Pavilion |
| Nov. 15 | Cal Poly | Pauley Pavilion |
| Nov. 19 | Pepperdine | Pauley Pavilion |
| Nov. 23 | Maui Invitational | Lahaina, Maui (Hawaii) |
| Nov. 24 | Maui Invitational | Lahaina, Maui (Hawaii) |
| Nov. 25 | Maui Invitational | Lahaina, Maui (Hawaii) |
| Nov. 29 | CSUN | Pauley Pavilion |
| Dec. 3 | Kentucky | Pauley Pavilion |
| Dec. 6 | Long Beach State | Pauley Pavilion |
| Dec. 12 | at Gonzaga | McCarthey Athletic Center (Spokane, Wash.) |
| Dec. 15 | Louisiana-Lafayette | Pauley Pavilion |
| Dec. 19 | vs. North Carolina | Barclays Center (Brooklyn, N.Y.) |
| Dec. 22 | McNeese State | Pauley Pavilion |
Non-Conference Opponents at a Glance
MONMOUTH HAWKS
Date: Friday, Nov. 13
Venue: UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion
Conference: Metro Atlantic Athletic (MAAC)
2014-15 Record: 18-15
2014-15 Conference Record: 13-7
Entering his fifth season as Monmouth’s head coach, King Rice will lead the Monmouth Hawks into Pauley Pavilion for their season opener on Friday, Nov. 13. The Hawks posted an 18-15 record last season, closing their campaign with a 95-77 loss to top-seeded Iona in the semifinal round of the MAAC Tournament. Monmouth ended its season with six wins in its final nine games. The Hawks are set to return rising junior Justin Robinson, who led the team with 13.4 points per game last season in all 33 starts. The season opener this November will mark the first-ever meeting on the hardwood between UCLA and Monmouth.
CAL POLY MUSTANGS
Date: Sunday, Nov. 15
Venue: UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion
Conference: Big West
2014-15 Record: 13-16
2014-15 Conference Record: 6-10
One year removed from the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance (2013-14), the Cal Poly Mustangs will play in Pauley Pavilion on Sunday, Nov. 15. Entering his seventh season as the Mustangs’ head coach, Joe Callero guided Cal Poly to a seventh-place finish in the Big West Conference’s regular-season standings last year. The Mustangs’ top five scorers from last season are set to return in 2014-15. Rising senior Brian Bennett led Cal Poly in scoring and rebounding, averaging 11.5 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. In addition, the Mustangs are set to return rising senior David Nwaba, who logged 11.4 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. UCLA has compiled a 5-1 all-time record against Cal Poly.
PEPPERDINE WAVES
Date: Thursday, Nov. 19
Venue: UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion
Conference: West Coast
2014-15 Record: 18-14
2014-15 Conference Record: 10-8
Entering his fifth season as Pepperdine’s head coach, Marty Wilson helped the Waves post an 18-14 record last year. Pepperdine, which finished in fourth place in the West Coast Conference with a 10-8 mark, registered its first winning record in league play since 2003-04. Under Wilson’s direction, Pepperdine advanced to its first postseason appearance since 2002, securing a spot in the 16-team College Basketball Invitational (CBI). Pepperdine will return a veteran team, one which didn’t have any seniors last season, and will look for two-time first-team All-WCC selection Stacy Davis (15.7 ppg, 7.8 rpg) to lead the way in 2015-16. UCLA has recorded an 18-4 all-time mark versus Pepperdine.
CSUN MATADORS
Date: Sunday, Nov. 29
Venue: UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion
Conference: Big West
2014-15 Record: 9-24
2014-15 Conference Record: 4-12
Under the direction of third-year head coach Reggie Theus, the CSUN Matadors will play in Pauley Pavilion on Sunday, Nov. 29. Last season, the Matadors posted a 9-24 overall record and finished in eighth place in the Big West Conference. CSUN will return its third and fourth-leading scorers in rising junior Aaron Parks (10.6 ppg, 3.0 rpg) and rising senior Landon Drew (5.7 ppg, 4.5 apg). The Matadors lost by just four points (71-67) to top-seeded UC Davis in the first round of last season’s conference tournament. UCLA has posted a 7-1 all-time record against CSUN.
KENTUCKY WILDCATS
Date: Thursday, Dec. 3
Venue: UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion
Conference: Southeastern (SEC)
2014-15 Record: 38-1
2014-15 Conference Record: 18-0
UCLA will host Kentucky in Pauley Pavilion for the first time in school history on Thursday, Dec. 3. The Bruins have posted a 4-7 all-time record against the Wildcats, but neither school has played each other in Pauley Pavilion or Rupp Arena (Kentucky’s current home). Last season, head coach John Calipari guided Kentucky to a 38-1 overall record and the program’s 17th all-time appearance in the NCAA Final Four. The Wildcats will look for veteran leadership from rising senior Alex Poythress, rising junior Marcus Lee and rising freshman Tyler Ulis, a trio of former McDonald’s All-Americans. UCLA is scheduled to play at Kentucky during the 2016-17 season.
LONG BEACH STATE 49ERS
Date: Sunday, Dec. 6
Venue: UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion
Conference: Big West
2014-15 Record: 16-17
2014-15 Conference Record: 10-6
Entering his ninth season as Long Beach State’s head coach, Dan Monson and the 49ers are set to play UCLA in Pauley Pavilion on Sunday, Dec. 6. UCLA defeated Long Beach State in Pauley Pavilion last season, securing a 77-63 win on Nov. 23. The 49ers will return rising juniors Branford Jones (7.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg) and Travis Hammonds (6.4 ppg, 2.7 rpg) after having lost their top three scorers – Mike Caffey, Tyler Lamb and David Samuels – to graduation. In addition, Long Beach State welcomes three Division I transfer student-athletes eligible to play this fall – Nick Faust, Gabe Levin and Roschon Prince. UCLA has won 12 of 13 games against Long Beach State in the all-time series.
GONZAGA BULLDOGS
Date: Saturday, Dec. 12
Venue: Gonzaga’s McCarthey Athletic Center
Conference: West Coast
2014-15 Record: 35-3
2014-15 Conference Record: 17-1
Despite the loss of three talented seniors to graduation, 17th-year head coach Mark Few and the Gonzaga Bulldogs are encouraged by their veteran roster in 2015-16. UCLA and Gonzaga will conclude their home-and-home series at McCarthey Athletic Center on Saturday, Dec. 12, marking the Bruins’ first-ever game at Gonzaga. Back for the Bulldogs next season include rising seniors Kyle Wiltjer (16.8 ppg, 6.2 rpg), Przemek Karnowski (10.9 ppg, 5.8 rpg) and Kyle Dranginis (4.1 ppg, 2.6 rpg) and rising sophomore Domantas Sabonis (9.7 ppg, 7.1 rpg). UCLA lost both of its games to Gonzaga in 2014-15 and have gone 1-3 in the all-time series against the Bulldogs.
LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE RAGIN’ CAJUNS
Date: Tuesday, Dec. 15
Venue: UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion
Conference: Sun Belt
2014-15 Record: 22-14
2014-15 Conference Record: 13-7
Set to return seven of their top eight scorers from 2014-15, the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns will play at UCLA on Tuesday, Dec. 15. Under the direction of sixth-year head coach Bob Marlin, Louisiana-Lafayette will be playing its first-ever game against the Bruins. Last season, the Ragin Cajuns posted a 22-14 overall record, including a 13-7 mark and fourth-place finish in the Sun Belt Conference. Rising senior Shawn Long (16.4 ppg, 10.2 rpg) will be relied upon after having been one of the nation’s 17 Division I players to average a double-double last year. Other key returners include rising senior Kasey Shepherd (9.7 ppg, 2.6 rpg) and rising junior Jay Wright (9.1 ppg, 3.6 apg).
NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS
Date: Saturday, Dec. 19
Venue: Barclays Center (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
Conference: Atlantic Coast (ACC)
2014-15 Record: 26-12
2014-15 Conference Record: 11-7 After advancing to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 last March, the North Carolina Tar Heels return second-team All-ACC selection and rising senior Marcus Paige (14.1 ppg, 4.5 apg) and third-team All-ACC selection and rising senior Brice Johnson (12.9 ppg, 7.8 rpg), the team’s top two scorers. With Roy Williams at the helm of the program for the 13th season, North Carolina will take on UCLA in the second year of the CBS Sports Classic, set to take place this December at Barclays Center in Brooklyn (NY). Last season, UCLA lost its second game of the Battle 4 Atlantis to North Carolina in the Bahamas (Nov. 27, 2014). The Bruins have posted a 3-7 all-time record against the Tar Heels.
McNEESE STATE COWBOYS
Date: Tuesday, Dec. 22
Venue: UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion
Conference: Southland
2014-15 Record: 15-16
2014-15 Conference Record: 8-10
Entering his 10th season as the McNeese State head coach, Dave Simmons helped guide the Cowboys to a 15-16 overall record in 2014-15. Set to play against UCLA on Tuesday, Dec. 22, McNeese State closed last season with five wins in its final six games, but must overcome the loss of its top three scorers from one year ago. The Cowboys will look toward rising senior Austin Lewis (5.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg) and rising junior Jamaya Burr (9.0 ppg, 4.1 apg) to lead the way in 2015-16. UCLA has never faced McNeese State on the basketball court.
MAUI JIM MAUI INVITATIONAL
Dates: Monday, Nov. 23 through Wednesday, Nov. 25
Venue: Lahaina Civic Center (Lahaina, Maui)
Chaminade Silverswords
Conference: Pac West
2014-15 Record: 12-14
2014-15 Conference Record: 9-11
Head coach Eric Bovaird will enter his fourth season as Chaminade’s head coach in 2015-16. The Silverswords will return their top two scorers from last season – Kuany Kuany (15.3 ppg, 7.4 rpg) and Kevin Hu (14.1 ppg). UCLA has not faced Chaminade since competing in the 2011 Maui Invitational, where the Bruins secured a 92-60 win against the Silverswords.
Indiana
Conference: Big Ten
2014-15 Record: 20-14
2014-15 Conference Record: 9-9
Backed by senior guard Yogi Ferrell (16.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 4.9 rpg), the Indiana Hoosiers will be playing in the Maui Invitational for the first time since 2008. Under the direction of eighth-year head coach Tom Crean, the Hoosiers will look for both Ferrell and James Blackmon Jr. (15.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg) to provide leadership next season. UCLA has gone 6-6 in the all-time series versus Indiana.
Kansas
Conference: Big 12
2014-15 Record: 27-9
2014-15 Conference Record: 13-5
The Kansas Jayhawks return to the Maui Invitational for the first time since 2011, when they finished as runner-up to Duke. Under the direction of 13th-year head coach Bill Self, the Jayhawks went 27-9 overall last season, winning the Big 12 Conference regular-season title with a 13-5 record. UCLA last faced Kansas in Maui (2011) and has posted a 10-7 all-time record versus the Jayhawks.
St. John’s
Conference: Big East
2014-15 Record: 21-12
2014-15 Conference Record: 10-8
Led by first-year head coach Chris Mullin, the St. John’s Red Storm will make their first-ever appearance in the Maui Invitational. Last season, St. John’s advanced to the NCAA Tournament and closed the season with a 21-12 overall record and 10-8 mark in Big East action, winning seven of its final nine conference games for the second consecutive year. UCLA has gone 3-7 in the all-time series against St. John’s.
UNLV
Conference: Mountain West
2014-15 Record: 18-15
2014-15 Conference Record: 8-10
With Dave Rice entering his fifth season as head coach, UNLV will make its first appearance in the Maui Invitational since 2000. The Rebels posted an 18-15 overall record last season, going 8-10 in Mountain West action. UNLV returns one of its top three scorers from last season in rising sophomore Patrick McCaw (9.6 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.7 apg).
Vanderbilt
Conference: Southeastern (SEC)
2014-15 Record: 21-14
2014-15 Conference Record: 9-9
After finishing the 2014-15 campaign with a 21-14 mark and appearance in the NIT quarterfinal round under head coach Kevin Stallings, the Vanderbilt Commodores will return eight of their top nine players. Rising junior Damien Jones led Vanderbilt last season in scoring (14.5 ppg) and rebounding (6.5 rpg). Vanderbilt will compete in the Maui Invitational for the first time since 2009.
Wake Forest
Conference: Atlantic Coast (ACC)
2014-15 Record: 13-19
2014-15 Conference Record: 5-13
Led by second-year head coach Danny Manning, Wake Forest will return its top five scorers after having gone 13-19 last season. Wake Forest will be playing in the Maui Invitational for the first time in program history. The Demon Deacons will look for leadership this fall from rising seniors Cody Miller-McIntyre (14.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg) and Devin Thomas (12.0 ppg, 8.8 rpg).