UCLA Releases 2007-08 Men's Basketball Schedule

By Bruin Basketball Report

Howland expects seven Pac-10 teams to make NCAA Tournament next season

UCLA's 2007-08 men's basketball schedule is highlighted by
non-conference contests in the CBE Classic, hosting Texas in the
Pac-10/Big 12 Series (Dec. 2) and a trip to Ann Arbor, Mich., to play
Big Ten foe Michigan (Dec. 22). It will be the sixth consecutive game
against the Wolverines.

At the 16-team CBE Classic (Nov. 12-13 and Nov. 19-20), four
teams (UCLA, Maryland, Michigan State and Missouri) will host the
four-team preliminary rounds on Nov. 12-13 on-campus sites with the
winners advancing to the semifinals at the Sprint Center in Kansas
City, Mo., on Nov. 19-20. While the other pods are not ready for
release, the Bruins will be hosting Prairie View A&M at 8:00 p.m.
on Nov. 12 in Pauley Pavilion and should they win, will face the winner
of the Youngstown State/Chicago State game at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 13.

The Bruins will also play in the 14th annual Wooden Classic on
Saturday, Dec. 8 at the Honda Center in Anaheim against an opponent to
be named later. This will be UCLA's fifth consecutive Wooden Classic
appearance and 11th overall (7-3 in prior contests). Last year, the
Bruins defeated sixth-ranked Texas A&M, 65-62 in the Wooden
Classic.

Other non-conference highlights include - opening the
regular-season home campaign in Pauley Pavilion vs. Big Sky opponent
Portland State (Nov. 9); hosting George Washington, a team that has
made the NCAA Tournament for three consecutive seasons (Nov. 28) and
hosting four other schools in Pauley (Yale/Nov. 23; Idaho State/Dec.
15; Western Illinois/Dec. 18 and UC Davis/Dec. 29) before beginning
Pac-10 play.

UCLA, the defending back-to-back regular season Pac-10
champion, opens defense of its conference crown in early January at
Stanford (Jan. 3). The 2008 Pac-10 Tournament, featuring all 10 teams,
will once again be held at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles
(March 12-15).

In all, there are 10 teams on UCLA's 2007-08 schedule that last
year advanced to post-season play - nine in NCAA play (Maryland and
Michigan State in the CBE Classic; George Washington and Texas and five
teams from the Pac-10 - Washington State, Arizona, USC, Oregon and
Stanford) and one from the NIT (Michigan).

"Our schedule is very challenging with a number of outstanding opponents in our non-conference schedule," said Bruin head coach Ben Howland,
entering his fifth season. "I think the Pac-10 will be the toughest
conference in the country. Without question, we have the potential to
have seven teams from the Pac-10 in the NCAA Tournament in this
upcoming season, which would be a new record for our league. I honestly
expect to have seven teams in, our league is that strong, that
balanced, that good. I believe the Pac-10 teams will excel in the NCAA
Tournament because of the competitiveness."

In 2006-07, UCLA advanced to its second straight Final Four,
finishing the season with an overall record of 30-6 and winning its
second consecutive Pac-10 championship with a 15-3 mark. The Bruins
have won 30 or more games in back-to-back seasons for the first time
since the 1971-72 and 1972-73 national championship teams both recorded
undefeated 30-0 seasons. Additionally, last year's strength of schedule
was rated eighth in the country, but the Bruins' non-conference strength
of schedule was third in the nation.

The schedule is tentative and subject to change due to television.

Tentative 2007-08 UCLA Men's Basketball Schedule

Fri., Nov. 2 Exhibition

Mon., Nov. 5 Chico State (Exhibition)

Fri., Nov. 9 Portland State

Mon., Nov. 12 CBE Classic - Youngstown State vs. Chicago State 5:15 p.m. and UCLA vs. Prairie View A&M 8:00 p.m.

Tue., Nov. 13 CBE Classic Preliminary Consolation 4:45 p.m. and Preliminary Final 7:30 p.m.

Mon., Nov. 19 @CBE Classic Semifinal 6/8:30 p.m. CST (Sprint Center, Kansas City)

Tue., Nov. 20 @CBE Classic Final 6:45/9:15 p.m. CST (Sprint Center, Kansas City)

Fri., Nov. 23 Yale

Wed., Nov. 28 George Washington

Sun.., Dec. 2 Texas in Pac-10/Big 12 Series

Sat., Dec. 8 Davidson @ Wooden Classic (Honda Center)

Sat., Dec. 15 Idaho State

Tue., Dec. 18 Western Illinois

Sat., Dec. 22 @ Michigan

Sat., Dec. 29 UC Davis

Thu., Jan. 3 @ Stanford

Sat., Jan. 5 @ California

Thu., Jan. 10 Washington

Sat., Jan. 12 Washington State

Sat., Jan. 19 USC

Thu., Jan. 24 @ Oregon

Sat., Jan. 26 @ Oregon State

Thu., Jan. 31 Arizona

Sat., Feb. 2 Arizona State

Thu., Feb. 7 @ Washington State

Sat., Feb. 9 @ Washington

Sat., Feb. 16 @ USC

Thu., Feb. 21 Oregon State

Sat., Feb. 23 Oregon

Thu., Feb. 28 @ Arizona State

Sat., Mar. 1 @ Arizona

Thu., Mar.6 California

Sat., Mar. 8 Stanford

Mar. 12-15 Pac-10 Tournament @ Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA

Mar. 20-23 NCAA First and Second Round

Mar. 27-30 NCAA Regional

Apr. 5 & 7 NCAA Final Four

All times Pacific unless noted.

All games broadcast on AM 570 (KLAC)

(photo credit: Jack Rosenfeld)

Arron Afflalo Drafted By Detroit Pistons in 1st Round

By Bruin Basketball Report

UCLA's Arron Afflalo was selected as the 27th overall  pick in the first round by the Detroit Pistons in the 2007 NBA draft.

“The shock definitely came because I hadn’t worked out for the team so I wasn’t expecting to hear my name at that particular point and time,” Afflalo said. “I know my work ethic and I know what kind of basketball player I want to be and I’m blessed to have this opportunity. I’ve put a lot of hard work into this and I’m ready to put in even more. When you talk about Detroit Piston basketball, the first thing that comes to mind is mental and physical toughness and a desire to get better and I think those are my strongest qualities.”

Afflalo chose to leave for the NBA after his junior year.  He averaged 16.9 points on 46.1% shooting last season.

“I’m really excited for Arron and his family,” UCLA Head Coach Ben Howland said. “He’s worked very hard and this is a lifelong dream of his,” said Bruin head coach Ben Howland. “I can’t think of anybody more deserving than Arron to be a first-round draft pick in the NBA. He’s going to a great franchise with an outstanding team and an opportunity to be a part of something really special.” 

For the second consecutive year, a UCLA Bruin has been chosen in the first round.  Afflalo's backcourt mate, Jordan Farmar was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round 26th overall in the 2006 draft.

As a result of being selected in the first round, Afflalo will receive a guaranteed two-year NBA contract worth close to a million dollars per season.

Afflalo joins a defensive-oriented professional team in Detroit.  No doubt, Piston's general manager Joe Dumars, a tough defensive-minded shooting guard during his own playing days in Detroit, appreciates Afflalo's talents on both ends of the court.

Congratulations Arron!

Detroit Pistons Draft Press Conference (video)

(photo credit: AP)

Bruin Recruiting: Prep News Roundup (6/25)

By Bruin Basketball Report

Prep News Roundup is published every Monday.

Commits

Moving back to the Class of 2008, the most alarming lack of depth is at
the worst possible position for that to occur: point guard. Outside of
Brandon Jennings (No. 2 in our pre-summer rankings), Jerime Anderson
(No. 13) and Malcolm Lee (No. 14), no other point guard has established
himself as a clear blue-chip talent. Worse, there's yet another dropoff
after the next six or seven players at the position, creating a
seller's market with profound ramifications for schools in need of a
floorman. USA Today 6/20

USA Basketball: The Brazilians were simply overwhelmed by the size and athleticism of their American opponent. Jerime Anderson led the Blue squad in scoring with 25 points and also in assists with 9. Malcolm Lee was second in both categories with 20 points and 5 assists. Forwards Delvon Roe had 19 points, and Scotty Hopson had 16 points. Roe led his team in rebounding with 10 boards. Jrue Holiday only played 14 minutes before he was sidelined with an eye injury. Rivals 6/22

USA Basketball: The Blue Team did not come within single digits of their opponent until Roe’s 3-pointer made the score 69-61 at the 9:55 mark in the third period. However, Drew Gordon’s (Archbishop Mitty H.S. / San Jose, Calif.) jumper and emphatic block halted any Red momentum, and after three quarters the Red owned a 97-85 lead. SFC 6/23

View Individual/Team Statistics from USA Basketball Developmental Festival

Recruits

With Loren Grover having "resigned" (according to the school's
principal, Sergio Garcia) as Artesia's varsity basketball coach a
couple of weeks ago, the "where is Renardo Sidney going to resurface?"
speculation was in full force during the Mater Dei Tournament this past
weekend. We'll wait until September rolls around and the mega-talented
6-foot-9 Sidney is attending high school classes to comment on where he
will be playing. Press Telegram 6/19

Elijah Johnson- Another top notch guard in the 2009 class is the ultra-athletic Johnson. All spring Johnson has worked his way to the rim practically at will and that was still the case in St. Louis. What Johnson did better in St. Louis was consistently finish at the rim. A raw talent, Johnson just needs to continue to refine his skills, such as his midrange passing and three-point shooting, and he has a chance to become a five-star prospect. Gator Bait 6/19

San Diego center Jeff Withey was making that monotonous trek from his home to Tucson on Wednesday afternoon when I finally caught him via cellphone.
From the manner Withey spoke, assuming he did not spontaneously combust during a 110-degree Yuma gas stop and managed to keep breathing the triple-digit air upon arrival in Tucson, the chances of Arizona landing him appear to be good.
Withey is making the first, and possibly only, unofficial visit of his re-recruitment after he decommitted to Louisville earlier this month. He said he only wanted to consider West Coast schools and could commit to UA soon if the visit on Thursday and Friday goes well.
“Just when I feel it’s right, I’ll say yes or no,” Withey said. Arizona Daily Star 6/20

NBPA Camp: Demar DeRozan (6-foot-5, SG; Compton, CA) knocked down three-pointers and pull-up jumpers with regularity today. He has the tools to dominate in the open court or off the dribble with the pull-up jumper. DeRozan surprised a couple players with his jumping ability around the hoop, throwing it down in their face.
2009-recruit CSTV 6/21

NBPA Camp: Jordan Hamilton (6-foot-7, WF; Los Angeles, CA Dorsey) really woke up, knocking down a 17-footer off the dribble and attacking the rim in a hurry, finishing with a couple highlight dunks in traffic. Hamilton is one of 2009's top wing talents for sure. CSTV 6/21

USA Basketball: Jrue Holiday put together an impressive triple double with 28 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists with only 2 turnovers. And Delvon Roe pumped in a team high 32 points and grabbed a game high 15 rebounds. Cardinal Sports 6/23

USA Basketball: Jrue Holiday, who led the event in assists per game, dished out seven assists to just one turnover. A player who is strong in every aspect of the game, Holiday also blocked three shots, grabbed six rebounds and scored 19 points on 9-18 shooting. Jackets Online 6/23

(photo credit: USA Basketball)