Tentative 2008-09 UCLA Men’s Basketball Schedule

UCLA’s 2008-09 men’s basketball schedule is highlighted by non-conference contests in the 2008 2K Sports Classic, benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer, that culminates in Madison Square Garden; a trip to Austin, Texas to face the Texas Longhorns in the Pac-10/Big 12 Series (Dec. 4); hosting Wyoming (Dec. 23) and hosting Notre Dame in the Bruins’ final non-conference game of the season (Feb. 7).

The field for the 16-team 2K Sports Classic (Nov. 12-13 and Nov. 20-21) has not been announced. Four teams (one of them being UCLA) will host the four-team preliminary rounds on Nov. 10-14 at on-campus sites with the winners advancing to the semifinals at Madison Square Garden in New York, on Nov. 20 and the finals on Nov. 21.

The Bruins will also play in the 15th annual Wooden Classic on Saturday, Dec. 13 at the Honda Center in Anaheim against DePaul. This will be UCLA’s sixth consecutive Wooden Classic appearance and 12th overall (8-3 in prior contests). Last year, the Bruins defeated Davidson 75-63 in the Wooden Classic.

Other non-conference highlights include – hosting four other teams (Florida International/Nov. 29; Cal State Northridge/Dec. 7; Mercer/Dec. 20 and Louisiana Tech/Dec. 28) in Pauley Pavilion before beginning Pac-10 play.

UCLA, the defending back-to-back-to-back regular season Pac-10 champion, opens defense of its conference crown in early January at Oregon State (Jan. 2). The 2008 Pac-10 Tournament, featuring all 10 teams, will once again be held at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles (March 11-14).

In 2007-08, UCLA advanced to its third straight Final Four, finishing the season with a school-record 35 victories and a 35-4 overall mark. The Bruins won their third consecutive Pac-10 championship with a 16-2 mark. UCLA also won the 2008 Pacific Life Pac-10 Tournament and has won 30 or more games in three straight seasons for the first time in school history.

The schedule is tentative and subject to change due to television. While the dates have been set, the Bruins are still looking for one more home game (Dec. 17) and one exhibition opponent (Nov. 7).

Tentative 2008-09 UCLA Men’s Basketball Schedule

Tue., Nov. 4, Humboldt State

Fri., Nov. 7, Exhibition

Wed., Nov. 12, 2K Sports Classic (Coaches vs. Cancer) First Round

Thu., Nov. 13, 2K Sports Classic (Coaches vs. Cancer) Second Round

Thu., Nov. 20, 2K Sports Classic (Coaches vs. Cancer) Semifinals @ MSG, NY

Fri., Nov. 21, 2K Sports Classic (Coaches vs. Cancer) Final @ MSG, NY

Sat., Nov. 29, Florida International

Thu., Dec. 4, @Texas in Pac-10/Big 12 Hardwood Series

Sun., Dec. 7, Cal State Northridge

Dec. 8-12, Finals Week

Sat., Dec. 13, DePaul @ Wooden Classic

Wed., Dec. 17, TBD

Sat., Dec. 20, Mercer

Tue., Dec. 23, Wyoming

Sun., Dec. 28, Louisiana Tech

Fri., Jan. 2, @ Oregon State

Sun., Jan. 4, @ Oregon

Sun., Jan. 11, @ USC

Thu., Jan. 15, Arizona

Sat., Jan. 17, Arizona State

Thu., Jan. 22, @ Washington State

Sat., Jan. 24, @ Washington

Thu., Jan. 29, California

Sat., Jan. 31, Stanford

Wed., Feb. 4, USC

Sat., Feb. 7, Notre Dame

Thu., Feb. 12, @ Arizona State

Sat., Feb. 14, @ Arizona

Thu., Feb. 19, Washington

Sat., Feb. 21, Washington State

Thu., Feb. 26, @ Stanford

Sat., Feb. 28, @ California

Thu., Mar. 5, Oregon State

Sat., Mar. 7, Oregon

Mar. 11 - Mar. 14, Pac-10 Tournament @ Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA

Mar. 19 - Mar. 22, NCAA First and Second Round

Mar. 26 - Mar. 29, NCAA Regional

Apr. 4 & Apr. 6, NCAA Final Four

All times Pacific.
All games broadcast on the UCLA/ISP Network (AM 570 KLAC in Los Angeles).

[press release]

Dan Guerrero Appointed Chair of NCAA Div I Basketball Committee For 2009-10

By Bruin Basketball Report

Dan Guerrero, athletics director at the University of California, Los Angeles, has been appointed chair of the Division I Men’s Basketball Committee for the 2009-10 academic year.

Guerrero’s term will begin September 1, 2009, following formal approval by the NCAA Division I Championships/Competition Cabinet in early 2009. He will replace current chair Mike Slive, commissioner of the Southeastern Conference.

Guerrero is vice president of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics and chairs the NCAA’s Division I Men’s Basketball Academic Enhancement Group. He also serves on the executive board of the Division I Athletic Directors Association and last year was named NACDA’s Division I West Region Athletic Director of the Year.

In addition, Guerrero serves on the College Basketball Partnership, a committee formed by NCAA President Myles Brand that includes many of the most influential people in the sport. He also was named as one of the top 100 most influential Hispanics by Hispanic Business Magazine and was ranked among the top 30 most influential minorities in sports by Sports Illustrated.

“It is truly an honor to follow in the footsteps of my colleagues who have previously served the NCAA membership as chair of this prestigious committee,” said Guerrero. “Their extraordinary leadership has helped to ensure that this great sporting event remains at the pinnacle for generations of college basketball fans everywhere. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time on the committee and, as chair, will endeavor to listen, lead and embrace this wonderful opportunity.”

Since Guerrero was named director of athletics in 2002, UCLA has won a nation-best 17 national championships in 11 different sports, bringing the school’s all-time total to a record 103 national titles. Bruin teams have also placed second on 13 occasions and finished in the top five 22 times, and UCLA has placed in the top six in the NACDA Director’s Cup standings, including second-place finishes in each of the past three years, during Guerrero’s tenure.

A 1974 graduate of UCLA and a 1996 inductee into the school’s Baseball Hall of Fame, Guerrero received a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Cal State Dominguez Hills in 1982. He was director of athletics at Cal State Dominguez Hills from 1988-92 before taking over the same position at the University of California, Irvine from 1992-2002.

“Dan is an excellent choice to chair the Division I Men’s Basketball Committee in 2009-10,” said Tom Jernstedt, executive vice president of the NCAA. “The NCAA has been fortunate to have had chairs of this committee who have had tremendous integrity and vision, and Dan certainly keeps that tradition alive. His leadership skills, energy level and passion for college basketball will serve the membership and the Division I men’s basketball championship well.”

Malcolm Lee Selected To USA Under-18 National Team

By Bruin Basketball Report

Incoming freshman 6'5 guard Malcolm is selected to USA Basketball Men's U18 National Team.

The USA Basketball Men's U18 National Team was announced today in Washington, D.C., and is a well-rounded 12-member squad that will look to defend the country's gold medal at the 2008 FIBA Americas U18 Championship July 14-18 in Formosa, Argentina.

Named to the USA squad were: Dominic Cheek (St. Anthony H.S. / Jersey City, N.J.); JaMychal Green (St. Jude H.S. / Montgomery, Ala.); Matt Humphrey (Hales Franciscian H.S / Chicago, Ill.); Ryan Kelly (Ravenscroft H.S. / Raleigh, N.C.); Malcolm Lee (John W. North H.S. / Riverside, Calif.); Leslie McDonald (Briarcrest H.S./ Memphis, Tenn.); Mason Plumlee (Christ H.S. / Arden, N.C.); Travis Releford (Bishop Miege H.S. / Shawnee Mission, Kan.); Kemba Walker (Rice H.S. / New York, N.Y.); Maalik Wayns (Roman Catholic H.S. / Philadelphia, Pa.); David Wear (Mater Dei H.S. / Santa Ana, Calif.) and Travis Wear (Mater Dei H.S. / Santa Ana, Calif).

For Malcolm Lee, this was his third time being named to a USA Basketball team. He was previously a member of the 2007 USA Basketball Youth Development Festival White Team and the 2008 USA Junior National Select Team that competed in the '08 Nike Hoop Summit.

The members of the USA U18 squad, comprised of athletes born on or after Jan. 1, 1990, began their journey as one of 18 athletes who arrived in Washington to attend the USA U18 National Team Trials on July 1, and will remain in Washington through July 10 before departing for the 2008 FIBA Americas U18 Championship.

"The coaching staff is so pleased with the way the team is developing a sense of chemistry, a sense of team and we're also pleased with their willingness to work hard and get better each day," said USA and Davidson College head coach Bob McKillop. "They realize that this is an investment of a lot of their time, a lot of their energy, but they realize the dividend that they can create for themselves by becoming better basketball players. They also realize the dividend that is part of developing relationships. There are already relationships that are emerging after these seven days together that I think will be lifetime relationships, amongst the coaches and the players, the players and the coaches.

Virginia Commonwealth University head coach Anthony Grant and Georgetown University head coach John Thompson III are serving as assistant coaches.

The USA Men's U18 FIBA Americas Championship Team will continue training at the Washington Wizards' practice facility inside the Verizon Center today at 5:00 p.m. (EDT) and on Wednesday, July 9 (10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., EDT). Then on Thursday, July 10, the team will train at Georgetown University's McDonough Arena (10:00 a.m. EDT).

Featuring eight U18 national teams from North, South and Central America and the Caribbean, the 2008 FIBA Americas U18 Championship will qualify the top four finishing teams for the 2009 FIBA U19 World Championship, slated to be held July 2-12 in New Zealand.

Opening against Venezuela at 1:30 p.m. on July 14 in the first game of Group B preliminary play, the USA faces the Bahamas at 2:00 p.m. on July 15 and closes out preliminary round play against Puerto Rico at 6:00 p.m. on July 16. Group A features host Argentina, Canada, Mexico and Uruguay.

Following preliminary round play the top two teams in each group advance to the July 17 medal round semifinals and the gold medal game will be contested at 8:00 p.m. on July 18.

Defending FIBA Americas U18 Championship gold medalists, the USA men's teams boast of a sensational 29-1 overall record in this event and won gold in 1990, 1994, 1998, and most recently in 2006, when the United States played host to the FIBA Americas U18 Championship for the first time in San Antonio, Texas. The USA men's team also captured the bronze in 2002.

(photo credit: USA Basketball)

Bruin Recruiting: Prep News Roundup (7/7)

By Bruin Basketball Report

Prep News Roundup is published every Monday.

Commits

Malcolm Lee (UCLA)- Lee scored four points before suffering an injury during the late stages of the scrimmage. With only two true point guards trying out for the team, Lee ran the point for the third team. More suited for the shooting guard position, Lee didn't assert himself much by penetrating from the point guard position, but did finish with four points. Gator Bait 7/2

Reeves Nelson (UCLA commitment)- After seeing Nelson for the first time this spring/summer, it appears that he might just be getting too strong. He was very good on the defensive glass, but struggled to muster up anything offensively. He did get one baseline dunk for his two points. Gator Bait 7/2

Standing 6-5 with a 6-9 wingspan, California native Malcolm Lee is a lot of things – a point guard, a shooting guard, a USA Basketball veteran and a USA hopeful. The UCLA bound Lee is also one of 18 athletes in Washington D.C. this week competing for one of 12 roster spots on the 2008 USA U18 Men's National Team. "So far, trials are going really well," Lee said. "There is a lot of great talent here, and we've got tons of good coaches from different colleges. At every position, there are really good players. The intensity level is really high. The coaches are running tough practices, and there is no taking plays off." USA Basketball 7/2

Malcom Lee (John W. North H.S. / Riverside, CA) is the most veteran USA Basketball finalist and is one step closer to making his third USA Basketball squad. Most recently Lee helped lead the USA to a 98-78 victory over the World Select Team at the Nike Hoop Summit in April and helped force 25 World turnovers and 18 USA steals. Lee first showcased his talent in a USA Basketball uniform at the 2007 USA Basketball Youth Development Festival, held in Colorado Springs, Colo.Rivals 7/3

Three other players who were invited to the trials canceled at the last minute due to injuries: Kenny Boynton, a 6-2 guard from Florida; Dexter Strickland, a 6-foot-3 guard from New Jersey who has committed to North Carolina; and Drew Gordon, a 6-9 forward who will be a freshman at UCLA next season. Sports Illustrated 7/3

Recruits

Moser joins California forward Greg Smith as the UA's two 2009 verbal commitments. In late May, Tacoma (Wash.) Bellarmine Prep point guard Abdul Gaddy opted out of his 2009 commitment, citing changes in the Wildcats' coaching staff. Moser is friends with Gaddy and another highly recruited Bellarmine Prep guard, Avery Bradley. Arizona Daily Star 7/2

Lance Stephenson- Simply put, Stephenson had a tough day at the office. He couldn't get his shot to fall, managing only two points, didn't assert himself on the boards and turned the ball over at an alarming rate. Perhaps just trying to do too much, Stephenson played at a frenetic speed that just wasn't meshing with his teammates. He clearly was frustrated. Gator Bait 7/2

Renardo Sidney’s father told me that Kansas is the school that is currently the most active in recruiting his son. The elder Sidney said that both USC and UCLA aren’t recruiting his son nearly as much as they once were. He also mentioned that Arizona State, Memphis and Louisville are in the mix. Fox Sports 7/2

Lance Stephenson- 11 points on 5-10 shooting, 1-2 from the line, 3 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 assist, 2 turnovers. Session two started out as poorly as session one for Stephenson, but things started clicking for him after the halfway mark of the scrimmage. Still figuring out how to blend in with the team concept as a wing player here, Stephenson shunned the high degree of difficulty passes and shots and began to just muscle his way to the rim. There aren't many defenders in the country who can stop him when he takes this aggressive, streamlined approach. Rivals 7/2

When it came time for full-court scrimmaging, Lance Stephenson, the much-heralded guard who has led Brooklyn's Lincoln High to three consecutive New York City championships, tried taking over the point guard duties. Stephenson wanted to show off the skills he picked up at Nike's Steve Nash camp last month, but he turned in an awful performance. He dribbled into traffic and committed sloppy turnovers. He fired no-look passes that sailed out of bounds. He drove to the basket and heedlessly forced up bad shots.
Even worse, after every mistake he acted like it was someone else's fault. He barked at his teammates. He whined to the refs. He rolled his eyes and slapped his thighs. He shook his head and muttered to himself.
In other words, he acted like what he is: a 17-year-old kid. Sports Illustrated 7/3

Lance Stephenson was the first to admit that he had to go through an adjustment period."I'm trying to get used to not getting the ball like I'm used to getting it," said Stephenson. "Now when I get the ball I'm trying to finish the play quicker." He also rejected recent talk that he might take some other route than attending college after next year. "I'm more focused on school and getting an education. I'm more about learning new stuff and then go to the NBA. Skipping college and going to Europe is something you think about as a last resort when your messing up in school, but I'm doing well in school." St. John's, Texas, North Carolina and Duke are still in the running to land Stephenson, but three other schools standout at the top of his list. "Kansas, Memphis and Tennessee, those are the three schools I'm looking at really hard," said Stephenson, who is planning to wait until the spring before committing to a college. Gator Bait 7/3

Nolan Dennis, a highly ranked shooting guard from the Dallas area, ended his recruitment Thursday with a verbal commitment to the University of Memphis. He is the first member of coach John Calipari's 2009 recruiting class, which could ultimately include four or five of the top high school seniors in the country. Commercial Appeal 7/3

Xavier Henry, 6-6 SG: The most significant recruiting battle of the summer could be between Memphis and Kansas for the sharp-shooting lefty from Oklahoma City. Henry is one of the three best players in this class, bar none, and could be the key guy to a Final Four run in 2010. Henry's father and mother both played at Kansas, but that was in the era when a young assistant named John Calipari was also in Lawrence. The feeling here has always been that Henry would sign with the Tigers because of his relationship with Calipari, but it's a close call either way. Commercial Appeal 7/6

Stephan Van Treese has long been on Indiana’s radar and received a scholarship offer from Kelvin Sampson shortly after the former coach arrived two years ago. But Van Treese was mostly an unknown to Crean. The two recently met in Bloomington, with Crean ultimately telling the Van Treese family that he was looking forward to building a relationship and deciding whether to make a scholarship offer. Times Mail 7/5

Small forward Jordan Hamilton of Compton, Calif., is considered one of the top 20 prospects in the 2009 recruiting class, but he did not create a positive initial impression at Nike's Paul Pierce Skills Academy. Hamilton frequently was passive during early drills at the camp, although he eventually became more assertive. Michael Snaer of Moreno Valley, Calif., who ranked far lower than Hamilton, drew raves for his intensity and desire to improve. Sporting News 7/6

(photo credit: USA Basketball)