UCLA’s special teams have been magnificent the last two weeks, both games featuring key punt returns – Taylor Embree’s 31-yard return against Houston, Josh Smith’ s 45-yard return against Texas – and impeccable coverage on punts, including a forced fumble by junior linebacker Sean Westgate (Oak Park) on a punt early in the second quarter against the Longhorns that led to a quick Bruin touchdown.

“When you play in big games, your kicking game has got to put you in a position to win,” special teams coach Frank Gansz said. “Josh had a big return that put us in good position, the turnovers were huge, the one in early in the game set up the touchdown. The kids take a tremendous amount of pride in special teams, and it starts at the top with Coach Neuheisel; he does a great job of emphasizing it and letting me do what I have to do to get these guys ready to play.”

Fire away with questions for this week’s Q&A. Please don’t post new questions on the answers section, because I don’t always check the comments. Save them for next week.

Thanks
Jon

From UCLA:

LOS ANGELES – The UCLA Athletic Department has announced the television coverage and game times for its 2010-11 men’s basketball schedule. It is highlighted by 27 televised games on four different networks, including the possibility of two more games to be televised as wild card selections.

The Bruins will make 19 appearances as part of the Pacific-10 Conference’s television package; 12 national telecasts on Fox Sports Net, two on CBS and six on ESPN. Non-conference highlights of the FSN schedule include the Dec. 18 Wooden Classic game versus BYU at Honda Center as well as 11 Pac-10 league contests. The ESPN selections include all four games of the 2010 Dick’s Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off. Additionally, the Bruins’ second game of the NIT Season Tip-Off on Nov. 16 (versus Pacific or Nevada) will be part of ESPN’s College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon. ESPN will also showcase the UCLA at Kansas contest on Dec. 2 and the UCLA at Arizona game on Jan. 27. CBS has selected the St. John’s at UCLA game on Feb. 5 and the Stanford at UCLA contest on Jan. 22. UCLA has two additional opportunities for exposure when wild card selections will be announced on Feb. 21, 2010.

In addition to the Pac-10’s FSN package, seven more games will be televised locally as part of the Bruins’ package on Prime Ticket and FS West in Los Angeles.

While all but one game time (excluding wild card selections) has been set, the schedule is tentative and subject to change.
Continue reading “Updated UCLA Hoops TV Schedule” »

Adonis Thomas
has been to Los Angeles three times, but he’s never been on the UCLA campus.

He knows about the Southern California weather, he knows the food and the people. He’s eaten in L.A. and he’s met the people himself.

But this weekend, when he ventures to Westwood for an official visit as the No. 2-ranked small forward and No. 8-ranked overall player – one of three in the country still uncommitted – Thomas wants to really feel what UCLA is about.

“I’m familiar with the program, what they’ve produced, the tradition they have, but I really want to go to see the campus, see the enviornament, the players that are there,” Thomas said in a phone interview on Tuesday. “It gives them a chance to really show me what they have to offer. I want to see the academic side of the school, the style of play, what I can expect if I come here.
“This is my third time in LA, first on campus, so I have to really tune in on the visit.”
Continue reading “Exclusive chat with Adonis Thomas” »

The Pac-10 has released it’s 2010-11 TV Schedule, and UCLA will have 13 games televised at least:

12/18 UCLA v BYU, FSN 2:30
12/31 UCLA v. Washington, FSN 1 p.m.
1/9/11 UCLA at USC, FSN 7:30 p.m.
1/22/11 UCLA v. Stanford, CBS 11 a.m.
1/27/11 UCLA at Arizona, ESPN 6 p.m.
1/29/11 UCLA at ASU, FSN 12:30 p.m
2/2/11 UCLA v. USC, FSN, 8 p.m.
2/5/11 UCLA v. St. John’s, CBS 10 a.m.
2/12/11 UCLA v. Oregon State, 1 p.m.
2/17/11 UCLA at Stanford, FSN 7:30 p.m.
2/20/11 UCLA at Cal, FSN 7 p.m.
2/24/11 UCLA v. ASU, FSN 8 p.m.
2/26/11, UCLA v. Arizona, FSN 1 p.m.

Here’s a full list of the games