UCLA releases men’s basketball 2016-17 nonconference schedule

The program’s first trip to Kentucky’s Rupp Arena and a pair of games against reputable Big Ten programs headlined the UCLA men’s basketball 2016-17 nonconference schedule released Tuesday.

Of 13 nonconference opponents including Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio State, only three remain unknown. The Wooden Legacy, an eight-team tournament beginning on Thanksgiving, includes three UCLA contests yet to be determined against a field of Texas A&M, Dayton, Virginia Tech, Nebraska, New Mexico, Portland and Cal State Northridge.

Despite a nonconference slate last season dotted with matchups against the likes of Kansas, North Carolina, Gonzaga and Kentucky, UCLA went 9-5 during the portion of the season where it showed the most promise. Tying the worst conference record in school history, a 6-12 mark good for 10th in the Pac-12, is what the Bruins are hoping to avoid this season.

“We’re confident that this nonconference schedule is not only going to go a long way towards helping our team prepare for Pac-12 play, but ultimately it’s going to pay dividends for us in March,” UCLA coach Steve Alford said. “Over the last three years, we’ve upgraded our program’s non-conference schedule, and this year is no exception.”

UCLA is introducing rivals.com’s No. 5 recruiting class in the country to a roster that lost only center Tony Parker from last season. The stakes are high for Alford, whose job was called for this offseason with such fervor that he voluntarily returned a one-year extension he signed with the school in 2014.

After Sweet 16 appearances in his first two seasons, Alford’s third appeared on a comparable track when the Bruins beat then No. 1 Kentucky in Pauley Pavilion on Dec. 3, easily the most significant nonconference win last year. Visiting Rupp Arena this season could create a far different dynamic, but to its credit, UCLA did earn a road victory last year over a Gonzaga team that eventually reached the Sweet 16.

“Our guys are also excited about making our first-ever trip to Kentucky’s Rupp Arena as well as heading back out to Las Vegas to face a very talented Ohio State team,” Alford said. “We know we have a lot of work to do between now and that first game against Pacific, but our players can’t wait to get back on the floor for what promises to be a very exciting season of UCLA basketball.”

The complete UCLA schedule, including 18 Pac-12 Conference games, will be finalized later this summer.

UCLA 2016-17 nonconference schedule
Nov. 11 vs. Pacific
Nov. 13 vs. Cal State Northridge
Nov. 17 vs. San Diego
Nov. 20 vs. Long Beach State
Nov. 24 TBA, Wooden Legacy at Cal State Fullerton
Nov. 25 TBD, Wooden Legacy at Cal State Fullerton
Nov. 27 TBD, Wooden Legacy at Honda Center
Nov. 30 vs. UC Riverside
Dec. 3 at Kentucky
Dec. 10 vs. Michigan
Dec. 14 vs. UC Santa Barbara
Dec. 17 vs. Ohio State at Las Vegas, Nev.
Dec. 21 vs. Western Michigan