Head coach: Steve Alford (527-272 overall, 64-37 at UCLA)
2015-16 record: 15-17 (6-12 in Pac-12)
Key returners: G Isaac Hamilton (16.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 3.3 apg); G Bryce Alford (16.1 ppg, 5.2 apg, 3.8 rpg); G Aaron Holliday (10.0 ppg, 4.0 apg, 3.0 rpg); C Thomas Welsh (11.2 ppg, 8.5 rpg)
Key losses: F/C Tony Parker (12.6 ppg, 8.2 rpg), F Jonah Bolden (4.6 ppg, 4.8 rpg)
Key additions: G Lonzo Ball, F T.J. Leaf
Key matchups: 12/3 at Kentucky; 12/10 vs. Michigan; 12/17 vs. Ohio State (neutral); 12/28 at Oregon; 2/25 at Arizona.
Stone-cold locks: Ball, the Naismith Prep Player of the Year, will become the next great UCLA prospect, but he’ll be like a shooting star, gone in a flash. … Bryce Alford will lead the team in shots attempted, and perhaps the league, and perhaps the galaxy. … Hamilton will look over at Alford in disgust after an ill-advised shot 5.2 times per game. … Without Parker chewing away at his minutes, Welsh will increase his scoring to 15 points per game. … Leaf will make an impact but not a significant one. … Bad defense. Bad, bad defense.
