Men's Basketball Tabbed No. 2 in AP Preseason Poll

LOS ANGELES – The UCLA men's basketball team has been ranked No. 2 in the Associated Press preseason top-25 poll, as released on Monday.
 
This marks the Bruins' highest preseason ranking (AP poll) since being tabbed the No. 2 team in the preseason poll in 2007-08, coming off back-to-back Final Four appearances in 2006 and 2007.
 
UCLA's program was ranked No. 4 in the preseason poll at the start of the 2008-09 campaign. The Bruins were last slotted as the nation's preseason No. 1 team (in the AP poll) at the start of the 1973-74 season.
 
UCLA went 22-10 last season, winning five consecutive NCAA Tournament games, finishing the year with an appearance in the NCAA Tournament's Final Four as the champion from the East Region. The Bruins went 13-6 in Pac-12 play, finishing fourth in the league. UCLA was among four Pac-12 Conference programs to advance to the Sweet 16 and was joined by Pac-12 foes Oregon State and USC in the Elite Eight.
 
The Bruins advanced to the Final Four for the 19th time in school history and for the first time since the 2007-08 season. After defeating Michigan State in overtime in a "First Four" matchup, the Bruins defeated BYU and Abilene Christian to cruise into the Sweet 16. The Bruins registered back-to-back wins over Alabama (in overtime) and Michigan to secure their Final Four appearance. UCLA lost to Gonzaga, 93-90, in overtime in the Final Four.
 
UCLA returns all 10 players who competed in last season's NCAA Tournament, including the starting five of Tyger Campbell, Jules Bernard, Johnny Juzang, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Cody Riley.
 
The Bruins' upcoming 31-game regular-season schedule will feature five games against teams currently ranked among the AP's preseason top 25 poll – No. 4 Villanova (Nov. 12), No. 1 Gonzaga (Nov. 23), No. 19 North Carolina (Dec. 18) and a pair of Pac-12 contests against No. 13 Oregon (Jan. 13, Feb. 24).
 
In all, the Bruins are scheduled to play 11 games against teams either ranked in the top 25 poll or receiving votes in the poll. Pac-12 opponents USC, Arizona and Colorado have also earned votes in the preseason poll.
 
UCLA's schedule tips off against CSU Bakersfield on Tuesday, Nov. 9. Game time is 8 p.m. (PT) in Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom. The Bruins will host No. 4 Villanova on Friday, Nov. 12, with that game scheduled to start at 8:30 p.m. (PT) in Pauley Pavilion.
 
The Bruins' matchup against No. 1 Gonzaga is part of the two-day Good Sam Empire Classic at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. UCLA takes on Bellarmine on Monday, Nov. 22, before facing Gonzaga on Tuesday, Nov. 23. Game time against Gonzaga at T-Mobile Arena is set for 7 p.m. (PT).
 
A limited number of season tickets for the upcoming season are available, starting at $349, by clicking here. The "3 Pointer" mini-plan package, which includes a ticket to games against Villanova, Colorado and Alabama State, are also available by clicking here. UCLA season ticket and mini-plan packages can be purchased online or by calling (310) 206-5991.
 
Early-season single-game tickets are also available for purchase (click here) or by calling the (310) 825-2101.

2021-22 AP Preseason Poll

Total first place votes for Gonzaga (55) and UCLA (8) are in parenthesis.