Tag: UCLA Bruins basketball

Jrue Holiday, Celtics move on to NBA Finals

Jrue to the Finals!

It has been a great postseason run for Jrue Holiday and his Boston Celtics teammates. Holiday was terrific all season, and helped the top seed in the Eastern Conference eliminate the Indiana Pacers in four games.

There was some question before the game about whether the former UCLA Bruins star guard would play, with an illness. He certainly did, in fact, 38 minutes in the win. He scored 17 points and ripped down 9 rebounds in the three-point win.

Holiday, who was a key factor in the Game 3 win, made key plays late in this one, including an and one late in the game, and then the final offensive rebound of the game to seal it away.

Now, the Celtics will await the winner of the Western Conference. The Minnesota Timberwolves trail the Dallas Mavericks 3-0 heading into Game 4 on Tuesday. There is no set date for when the NBA Finals will begin as of now.

During the four games, Holiday, averaged 18.5 points per game, 7 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game. Holiday went 27 of 46 from the field and was 10 for 10 from the free throw line. The former UCLA guard also had six steals in the series.

Photos of Bill Walton’s iconic broadcasting career

Bill Walton with the mic was truly something special.

Bill Walton was a national treasure. From his playing days at UCLA to a legendary NBA career, and finally leaving his footprint on the world of college basketball play-by-play.

Walton passed away on Memorial Day after a long battle with cancer, sparking reactions from the entire sports world.

The voice and demeanor of Bill Walton, somebody who provided a ton of joy, happiness, and laughs calling games, is going to be missed by everybody.

Here is a rundown of some of the best photos from Bill Walton’s career as a broadcaster, and there are plenty of notable moments to choose from.

Pacers coach Rick Carlisle recalls touching story about Bill Walton

Bill was one of a kind.

As the basketball community mourns the loss of UCLA Bruins legend Bill Walton, a flood of admiration and stories have emerged.

This week, Indiana Pacers head coach and Celtic teammate of Walton, Rick Carlisle, recalled a story of how the Grateful Dead super fan Walton helped him prepare for his first date in 1987.

“Our first date was to a Dead show in D.C., and I called Bill and said, ‘Look, Bill, I got a date with a girl who’s pretty cool. I’d love to go to the Dead show. I don’t have any tickets. Could you help?'”

Carlisle continued with a smile, “He said, ‘Go to the back door and ask for Dennis McElhaney. Tell him you’re Rick Carlisle from the Boston Celtics, and everything will be just fine.”

Walton was correct. Carlisle’s first date was with his future wife, Donna Nobile, and another example of how the iconic UCLA Bruin touched and improved the lives of everyone he met.

UCLA’s Kobe Johnson one of the best Big Ten transfer moves

The Kobe Johnson hype continues.

The UCLA Bruins men’s basketball team is full of talent for the upcoming 2024-2025 season.

One of the biggest additions by many is ex-Trojans player Kobe Johnson, who has garnered a lot of buzz this offseason.

Cater Bahns of 247Sports revealed the 10 best transfer portal moves for the Big Ten Conference, and former USC player Kobe Johnson was third on the list: 

The transfer portal opened the door to a new era of college athletics wherein players often move from one school to a rival program, and that is what Kobe Johnson elected to do with his intra-city transfer from USC to UCLA. He brings with him to Westwood two years of starting experience and three years of development as a stellar defensive weapon. Johnson appeared on the last two Pac-12 All-Defensive Teams. His offensive production is not entirely lacking, but a step forward in the shooting department would go a long way in making him a complete player.

Johnson’s impact will be a big one, and Trojans Wire believes he could come in and start for Mick Cronin’s team. 

The top two players on this list are great Osobor, who went to Washington, and Oumar Ballo, who went to Indiana, in a pair of Pac-12 departures.

UCLA hoops takes top spot in 247Sports power rankings

UCLA gets the top spot.

The UCLA Bruins men’s basketball program have worked absolute wonders in the transfer portal. They have brought in six players, as well as a commitment from former USC commit Trent Perry.

As such, the Bruins are being talked about as one of the top teams in the new-look Big Ten Conference. Isaac Trotter of 247Sports compiled a way-too-early power rankings list, and UCLA is at the top spot. Here’s what Trotter wrote about UCLA:

One bad season did a number on Mick Cronin. UCLA smashed in the portal and built one of the deepest teams in the country. There are so many good pieces on this roster. Andrews’ pull-up jumper should be deadly in Year 3. Johnson was far from the problem at USC. He could be a nasty two-way dude at UCLA. The Bruins couldn’t make a layup to save their lives last year, so they went into the portal for Bilodeau who was highly efficient around the rim. UCLA couldn’t make a jumper last year, so it went into the portal and landed Dominick Harris who shot over 40% from downtown on high volume.

UCLA’s frontcourt depth wasn’t good enough last year, so it went into the portal for Bilodeau, William Kyle III and Eric Dailey Jr. who all do something else well. Bilodeau is skilled and has soft touch. Dailey is a terrific driver who can attack long closeouts with a vengeance. Kyle has an insane wing span and should be that play-finisher UCLA’s frontcourt needed. Oh, and Brandon Williams is still around and the soon-to-be-sophomore isn’t going to give up his minutes without a fight.

Some hard conversations might be on tap because there isn’t playing time for everybody. That feels like just the way Cronin likes it. The defensive effort should be top-notch to avoid the pine.

The roster juggling is going to be something difficult for Mick Cronin and his staff to deal with, but that’s a good problem to have. Only time will tell how good this UCLA team will be for the 2024-2025 season.

Tyler Bilodeau listed as sleeper of UCLA transfer class

Don’t sleep on Tyler Bilodeau.

What Mick Cronin and the UCLA Bruins men’s basketball program have done in the transfer portal is unfathomable. Yet, they are a consistent team in way-too-early top 25 rankings, and for a lot of reasons.

The Bruins will be under the microscope during and before the season, which is a good thing after a disappointing campaign.

College basketball insider Jon Rothstein mentioned Oregon State transfer Tyler Bilodeau as the sleeper piece of this portal class:

Bilodeau is the sleeper of UCLA’s transfer class.

Armed with good size at 6-9, the former Oregon State forward can stretch the defense from the center spot and is a walking mismatch on offense. He averaged 17.8 points and 5.9 rebounds in the Beavers’ final eight games of last season. Either he or Dailey (9.3 points, 4.8 rebounds) is likely to be in the mix to start at power forward. The versatile Dailey has plenty of similarities of the types of players that Cronin won a massive amount of games with at both Cincinnati and UCLA.

Bilodeau and Oklahoma State transfer Eric Dailey Jr. both came to Westwood around the same time, and there is a chance that Bilodeau could be the sleeper addition of all the players coming in.

Adem Bona to Pacers in recent Bleacher Report mock draft

Bona to the Pacers would be fun.

The landing spot of UCLA Bruins star big man Adem Bona is up in the air. After an impressive performance at the NBA Combine, he likely moved up a bit in these projections.

As soon as the NBA Draft Lottery concluded, Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report compiled a full mock draft. In it, he had Bona at No. 50, going to the Indiana Pacers:

NBA teams should know what they’re getting and what they’re not with Adem Bona.

He can bring instant defensive activity/switchability and athletic finishing. And he’ll remain a threat in the post with his drop steps into hooks.

Being foul- and turnover-prone will just mean a reduced role, likely one off the bench for the foreseeable future.

Bona was even slated as a first-round pick by College Sports Wire, which came after his run at the NBA Combine. The Pacers would be a good landing spot for him as they are currently in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics. 

Adem Bona to Grizzlies in ESPN mock draft

Bona to Memphis this time around.

Where will UCLA Bruins star Adem Bona end up?

The big man entered the NBA Drfat and did himself a lot of favors with some impressive performances and measurements at the NBA Draft Combine. As a result, his draft stock has skyrocketed a bit, and that is good news for Bona.

Bona was mocked to the Memphis Grizzlies at 39 overall in the latest mock draft by Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo.

Bona had been projected as a second-round pick in the middle of the season, and recently College Sports Wire pegged Bona as a late first-round choice, so the landing spot is varying a little bit.

Nonetheless, the Bruins big man should feel confident about his chances of hearing his name called during the two-day NBA Draft at the end of June.

It will be interesting to monitor over the next few weeks to see how his landing spot changes, but he should hear his name called during the draft one way or another.

The 2024-2025 UCLA team could be Mick Cronin’s deepest ever

Could this be Cronin’s deepest team ever?

UCLA Bruins coach Mick Cronin has had a lot of talented teams during his time as a head coach. The Bruins have made the Final Four and strung together some magical runs with Cronin at the helm.

Yet, after a whirlwind offseason, there is a case to be made that the 2024-2025 UCLA team could be the deepest Mick Cronin has ever had. Here’s what Jon Rothstein wrote about that:

Could this be Cronin’s deepest team ever?

It’s definitely within the realm of possibility.

The Bruins don’t have the star power that they possessed when Johnny Juzang led this program to the Final Four in 2021 or when Jaquez willed it to a two seed in the 2023 NCAA Tournament, but on paper, UCLA’s strength is the potential of its overwhelming depth.

The additions of six talented transfers, not to mention former USC commit Trent Perry, have the Bruins pegged as an early favorite in the new-look Big Ten Conference. If the roster gels anywhere near as good as it figures to look on paper, UCLA could be in for a massive season.

Will McClendon transfers to San Jose State

Best of luck to Will.

The UCLA Bruins men’s basketball roster looks loaded for the upcoming 2024-2025 season. After a series of transfer portal additions, they are widely regarded as the favorites in the way-too-early Big Ten outlook.

One departure from the program was Will McClendon, and he has now found a new home with the San Jose State Spartans, per Jon Rothstein.

McClendon played in 33 games for the Bruins this past season, averaging 4.1 PPG with 3.3 rebounds and 1/1 assists/ He played the past two seasons at UCLA before entering the portal.

With Mick Cronin adding players such as Skyy Clark and Eric Dailey Jr., playing time for McClendon looked scarce, hence the transfer decision and his ending up at San Jose State.

McClendon should be able to see a large uptick in usage with the Spartans, who finished 9-22 overall and 2-16 in Mountain West Conference play, tied for the worst record in the league with Air Force.