What’s Bruin: UCLA Hoops Seeks 1st Pac-12 Road Sweep Since 2016-17

Happy Thursday! As we inch closer to the weekend, let’s check out What’s Bruin in the world of UCLA athletics.

Men’s Basketball

The UCLA men’s basketball team (9-6, 2-0 Pac-12) travel to the Oregon schools his weekend, starting with tonight’s game against Oregon. It will be interim head coach Murry Bartow’s first chance to reverse a disturbing trend in UCLA basketball.

The trend is this: Other than the 2016-17 season, when the Bruins went 31-5 and were led by a once-in-a-generation point guard Lonzo Ball, the UCLA Bruins have not swept a two-game road trip in conference play since 2013, when Ben Howland was coach.

Think about that. There was a lot of talk about “unreasonable expectations” in the comments Markybcool’s article on this week’s basketball press conference. How about this expectation? Win a two-game road trip in the Pac-12.

Baseball

Welcome home, David Berg!

One of the heroes of UCLA Baseball’s sole national Championship in 2013, closer David Berg is returning to UCLA Baseball as an undergrad assistant coach who will help Head Coach John Savage manage the pitching staff.

Berg is a Bruin legend, with 49 saves and a career ERA of 1.11, both UCLA records. Known for his extreme sidearm delivery, Berg was twice named Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year. He also was voted Stopper of the Year on two occasions by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.

The bullpen and especially the closer position have not quite been the same since Berg left the program. The Bruins only had ten saves as a team last year. So. the addition of Berg as a coach is welcome indeed!

The first pitch to UCLA’s baseball season is only 36 days away.

Men’s Volleyball

The #2 ranked UCLA Men’s Volleyball team is not going to be ranked #2 for much longer. That’s because the Bruins lost in embarrassing fashion to Cal State Northridge last night, in straight sets no less (22-25, 16-25, and 23-25). UCLA was outhit, .417 to .200. Although CSUN is ranked #12 and the game was on the road, the Matadors had lost their last game to Grand Canyon University. Grand Canyon University.

The Bruins now head to Illinois to play McKendree University tomorrow night. Until writing this article, I had never heard of McKendree and they have not played a game yet this season. Maybe UCLA can eek out a win to get back on track.

Women’s Soccer

The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), one of the top if not THE top women’s soccer league in the world, will hold its College Draft today starting at 9 am PT, and UCLA senior Hailie Mace is expected to be drafted very high. Although it is possible that she could be the #1 pick, Stanford junior Tierna Davidson announced yesterday that she would leave Stanford and enter today’s draft. Many see her as the top pick.

Topdrawersoccer.com expects Mace, who can play forward and fullback, to be drafted #2 overall and go to Sky Blue where she should receive excellent service from USWNT legend Carli Lloyd.

Mace had an outstanding career at UCLA, including scoring this excellent “heart and hustle” goal at the death, the first goal ever scored at Wallis Annenberg Stadium:

Good luck on your professional career, Hailie!

And, with that, now you know What’s Bruin.


Go Bruins!