Fresh Off the Grill: After record-breaking, viral season, gymnastics enters NCAA title defense

UCLA is a gymnastics school. For the last three months, Bruin fans, young gymnasts and celebrities across the nation have been enamored with the Olympic gold medalists and viral sensations that headline UCLA gymnastics. UCLA historically takes pride in its football and men’s basketball reputations – but this year was different. Football started its season […]

Un-Connon Opinions: Pac-12 mayhem demonstrates larger institutional incompetence

It’s been said time and time again, but I think that’s for a good reason – it’s true. The Pac-12 is a mess. And “mess” is a bit of an understatement. There are plenty of more accurate, vulgar descriptions of the situation all over social media. This has almost nothing to do with the Pac-12 […]

Un-Connon Opinions: Rick Pitino is the last person UCLA should pick to replace Alford

It has come to my attention that some fans want the next coach of UCLA men’s basketball to be two-time NCAA champion Rick Pitino. Hell no. After firing Steve Alford in December, the Bruins have been preparing for one of the most imperative coaching searches in program history. There’s a lot on the line, and […]

Jack’s Facts: USC water polo coach indicted, but successful team should still keep titles

Although Jovan Vavic ruled collegiate water polo for years, UCLA should just be glad he’s gone. The former USC men’s and women’s water polo coach was fired from both positions after he was indicted Tuesday for accepting bribes in order to help students get into USC through the athletics department. This brings an end to […]

Wang’s Word: UCLA Athletics damages its reputation by recruiting fake athletes

Forget for a brief moment the celebrities who were indicted for buying their kids’ admissions to some of the top colleges in the country. And forget about the numerous qualified high school students from disadvantaged backgrounds who overcame the obstacles in their lives, only to be denied admission in favor of the human equivalent of […]

Smith Says: Men’s basketball should not play in NIT to prepare for next season

The Bruins probably aren’t making it to the NCAA tournament. However, a strong finish to conference play and a couple wins in the Pac-12 tournament could help UCLA men’s basketball secure an invite to the National Invitational Tournament – a competition comprised of the 32 schools who came closest to making the cut. While it […]

Smith Says: Unreasonable expectations meant Lonzo Ball’s Laker tenure was doomed from start

Lonzo Ball’s time in Los Angeles appears to be coming to an end. But that begs the question – why so soon? The Lakers selected the former Bruin guard with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft after Ball put together a historic freshman season for UCLA in which he averaged 14.6 […]