UCLA has plenty of changes coming this basketball season. The Bruins are playing their games off campus, starting several new players and adding a pair of two new conference foes in Colorado and Utah this season. But the pressure of playing for a program that strives for nothing short of championship excellence remains the same.

The Bruins were picked to win the Pac-12 in the conference media poll that was revealed as part of the Pac-12 Media Day on Friday at the LA Live complex in downtown Los Angeles.

"Our team always has high expectations," Coach Ben Howland said at the event. "It's the expectations we put on ourselves that matter most. It's always nice to be picked high, but that doesn't guarantee anything. It's where you finish."

UCLA, with 14 first-place votes and 421 overall, was named the favorite, ahead of California and Arizona, who were the other teams earning first-place votes.

The media have selected the Bruins seven previous times and were correct five times, including the Bruins' last two conference titles in 2006-07 and 2007-08.

Howland and senior guard Lazeric Jones talked to the media about a variety of things, including recruiting, Derrick Rose, the additions of Colorado and Utah and the Wear twins, who are both expected to play serious minutes after sitting out last season after transferring to North Carolina. Here are some highlights:

Howland on the Wear twins:
"They're very similar, actually. It's interesting. Dave - they're the same size. They work out. Everything they do together. It's unbelievable. These guys take every class together. They share the same bedroom. I mean everything's together. They're really close. But what I'm most impressed about them in their work ethic."

Howland on Colorado joining the Pac-12:
"Yeah, they're 5,000 feet above sea level. That affects you. They've got a great home-court situation because of that."

Howland, whose phone began ringing mid-answer, on texting and tweeting more after the NCAA changed its recruiting rules:
"I don't mind texting. That's fine. I think it's good for us. Having to keep track of every phone call you make and write it down is very, very difficult. You see, I'm trying to tweet right now. I apologize. That was my trainer trying to update me on the MRI (to Anthony Stover). I won't take it now, but I'll let you know right after."

Jones on his relationship with Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose, who attended the same high school:
"I mean, we're just really good friends. We don't talk too much about basketball. It's more like back in high school and things like that."

Jones on playing in the Sports Arena and so close to rival USC:
"It was different. But it was alright. The fact that we're right by SC is kind of weird. I was talking to somebody earlier about us getting booed on our home games, but it will be a different experience."

The UCLA men's basketball team had their private time during a closed scrimmage with Cal State Fullerton on Thursday at the Los Angeles Sports Arena. That doesn't mean Coach Ben Howland hopes it stays that way at the Bruins temporary home.

"Our guys work hard and our coaches work hard and they want support for our team," Howland said in a teleconference after the scrimmage. "The students are where it all starts. They're the group that makes a home court advantage. They're rambunctious and loud and into it. I love our students and we need them. I'll do everything I can to reach out to them."

Howland said he's planning to visit with different student groups to ask for their support of the team.

UCLA men's basketball coach Ben Howland got a chance to see his team in a live-game scenario against Cal State Fullerton on Thursday afternoon at the Los Angeles Sports Arena. He couldn't say much about it, per NCAA rules, but it was clear he liked the scrimmage format.

"It's really good, I really like it," Howland said of the private scrimmage format that allows two Division I teams to play a private scrimmage with no reported score or statistics. "It was a dress rehearsal for a real game. We had the team going through warm-ups, we used Pac-12 officials, and there were media timeouts. We played it as a normal game."

Howland didn't use the word education, but it was clear that's what his staff was focused on for the scrimmage. With no official stats or score, it was a chance for Howland and his staff to ascertain what needs to be worked on before the season starts in two weeks with Loyola Marymount.

"The team is aware we've got to get a lot better," Howland said during a teleconference on the drive back from the Sports Arena. "We've got a lot of work to do. I'm going to go home and watch the tape now."

Howland talked about defensive issues in transition and off-the-dribble defense, both typical early-season problems. Offensively, Howland said the team hasn't focused on it during the first batch of practices this preseason and has a long way to go in building out offensive plays for the season.

By Bob Holtzman

Basketball fans know injuries are part of the game and bumps and bruises should be welcomed during the preseason, as players fight and scrap their way toward the season. But the injuries suffered this preseason by the UCLA men's basketball team have coach Ben Howland calling it something else.

"Lousy luck."

UCLA suffered a pair of concussions last week, keeping sophomore center Anthony Stover and junior guard De'End Parker out of practice. Stover returned on Wednesday, only to suffer a subluxed left shoulder that will keep him out indefinitely. Howland said he'll undergo an MRI in the next few days to determine the extent of the injury.

While the Bruins wait to hear the result of Stover's MRI, they're also waiting for Parker to recover from what Howland called a "severe concussion."

"It affected him to where he was having troubles with light and sound and he missed a midterm," Howland said. "(Wednesday) was the first day he's felt better since Saturday - the first time he was at practice and watched. We're hopeful to have him back somewhere toward the beginning to middle of next week. There's a whole protocol before he can be cleared to play."

While Parker is out, Howland said David Wear has spent most of the time playing the small forward position and that he has also used with a three-guard lineup in practice. 

Punter/Kickoff specialist Jeff Locke has been honored for his play against Arizona by the College Football Performance Awards. The junior was named National Kickoff Specialist of the Week and earned Honorable Mention Punter of the Week accolades. Against Arizona, Locke had six punts for a total of 300 yards, averaging 50.0 per punt. He had a long of 53 and had two punts downed inside the 20-yard line. On kickoffs, Locke tallied three touch backs.

 College Football Performance Awards - Week 8