The UCLA men's basketball team has been ranked No. 11 in the nation by The Sporting News in its collection of preseason top 25 teams, as announced on Tuesday.
The Bruins went 19-14 last season and finished in a fifth-place tie in the Pac-12 Conference, sporting an 11-7 mark in league action. UCLA returns two starters (David Wear, Travis Wear) from last year's team and welcomes a recruiting class ranked No. 1, nationally, by ESPN.com and No. 2 by Scout.com and Rivals.com.
Other key returners for UCLA include juniors Joshua Smith and Tyler Lamb and sophomore Norman Powell, each of which played major minutes for the Bruins in 2011-12.
UCLA's talented incoming class features guards Shabazz Muhammad (Las Vegas, Nev.), Kyle Anderson (Fairview, N.J.) and Jordan Adams (Lawrenceville, Ga.), along with forward/center Tony Parker (Lithonia, Ga.).
The Bruins open the 2012-13 season in New Pauley Pavilion against Indiana State on Friday, Nov. 9. The game will be televised nationally on Fox Sports Net and is scheduled for an 8 p.m. tip-off.
The Sporting News - Preseason Top 25
1. Indiana
2. Louisville
3. Ohio State
4. Kentucky
5. Michigan
6. Duke
7. Syracuse
8. Arizona
9. N.C. State
10. Missouri
11. UCLA
12. Kansas
13. North Carolina
14. Creighton
15. Memphis
16. Florida
17. Wisconsin
18. Cincinnati
19. San Diego State
20. UNLV
21. Gonzaga
22. Michigan State
23. Murray State
24. Notre Dame
25. Virginia Commonwealth
