The Bruins will be back on the court after 25 days away.
For the first time since Dec. 11, No. 5 UCLA men’s basketball will return to the hardwood for a matchup against Arizona State on Wednesday – a game that was originally scheduled for Jan. 1. The Bruins will not play in their contest against Stanford on Thursday because of COVID-19 protocols within the Cardinal program but will take on California on Saturday as originally scheduled.
According to the Los Angeles Times, UCLA will also tentatively play Jan. 11 against No. 9 Arizona in a game originally set for Dec. 28.
Since originally announcing coach Mick Cronin couldn’t coach the Dec. 15 matchup against Alabama State because of COVID-19 protocols, the Bruins have missed out on five games to either postponements or cancellations. UCLA announced an official pause of team-related activities Dec. 18 but returned to practice in limited fashion Monday to ramp up the players’ conditioning.
Across college basketball, more than 100 programs paused team-related activities in December, including seven Pac-12 schools.
The men’s basketball team marks the first Bruin program to return to competition following COVID-19 stoppages, as UCLA women’s basketball, gymnastics and men’s volleyball have all been shut down. UCLA football also pulled out of the Holiday Bowl on Tuesday because of COVID-19 protocols.
