UCLA Basketball: Bruins Touch Down in Europe For Three-Game Exhibition Tour

UCLA will look to build chemistry, camaraderie in Spain.

With the start of the 2023 season right around the corner, Mick Cronin and the UCLA Bruins have taken a trip overseas to Spain. 

No, this isn't a vacation. While the Bruins may be soaking up sun and chowing down on paella, make no mistake about it...it's a business trip for Cronin's program. 

The vast majority of the roster just landed today in Spain for the start of a 10-day trip: 

📍 𝑴𝑨𝑫𝑹𝑰𝑫, 𝑺𝑷𝑨𝑰𝑵#GoBruins 🛬🏀🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/NKVnNgSFfu

— UCLA Men’s Basketball (@UCLAMBB) August 21, 2023

The Bruins are set to play three games during this timespan. According to BruinReportOnline, the schedule is as follows: 

Aug. 22: UCLA vs. Madrid All-Stars (in Madrid, Spain)

Aug. 24: UCLA vs. Valencia Basket (in Valencia, Spain)

Aug. 29: UCLA vs Girona CB (in Girona, Spain)

There are obvious benefits for an overseas trip. When opting to participate in this exhibition schedule, the Bruins were given an extra slate of practices by the NCAA leading up to this voyage. With UCLA having practically a brand-new roster, it was a shrewd move by Cronin to opt for the trip during this cycle. 

Aside from the on-court, chemistry, building off-court chemistry is integral for any program. Cronin will be able to experiment with a plethora of different lineups during this period without any real consequence. With that said, the Bruins will be missing three players who all figure to be real contributors this upcoming year. 

📍 𝐋𝐨𝐬 𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐬

✈️🇪🇸 Madrid, Spain … 🔜#GoBruins 🏀 pic.twitter.com/chxNoW9DzK

— UCLA Men’s Basketball (@UCLAMBB) August 20, 2023

Adem Bona has yet to be cleared for anything other than participating in on-court drills. He's still recovering from a shoulder procedure done this past offseason. Two of the much ballyhooed European recruits -- Berke Buyuktuncel and Aday Mara -- also won't be participating in any of these three games. 

Though the games reportedly won't be televised, it will be fascinating to see how this group performs. In particular, there's plenty of hype surrounding the guard rotation featuring Dylan Andrews, Sebastian Mack, and Jan Vide. 

In the frontcourt without Bona, Buyuktuncel, and Mara present, senior Kenny Nwuba likely will be the starting post player -- with true freshman Devin Williams seeing plenty of time. Fellow first-year player Brandon Williams will also most likely play a fair chunk at the four spot for the Bruins during these three contests.