UCLA Basketball: Adem Bona Explains Bruins' Identity As Team Stumbles Towards Finish Line

The Bruins are in danger of finishing below .500 for just the fifth time in the last 75 years.

Your UCLA Bruins have had a relatively uneven go of it in 2023-24.

The club is currently 14-15 (9-9 in the Pac-12 Conference), and has just two more games remaining on its regular season slate, against Arizona and Arizona State.

In speaking with gathered media following a team practice Tuesday, the club's best player and defensive anchor, sophomore center/power forward Adem Bona, spoke about how the club is attempting to adhere to a defined identity as it stumbles towards the end of its regular season and the Pac-12 Tournament next week.

“As a team, I believe that we have an identity of playing hard, of playing tough and playing together. I do want to show our identity as a team. We want to play hard for this team, for UCLA.”

Adem Bona, on expectations for this team with two more home games pic.twitter.com/6KoOsmPWl4

— UCLA Men’s Basketball (@UCLAMBB) March 5, 2024

“As a team, I believe that we have an identity of playing hard, of playing tough and playing together," Bona said. "I do want to show our identity as a team. We want to play hard for this team, for UCLA.”

Bona, at least, has had a solid second stint with the Bruins this year.

The 6'10" big man is posting averages of 12.2 points on 59.2% field goal shooting, 5.8 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, 1.2 assists, and one steal per bout, across 29 games. During his freshman season on a much better UCLA club (they finished 31-6 en route to a Sweet Sixteen appearance) was honored with selections to the Pac-12 All-Defense and Pac-12 All-Freshman teams, as well as being named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year. It remains to be seen if he'll nab a Pac-12 All-Defense or All-Pac-12 accolade this season.