UCLA Basketball: Adem Bona's Optimistic Take On Bruins' Erratic Season

He's looking on the bright side of life.

With your UCLA Bruins men's basketball team currently at a dismal 8-11 record on the season, star sophomore power forward Adem Bona is taking a surprisingly optimistic long view of the year, as Jack Nelson of The Daily Bruin details.

“We’re taking huge strides," Bona said following the Bruins' recent victory over Arizona State, prior to the club's loss against Arizona. "As a team we have a saying – we call it steps... We made a first step against Washington. Now against ASU, we made our second step, and we’re looking forward to making our third step.”

Even as a raw freshman starter on last season's 31-6 Bruins club, Bona was named to a Pac-12 All-Defensive Team and the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team, while also being recognized as the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year. That team, however, made it all the way to the Sweet Sixteen during last spring's NCAA Tournament. This year's struggling vintage will be lucky to make the Big Dance at all. 

Bona's numbers this year, however, represent a massive leap over his 2022-23 output. The 6'10" big man is averaging 12.2 points on 60.7% shooting from the field, six rebounds, 1.9 blocks, 1.3 steals and 1.2 assists across the Blue and Gold's first 19 contests.