Kenneth Nwuba returns to UCLA for his fifth season this year. (Photo Credit: Jan Kim Lim/uclabruins.com)
Tonight, the UCLA Basketball season tips off with a game against the St. Francis Red Flash. This will be the second meeting between the schools and the first one since November 2018, which UCLA won 95-58.
Since we published our Big 2023-2024 UCLA Men's Basketball Season Preview earlier today, I’m not going to say much about this year’s team, other than the fact that this year’s team is a very young team. There are seven true freshmen on the roster, one redshirt freshman, three true sophomores, a redshirt sophomore, just one junior and one redshirt junior, and redshirt fifth year guy Kenneth Nwuba. So, it will be interesting to see how well Coach Cronin has molded his young squad already when they take the floor tonight.
The Red Flash finished last season with a 13-17 record and a 9-7 record in the Northeast Conference. Their season ended with an NEC Semifinal loss to Fairleigh Dickinson.
St. Francis is coached by Rob Krimmel, who is in his 12th season with the team. His career record, all with the Red Flash, is 147-188.
Krimmel will probably start three guards and two forwards. Of those probable starters are three sophomores and two freshman. According to John Rucosky of the Johnstown Tribune-Democrat, The transfer portal left Krimmel with just four returning scholarship players. So, the Red Flash are also a very young team and, other than sophomores Cam Gregory, Wisler Sanon, Gestin Liberis and Miles Webb, the roster is filled with new guys.
The starting sophomore guards are Gregory and Chris Moncrief. Gregory averaged 5.1 ppg last season and he shot 41.2% from the field while Moncrief averaged 2.1 ppg and shot 37.8%. Gregory’s career high in points came last season against Ohio State when he scored 15 points. Moncrief is a transfer from the University of Evansville where he played in 28 games last year. The team’s third starting guard is freshman Carlos Lopez, Jr.
In addition to those guys, Krimmel will start a pair of 6’, 8” tall forwards. Sophomore Miles Webb averaged just 2.1 ppg last season to go with 2.0 rpg. To be fair, Webb played in just four games last season due to season-ending injuries. Freshman Eli Wilborn will start as the other forward.
The Bottom Line
The bottom line to tonight’s game is simple: With tip-off officially set for 8:36 pm, this game should be over in the first five minutes. The only real questions are: How many points with the Bruins win by, and will they break 100 tonight?
Listen to the Game With TMB
Tonight’s game will be on Pac-12 Networks with Ted Robinson and Bill Walton calling the game. Enjoy (or hate) Walton while you can. It’s not known at this point if he will be calling as many Bruin games next year when UCLA heads to the Big Ten. But, if you prefer, you can listen to Josh Lewin and Tracy Murray. Just be sure to right-click on it so that you can open up another tab and have it going while you chat in the comments below. Listen to today’s game online.
This is your UCLA men’s basketball vs. St. Francis Red Flash season opener game thread. Here’s how to watch, listen and stream tonight’s game:
#25 UCLA Basketball (0-0)
Opponent: St. Francis Red Flash (0-0)
Series Record: UCLA leads, 1-0
When: 8:30 pm PT, Monday, November 6, 2023
Where: Pauley Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA
TV: Pac-12 Network National and Los Angeles with Ted Robinson and Bill Walton
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Walton made a good point. We're trying hard not to foul tonight. We're not jumping towards the ball when it's on the floor, which is good cuz that has caused injuries in the past. We're just playing a smart game tonight, which is perfect for this kind of pre-conference game.
Only chemistry seems to be between the players who were on the team last year. Hopefully they start to gel sooner because the Maui invitational starts in 2 weeks
Gotta get stefanovich more shots than 1… defensively ok still. This is truly a young team and we’ve seen all sorts of lineups. Glad to see some playing with the lineups as 10 players have minutes
Why are there even announcers for this game? Bill and partner aren’t even talking about the game. They’ve been talking about everything but the game-Bill’s grandkids, free agency, and on and on
Slow start, but nice opening win. Lots of positives to build on, lots to work on. Turn over margin is super. Bona is as advertised and more. Good night from Nashville.
How To Watch, Game Preview and Game Thread: St. Francis Red Flash at #25 UCLA Bruins
Are the Moncrief's related to Sidney? What a great high-flyer he was!
Looking for who will step up to shoot and looking forward to a Bruin coach who will actually adjust to his personnel and maximize talent!
8:30? Why so late?
U!
Damn, I miss Jaime and Tyger
Good evening or good 'night' Bruin Fam! I am so excited for Bruin Basketball! Go Bruins!!! 💙💛
Welcome to the SPTRs, St. Francis!
James Madison upsets #4 Michigan State
What a great give and go!!
Send it, big man!!
Hi all! Our son invited me to dinner st the last minute and of course I couldn’t say no. Hoping to join everyone for the second half!
Great look by Stefanovich!
walton is cracking me up 🤣
Terrible crosscourt pass by Mack-- easily could have turned that over
Good chemistry between our bigs
Walton made a good point. We're trying hard not to foul tonight. We're not jumping towards the ball when it's on the floor, which is good cuz that has caused injuries in the past. We're just playing a smart game tonight, which is perfect for this kind of pre-conference game.
Adan now on the court. Sweet!!
Welp, that's all for me! Gonna tape the rest of the game, but glad I could spend at least a lil time with your folks. :-)
Go, Bruins!!
Don’t think we’re matching Arizona’s 122 points tonight.
Going to be a lot of work to be done on the offensive end but good to see CMC letting them figure it out
Shooting isn’t even mediocre
Offense is really rough which is to be expected.
Only chemistry seems to be between the players who were on the team last year. Hopefully they start to gel sooner because the Maui invitational starts in 2 weeks
Defense good… shooting not so much
Looks like Cronin is giving his freshmen a very short leash.
And I believe with the exception of Lazar’s 3, ucla has missed every single jump shot. That has got to improve.
Kenneth Nwuba looking like most improved from last season.
I like Devin Williams already. Not letting himself get pushed out on rebounds and then that bank shot in transition was really nice!
Sebastian Mack looking like a freshman Jules Bernard - driving it in forcing it up, sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn’t haha
Gotta get stefanovich more shots than 1… defensively ok still. This is truly a young team and we’ve seen all sorts of lineups. Glad to see some playing with the lineups as 10 players have minutes
5-10 on free throws. Not 8-10 or 9-10!
Made it for the second half!
I miss Tyger, why did he have to go play in France when he had one more year of eligibility?
Liking Kenny and Adem on the floor at the same time
Count it and 1!
15 turnovers for St. Francis
TREEEEEEEEEE
The overseas kids with the multi-syllable names are gonna need nicknames because I can't remember, spell, or pronounce their correct names.
Best defensive rotation in the second half and Bona gets called for the foul. Ugh!
Bona’s FT shooting is much better in the second half
Why are there even announcers for this game? Bill and partner aren’t even talking about the game. They’ve been talking about everything but the game-Bill’s grandkids, free agency, and on and on
Bona is fantastic!
I’m predicting Bona will be in the running for conference defensive player of the year
What is with the floor? Constant slipping and cleaning. Would be a shame if a player is hurt because of this.
Pac-12 player of the year Adem Bona!!
Williams elevation on that rebound was incredible!
Why are they still scoring. A great win but still.
Night y'all, see you friday!! Go Bruins!!
Slow start, but nice opening win. Lots of positives to build on, lots to work on. Turn over margin is super. Bona is as advertised and more. Good night from Nashville.
Good night Bruin family!