BETH HARRIS
Long Beach State guard Jadon Jones, left, tries to keep the ball from UCLA guard Johnny Juzang during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Back in action: No. 5 UCLA routs Long Beach State 96-78

By Beth Harris Jan. 06, 2022 09:48 PM EST
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Early on, fifth-ranked UCLA looked out of sorts in its return from

An empty Pauley Pavilion is seen before an NCAA college basketball game between UCLA and Alabama State Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021, in Los Angeles. The game will not be played due to COVID-19 protocols. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
After COVID-19, No. 5 UCLA waits to play 1st game in weeks

By Beth Harris Jan. 04, 2022 03:02 PM EST
LOS ANGELES (AP) — After a nearly two-week shutdown because of COVID-19, UCLA is back

Southern California forward Chevez Goodwin, right, pulls down a rebound over Long Beach State forward Adoubacar Traore during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Los Angeles, Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
No. 16 USC beats Long Beach State 73-62, improves to 10-0

By Beth Harris Dec. 12, 2021 07:05 PM EST
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Southern California played the first half before realizing an age

Southern California guard Drew Peterson (13) reacts after dunking against Eastern Kentucky during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021, in Los Angeles. USC won 80-68. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Mobley's 23 points lead No. 16 USC over E. Kentucky 80-68

By Beth Harris Dec. 08, 2021 12:02 AM EST
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Southern California's big men were too much for Eastern Kentucky.

Colorado forward Jabari Walker (12) and UCLA center Myles Johnson (15) reach for a rebound during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
No. 5 UCLA beats Colorado 73-61 in Pac-12 opener

By Beth Harris Dec. 01, 2021 11:47 PM EST
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Spurred on by Russell Westbrook's courtside encouragement,

UCLA guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. dunks during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against North Florida Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
No. 2 UCLA blows out North Florida 98-63 for 4th win in row

By Beth Harris Nov. 18, 2021 12:33 AM EST
LOS ANGELES (AP) — On a team talented enough that anybody can score, UCLA is

UCLA guard Johnny Juzang (3) and guard Tyger Campbell (10) talk during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against the Long Beach State in Los Angeles, Monday, Nov. 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Juzang scores 25, No. 2 UCLA beats Long Beach St 100-79

By Beth Harris Nov. 16, 2021 01:21 AM EST
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A 21-point victory was no cause for celebration by UCLA.

Villanova forward Eric Dixon, left, is defended by UCLA center Myles Johnson during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Nov. 12, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
No. 2 UCLA rallies to beat No. 4 Villanova 86-77

By Beth Harris Nov. 13, 2021 02:01 AM EST
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Two highly ranked teams and a raucous crowd packed into

UCLA guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. (24) shoots over Cal State Bakersfield guard Justin Edler-Davis (10) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021, in Los Angeles. UCLA won 95-58. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
No. 2 UCLA thumps Bakersfield 95-58 in opener, Riley injured

By Beth Harris Nov. 10, 2021 01:08 AM EST
LOS ANGELES (AP) — UCLA got a big win to start the season, along with a dose of

FILE- In this March 28, 2021, file photo, Southern California guard Ethan Anderson (20) shoots in front of Oregon forward Chandler Lawson, rear, during the first half of a Sweet 16 game in the NCAA college basketball tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Trojans were picked to finish third in the Pac-12. Ethan Anderson is back running the offense full-time after coming off the bench last season due to injury. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)
Led by another Mobley, USC looks to repeat NCAA tourney run

By Beth Harris Oct. 21, 2021 12:50 PM EDT
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Evan Mobley fueled Southern California’s first Elite Eight

FILE - UCLA guard Johnny Juzang (3) shoots over Michigan center Hunter Dickinson (1) during the first half of an Elite 8 game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium, Tuesday, March 30, 2021, in Indianapolis. Led by Juzang, the second-ranked UCLA Bruins return nearly everyone from last season's surprising Final Four run. They open the season at home against Cal State Bakersfield on Nov. 9. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
Led by Juzang, No. 2 UCLA carries title hopes into season

By Beth Harris Oct. 21, 2021 12:46 PM EDT
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Expectations are nothing new at UCLA. John Wooden's success

FILE - In this Oct. 26, 2012, file photo, Nan Wooden looks at a statue of her late father, UCLA men's basketball coach John Wooden, after its unveiling outside the new Pauley Pavilion at UCLA in Los Angeles. Nan Wooden died Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2021. She was 87. The school said she died of natural causes at a care facility in the San Fernando Valley, according to family members. She had suffered a series of strokes in recent years. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
Nan Wooden, daughter of UCLA coach John Wooden, dies at 87

By Beth Harris Sep. 14, 2021 08:43 PM EDT
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Nan Wooden, the daughter of late UCLA basketball coach John

UCLA's Chris Smith won't return to basketball team

By Beth Harris Jul. 05, 2021 10:39 PM EDT
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Chris Smith, who injured his knee in January and was out the

FILE - Former assistant basketball coach for the University of Southern California Tony Bland, left, and his attorney Jeffrey Lichtman, leave federal court in New York, in this Wednesday, June 5, 2019, file photo. The NCAA hit Southern California’s men's basketball program with two years’ probation and a $5,000 fine as the result of a former assistant who violated NCAA ethical conduct rules when he accepted a bribe to steer players to a business management company. The Division I Committee on Infractions on Thursday, April 15, 2021, announced the penalties, which include a 1% loss of the school’s basketball budget. The probation runs until April 14, 2023. Tony Bland, the former associate head under coach Andy Enfield, wasn't mentioned by name in the NCAA report. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, FIle)
NCAA hits USC basketball with 2 years' probation, fine

By Beth Harris Apr. 15, 2021 12:33 PM EDT
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The NCAA hit Southern California’s men's basketball program

UCLA head coach Mick Cronin reacts to a call during the first half of a men's Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game against Gonzaga, Saturday, April 3, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Mick Cronin gets 2-year contract extension at UCLA

By Beth Harris Apr. 08, 2021 08:10 PM EDT
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mick Cronin has been rewarded for UCLA’s surprising run to

FILE - In this Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021 file photo, Southern California head coach Andy Enfield, back, looks on as Southern California forward Isaiah Mobley shoots a free throw in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Colorado in Boulder, Colo. . (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)
NBA prospect Evan Mobley leads USC into March Madness

By Beth Harris Mar. 18, 2021 12:54 PM EDT
An opposing guard blows through the lane and launches a layup. Not so fast.

Southern California guard Tahj Eaddy, top, celebrates with teammates as UCLA guard Jaime Jaquez Jr., left, and guard Jaylen Clark walk off the court after Eaddy hit a game-winning three-point shot during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, March 6, 2021, in Los Angeles. USC won 64-63. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
USC stuns UCLA 64-63 on Tahj Eaddy's last-second shot

By Beth Harris Mar. 06, 2021 06:50 PM EST
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Usually, the late-season dramatics belong to UCLA. After all

Southern California forward Chevez Goodwin, center, reacts after scoring a basket and drawing a foul during the first half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against Stanford on Wednesday, March 3, 2021 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
USC routs Stanford 79-42 to stay in hunt for Pac-12 title

By Beth Harris Mar. 04, 2021 12:41 AM EST
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Four games in a week and two losses on a mountain trip left

Southern California guard Drew Peterson (13) shoots during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Oregon Monday, Feb. 22, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
No. 19 USC dominates 1st half in 72-58 win over Oregon

By Beth Harris Feb. 23, 2021 12:06 AM EST
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Southern California hasn't lost two games in a row all

Cody Riley, right, of UCLA, drives to the basket against Oregon State in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021, in Los Angeles. (Keith Birmingham/The Orange County Register via AP)
No. 21 UCLA faces USC in matchup of Pac-12's top teams

By Beth Harris Feb. 05, 2021 12:47 PM EST
LOS ANGELES (AP) — No one figures Evan Mobley is going to play at Southern