UCLA 2009-2010 Basketball Betting Prediction, Odds, Lines,

With the College Basketball 2009-2010 Season just around the corner, we are providing season previews & predictions for all NCAA basketball teams to give you the betting edge this year. Follow the best College Basketball Handicappers as they analyze their teams in this 2009-2010 basketball season preview. Be sure to bookmark SportsbookBuzz.com your source for Sportsbook Reviews. Use our comprehensive and insider info to bet successfully on the College Basketball in our recommend online sportsbooks.View the rest of our 2009 NCAA Basketball Season Previews here.

UCLA 2008-2009 Record: 26-9, 13-5

UCLA 2008-2009 Post Season: NCAA

UCLA Coach: Ben Howland (152-54 at UCLA, 320-153 overall)

UCLA Projected Starters:

• Jerime Anderson, Sophomore, Guard, 2.3 points per game
• Malcolm Lee, Sophomore, Guard, 3.2 points per game
• Michael Roll, Senior, Guard, 6.7 points per game
• Drew Gordon, Sophomore, Forward, 3.6 points per game
• Nikola Dragovic, Senior, Forward, 9.4 points per game

UCLA Player to Watch:Nikola Dragovic

UCLA Key Losses: C Alfred Aboya, G Darren Collison, G Jrue Holiday, F Josh Shipp

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2009-2010 UCLA Season Preview

When a program averages 32 victories and plays in the Final Four in three consecutive seasons, it doesn’t take a collapse for a season’s performance to fall into the ‘disappointing’ category.

And that will forever be considered the case for the 2008-09 UCLA Bruins, whose 26-9 record and second-round exit in the NCAA Tournament pales in comparison to the accomplishments of their three predecessors.

The expectation bar isn’t set nearly as high for this Ben Howland-coached squad as it was in recent seasons.

That’s because, with the departure of four starters – including guards Darren Collison and Jrue Holiday, the fifth and sixth Bruins selected in the first round over the past three NBA Drafts – Howland is in a rebuilding mode for the time being. Some would call it a ‘reload,’ and that would be accurate. This is UCLA, after all, but it’s still a season full of uncertainty.

With nine sophomores and freshmen on a roster of 12 scholarship players, Howland will need strong performances nearly immediately from multiple players with little or no time in the big-time NCAA pressure cooker.

Pac-10 play will be a challenge enough for the youthful group, but before that there’s a visit from the top-ranked Kansas Jayhawks on Dec. 6.

UCLA Backcourt

This area stands near the top of Howland’s concerns.

The assumption for much of last season was that Holiday – the team’s starter at two guard – was Collison’s ultimate successor at the point.

But Holiday elected to limit his college ‘career’ to his freshman season and was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round. So the pressure of replacing Collison rests with Jerime Anderson, who averaged a shade less than nine minutes of play while mostly backing up Collison. How well he takes care of the ball and his ability to knock in jump shots will heavily influence the team’s success.

Malcolm Lee, another sophomore, played slightly more than Anderson and mostly off the ball. He’s a dynamic scorer and, potentially, a solid defender as well. He is likely to play at least a few minutes per game at the point when Anderson gets a breather.

Michael Roll is a starter at the small forward/wing position and – in large part because of his accuracy from long range – should lead the Bruins in scoring a few times as a senior. If Howland is forced to go any deeper into his backcourt when games are still in doubt, it will likely be to walk-on Mustafa Abdul-Hamid or multiple-skilled 6-8 freshman, Mike Moser.

UCLA Frontcourt

Nikola Dragovic moved into the lineup 15 games into the season and proved to be the team’s most pleasant surprise, stretching defenses with 60 field goals behind the arc while being the club’s second-best rebounder. Senior James Keefe, who went to the bench for Dragovic after starting 14 times, could start at the other post position. He is a solid screener and defender but, at times, an almost reluctant scorer.

He’ll get serious competition for a starting job from sophomore Drew Gordon, whose athletic ability paid dividends as he developed some back-to-the-basket presence. Another second-year player who should get in the mix is J’mison Morgan, who has a good feel for low-post offense but never got into quality condition last season.

Depth is considerable, thanks to freshmen Moser, Brendan Lane, Reeves Nelson and Anthony Stover. Look for Moser and Lane to have the best opportunities to break into Howland’s rotation.

2009-2010 UCLA Predictions

The Bruins will trail Cal and Washington as title contenders in the early going, but based on the progress made by Anderson, Lee and the freshmen, don’t discount Howland’s team from being in contention into March. They won’t overwhelm with pure talent, but odds are Howland will squeeze out more than a few wins.

UCLA Finish in the PAC-10: 3rd
UCLA Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA

UCLA Betting Odds

UCLA Odds to Win 2010 Mens NCAA Basketball Tournament: +5000
UCLA Odds to Win the PAC-10: +250

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