PISCATAWAY, N.J. — UCLA is making the most of its eight-day road trip to the East Coast.
There have been a lot of firsts for the top-ranked Bruins on this eastern odyssey that will see the team play three games. It’s the longest road trip that coach Cori Close can remember during her time at the school — especially in the middle of the season.
It started with a victory over No. 25 Baylor in New Jersey in the inaugural Coretta Scott King Classic and then continued with a win over Big Ten foe Rutgers. The trip will conclude in Maryland against the eighth-ranked Terrapins.
In between the Baylor and Rutgers games, the Bruins got to spend time in New York exploring the city. A boat trip to the Statue of Liberty, a visit to the Empire State Building and 9/11 Museum as well as a stop on Broadway to see “Hell’s Kitchen” highlighted their day.
“It’s really cool because some of us had never been to a Broadway show before,” said center Lauren Betts, who averaged 24.5 points, 11 rebounds and seven blocks in the two games in New Jersey. “And so I thought that was just a really cool experience. And we got to meet the cast after, which is like, amazing. … Some of us got on the stage and try to recreate the songs and sing, which obviously did not go so well.”
The Bruins also were in the area for the winter storm that brought snow to the tri-state area. For some of the players it was their first time seeing snow in person.
It’s not all fun for the Bruins, who are back in class as UCLA is on the quarter system. It hasn’t been a normal academic period with the wildfires in Los Angeles making classes remote.
“Obviously with the tragedy of the fires back home, a lot of the lectures moved to online learning so the whole quarter has not been consistent so far,” said Andrew Garcia, who is UCLA’s associate director of student athlete success for the team. “I think for me, the challenge has been, ‘How do I bring that sense of normalcy and consistency into their routine?’”
Garcia said he works with the players and professors to know when class work is due, which is a little more complicated with the time difference between the two coasts.
Junior guard Kiki Rice said she and others on the team speak with professors at the beginning of the year to let them know their schedule ahead of time.
“They’re well aware that, that we’re not able to make it because we’re on the road or we have a game,” she said. “But it’s still difficult just because UCLA is obviously a great school and we pride ourselves on being great students.”
Close sees this trip as well as the one the team took to Paris to start the season as educational experiences as well as basketball ones.
“We got to have education in 3D. I think that is really important for a lot of our players that went from something they have seen in movies and read in textbooks to I experienced it,” she said. “We went to the top of the Eiffel Tower. We did that earlier this year in Paris. And the Empire State Building is the second time I’ve done that. … I just think those are probably not going to be the things they talk about now, but my responsibility is to create experiences that they remember later that bridge the gap between education in the classroom.”
Close also said she asks the team for feedback since this is the first year the Bruins are in the coast-to-coast Big Ten Conference.
“We’ve already made some adjustments in our itinerary moving forward,” she said. “So, I just think that’s going to be the way it is all year long. We chose this and we want to be a part of the best conference. Doesn’t make it that it’s not really hard, but we’re going to have to make adjustments as we go.”
UCLA Men’s Basketball Team Making the Most of 8-Day East Coast Trip
The top-ranked UCLA men’s basketball team is taking full advantage of their 8-day East Coast road trip, both on and off the court. With a combination of intense practices, team bonding activities, and sightseeing, the Bruins are making the most of their time away from home.
On the court, UCLA has been dominating their opponents, showcasing their talent and teamwork with impressive wins against some tough East Coast competition. The team’s chemistry and communication have been on full display, with players stepping up and making big plays when it matters most.
Off the court, the Bruins have been exploring the sights and sounds of the East Coast, taking in the rich history and culture of the cities they visit. From visiting historical landmarks to trying out local cuisine, the team is immersing themselves in the experience and creating lasting memories together.
Overall, UCLA is proving that they are not only a force to be reckoned with on the court but also a tight-knit group that knows how to make the most of their time together. With their sights set on a national championship, the Bruins are making every moment count during their East Coast trip.
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