Chip is the first coach since Donahue to have 3 consecutive 8 win seasons. I don’t know how anyone could say ucla has a history of winning when this very mediocre stat hasn’t been accomplished in 35 years!

My latest on the case for Ikaika Malloe to fill the vacancy:

32,780. I understand this game set the LA Bowl record for attendance! Who says there is no interest in UCLA football?

No sign of RB Carson Steele as the team stretches

Way too bad at offense.

Both head coaches will speak today around 2 p.m. at SoFi Stadium.

It will be streamed live on YouTube:

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Reminder, this is the last day of the media observations in the lead up to the LA Bowl before the next two press conferences are virtual and Friday’s press conference at SoFi with the head coaches from both teams

A bit after 12 p.m. we’ll be talking to DL/OLBs coach and play-caller Ikaika Malloe along with linebacker Darius Muasau

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QB Maalik Murphy starred at nearby Gardena (Calif.) Serra, where he was once teammates with UCLA redshirt freshman QB Justyn Martin (who ended up transferring and finishing up at Inglewood HS)

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UCLA has one that just came in

We will be talking to RBs coach DeShaun Foster and center Duke Clemens when UCLA speaks at around 12:30 p.m.

In case you missed it in the transfer portal tracker thread:

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Same schedule as usual today. About an hour away from talking to Chip.

New Rivals250: https://n.rivals.com/prospect_rankings/rivals250/2025

Top 10 risers: https://n.rivals.com/news/rivals-rankings-week-ten-biggest-risers-in-the-rivals250-14

Position by position breakdown: https://n.rivals.com/news/tuesdays-with-gorney-new-2025-rivals250-released-2

UCLA players Lazar Stefanovic, Adem Bona

THOUGHTS ON LATE REBOUNDING ISSUES LATE?

Lazar Stefanovic: “They were huge. We talked about it in the locker room and we knew before the game we knew that we had to play tough, we had to be strong, have to box out. Everything we do had to be physical. We didn’t do it for all 40 minutes. We did it at times. Like you said, just free throw box out and then I think we were coming back, I think we were down four at the time when the airball happened. We needed a stop and go get a bucket again and we were in the game. We couldn’t get it done.”

Adem Bona: “It’s a critical part of the game. I take the blame for the box out. We should be doing better than that as a team. Those are like big-time plays, like last minutes of the game. We just got to do better as a team. (Inaudible) in that position and also when we get to that (inaudible) we got to be focused and finish it.”

WAS THAT YOU ON BOTH OF THOSE?

Bona: “I don’t remember the first one.

Stefanovic: “I was on the first one.”

Bona: “I take the blame for the last one. I didn’t rotate on the last airball.”

ADEM, YOU SAID IT WOULD TAKE EVERYTHING TO WIN TONIGHT. WHERE DID THE TEAM FALL SHORT?

Bona: “I would say we didn’t execute exactly our game plan. I would say especially in the second half. Defensively, we gave up a lot of offensive rebounds. Also, in the first half we gave a lot up. Those are the areas where we need to clean it up. You know, as a team with this size we can’t be giving up that much offensive rebounds. Also, we got to increase our toughness level. So, yeah.”

HOW MUCH DID IT HURT FLOW OF OFFENSE WITHOUT DYLAN LATE?

Stefanovic: “He is an important guy for us. Gets a lot going in our offense. Quick guy, can beat his defender, pass the ball pretty well. He’s a good scorer, as well. Good defender. So, it hurt us.”

Bona: “Yeah, obviously DA is a huge part of the team, the point guard. Losing him for the crucial time of the game, it obviously hurts the team. We gotta keep playing as a team. We can’t keep looking back on that, you know. Obviously, he’s a huge part of the team.”

YOUNG TEAM, BUT HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO TURN BIG SHOWINGS INTO WINS TO GET TO WHERE YOU WANT TO BE THIS SEASON?

Stefanovic: “Well, yeah, if we don’t figure it out, we’re not going to be where we want to be. So, we got to sit down and see and realize — and I think we know what we got to do better. It comes down to going out there and executing and being the toughest team and playing smart and knowing the scouting report and all that stuff. We gotta take our game to the next level as a team, as a group, and everybody individually. If we do that, we’re gonna be a better team as well.”

ADEM, COACH SAID HE WANTS MORE REBOUNDS OUT OF YOU. WHAT’s IT GONNA TAKE?

“Like I said, I think we got to improve our toughness level. I can’t be sleeping on the last box out. I got to be sharp the whole time. Yeah, I take that as a challenge to myself because I also expect myself to be getting more rebounds. Being one of the (inaudible, ambient noise) on the team, I should be setting the tone for the freshmen and everyone on the team. So, yeah, I take that on myself. I should be getting more rebounds and I should be helping the team a lot more.”

SEE GROWTH WITH ADAY, PLAYING TOGETHER?

Stefanovic: “Yeah, very talented. Good offensive player, getting better on defense. Really smart guy. He helps us a lot. So it was good to see him being confident on the court.”

Bona: “Yeah, loved his energy today. He played hard. He played more minutes defensively, it was great. I just believe with time he’s gonna develop into an amazing player and it’s also going to help the team.”
STILL LIKE THE TWO BIG LINEUP WITH HIM?

Bona: “Yeah, I do like the big lineup. I think he creates a mismatch for the other teams and also makes them try to match with our size. At the same time, the diversity of our team, (inaudible) of our team — we go small, we go big. So I do think it’s amazing to be able to switch things up a little bit.”

A second story from a busy, informative day of practice:

I have mixed feeling about him.
He is a talent like no other — even as a DH.
The Dodger lineup would be loaded with him, Freeman and Betts.
But is the cost — at least a half billion or more over 10 years — too much?
Does it make it more difficult to build a competitive roster when so much is committed to one player?
He’s been on the same team with Trout and the Angels have done nothing.
Pitching is still what matters the most and if the Dodgers don’t get Ohtani maybe some of that money can be used on pitching.
So I’m okay either way.