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UCLA to open regular season against Portland State

Nov 9, 2007 - 3:56 PM Portland St (0-0) at No. 2 UCLA (0-0) 10:30 pm EST

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Coach Ben Howland has taken UCLA to the doorstep of a National Championship the past two seasons. He'll try to lead them all the way to a title this year.

The Bruins kick off the 2007-08 campaign by hosting Portland State of the Big Sky Conference.

UCLA reached the National Championship game in 2005 and advanced to the Final Four again in 2006, but each time the Florida Gators ended their run. A 30-6 record and a Pac-10 Conference title were nice, but teams are measured by championships in Los Angeles.

The Bruins have won an NCAA record 11 National Championships, but none since 1995.

Howland returns four starters from last season's squad, including dynamic point guard Darren Collison, who averaged 12.7 points and 5.7 assists in 2006-07. Junior guard Josh Shipp is the leading returning scorer at 13.3 points last season.

Now entering his sixth season with the Bruins, Howland has given the team a defensive identity, holding opponents to .428 shooting and 59.9 points per game last season.

He has also proven to be a fantastic recruiter, and UCLA fans will get their first chance to see Nation high school Player of the Year Kevin Love in regular season action on Friday.

Portland State was 19-13 last season and finished fourth in the Big Sky Conference.

The Vikings return three starters from last season's team, including senior guard Dupree Lucas, who led the team with a 13.2 point scoring average.

Friday's game will mark the first ever meeting between the teams, but Portland State has never fared well against Pac-10 competition, owning a 4-36 all-time record.