The UCLA Bruins men's basketball team begins their 2023-24 season without starting freshmen Berke Buyuktuncel and Aday Mara. Instead, junior transfer Lazar Stefanovic will start in place of Buyuktuncel at small forward, while redshirt fifth-year Bruin Kenneth Nwuba will start at center. Mara, a highly-touted 7'3" NBA prospect, will come off the bench for his Bruins debut. It is unclear whether Buyuktuncel has been cleared by the NCAA to play at this time. The Bruins will face off against the Saint Francis University Red Flash in their season opener. The game will be televised on the Pac-12 Network at 8:30 p.m. PT. UCLA's regular-season schedule includes 16 home contests and a trip to the Maui Invitational in November. This will be the second meeting between UCLA and Saint Francis, with the Bruins winning their previous matchup 95-58. The Bruins will look to start their season on a strong note, despite missing key freshmen starters.