Word Around Westwood: A UCLA Bruins Podcast

247Sports
  • 4.0 (8)
  • Sports
  • Updated Biweekly

A UCLA Bruins podcast focused on news, opinion and analysis of the football and basketball programs, plus recruiting and transfer portal intel. Our team of UCLA insiders will break down everything about your favorite college team in every episode.

  1. 1d ago

    UCLA Women's Basketball Head Coach Cori Close Exclusive Interview | Word Around Westwood

    UCLA is the defending National Champion, and every player who started the title game is now in the WNBA. Kris Johnson sits down with head coach Cori Close to find out what's actually left in Westwood. What did she see when she took a brand new roster to Canada to play Canada's senior national team? Close tells the show that she thought the Bruins might get waxed by 20. They didn't. She also breaks down the backcourt. Where have Donovyn Hunter and Elina Aarnisalo separated themselves? Plus, Close goes into detail on freshman Somto Okafor and compares her to Michaela Onyenwere. Later, Close discusses adding to the roster. The Bruins have a player they want to add depending on how the five-for-five case ends up. She also explains the thinking behind the Texas game on October 25th and answers if the non-conference schedule has gotten softer. Plus, who takes over the Mind Gym now that Tasha Brown is at Washington. All of that and more on this week's Word Around Westwood. (0:00) - Intro  (1:00) - Why UCLA played Canada's national team in July  (2:49) - Running it forward, not running it back  (4:53) - The challenge of maintaining the culture  (7:25) - Close thought they might lose by 20  (9:09) - The second scrimmage and what the film showed  (12:03) - The starting five, and why not to get attached to it  (15:02) - Hunter and Aarnisalo in the backcourt  (17:48) - Freshman Somto Okafor and the Onyenwere comp  (19:08) - Is this the final roster?  (21:25) - Who takes over the Mind Gym  (24:30) - Scheduling Texas, and another exhibition coming  (25:56) - Did the schedule get softer?  (27:19) - What Close wants Bruin fans to know

  2. 2d ago

    INSTANT REACTION: UCLA football lands linebacker Trent Hendrick | Word Around Westwood

    Bruin247 writers Connor Morrissette and Jack Savage react to UCLA football adding James Madison linebacker transfer Trent Hendrick, the reigning Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year.

  3. 5d ago

    A potential LB transfer and what we learned at UCLA football Media Day | Word Around Westwood Podcast

    In the latest edition of the Word Around Westwood Podcast, Bruin247 writers Connor Morrissette and Jack Savage discuss UCLA's pursuit of linebacker Trent Hendrick, who received an additional year of college eligibility thanks to a court order Wednesday. Connor and Jack then recap everything they learned about UCLA football at the team's Media Day that took place Wednesday. Connor and Jack discuss their takeaways from the comments made by defensive coordinator Colin Hitschler and offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy, which includes updates on key position battles. Several players were also made available Wednesday, and Connor and Jack also give their takes on comments made by Nico Iamaleava, Derrick Barksdale, Tao Johnson and other Bruins regarding team chemistry and the depth chart. The show continues with an update on California Post writer Ben Bolch's story on UCLA getting back control of its logo and what that means for the athletic department. As always, the podcast wraps up with Connor and Jack answering subscriber questions. (2:14) - Could UCLA sign James Madison linebacker transfer Trent Hendrick? (13:06) - What we learned at UCLA football's Media Day (41:00) - UCLA can now profit off its logo!? (47:08) - Listener Q&A

  4. Aug 12

    Russell Westbrook Retires: Kerry Keating, the UCLA Assistant Who Recruited Him | Word Around Westwood Podcast

    Russell Westbrook has called it a career after 18 seasons, retiring as the NBA's all-time triple-double leader, a former MVP, and a nine-time All-Star. On this emergency episode of Word Around Westwood, Kris Johnson talks with the man who found Westbrook before he was Westbrook: former UCLA assistant coach Kerry Keating, who identified and recruited him to Westwood when almost no one else saw it coming. Keating takes us back to the beginning, the recruitment, what he saw in a young Russ that others missed, and how a two-year run at UCLA set the foundation for one of the most unique careers in NBA history.

  5. Aug 12

    UCLA football stock watch: Who's rising and falling in fall camp? | Word Around Westwood Podcast

    In the latest edition of the Word Around Westwood Podcast, Bruin247 writers Connor Morrissette and Jack Savage give their thoughts on what they've seen at UCLA football's fall camp through six practices. The duo plays a game of 'Buy or Sell' by choosing players they're buying stock in (2:15) and three players they're selling stock of (35:52) based on fall camp observations. The show ends with Connor and Jack answering questions from subscribers (48:11).

  6. Jul 31

    Everything we learned about UCLA football at Big Ten media day | Word Around Westwood Podcast

    In the latest edition of the Word Around Westwood Podcast, Bruin247 writers Connor Morrissette and Jack Savage recap everything they learned about UCLA football at Big Ten football media day in Chicago. Head coach Bob Chesney and players Nico Iamaleava, Sammy Omosigho and Cole Martin represented the Bruins at media day. (0:30) Morrissette and Savage break down the most interesting themes and storylines the UCLA contingent discussed in Chicago, which includes Chesney continuing to impress at the podium. (9:55) Scooter Jackson's eligibility (13:05) Injury updates (44:45) Chesney saying he wants to "lead the nation in development." The show ends with a Q&A from subscribers.

  7. Jul 27

    Bob Chesney, Nico Iamaleava and the biggest storylines heading into UCLA football's fall camp | Word Around Westwood

    In the latest edition of the Word Around Westwood Podcast, Bruin247 writers Connor Morrissette and Jack Savage preview UCLA football's fall camp and the Big Ten Media Day in Chicago. The duo breaks down their top three biggest storylines heading into fall camp (0:00) in addition to digging into some questions they hope get answered at media day. After that, Jack provides a recruiting update (38:05), and the show finishes with Connor and Jack answering subscriber questions.

  8. Jul 20

    More thoughts on UCLA men's basketball roster and tales from the trail | Word Around Westwood Podcast

    In the latest edition of The Word Around Westwood Podcast, Connor Morrissette and Kris Johnson continue to discuss the Nikola Kusturica addition for UCLA men's basketball and how it affects the ceiling for next year's team (0:00). The duo then hits on the potential strengths and weaknesses of next year's roster as well as if the program will look to add any more players for next season (6:14). After that, Kris breaks down the top prospects and latest intel he's received after covering multiple premier offseason AAU events in person (45:31). The show wraps up with Connor and Kris answering questions from viewers and subscribers (1:06:26).

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Ratings & Reviews

4
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

A UCLA Bruins podcast focused on news, opinion and analysis of the football and basketball programs, plus recruiting and transfer portal intel. Our team of UCLA insiders will break down everything about your favorite college team in every episode.

Information

  • Creator
    247Sports
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    38
  • Rating
    Clean

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