This morning, UCLA senior Darren Collison was named to the AP Preseason All-America team for the second consecutive season after helping lead the Bruins to three consecutive Pac-10 regular-season titles and three straight trips to the Final Four.

Collison and North Carolina forward Tyler Hansbrough are the only repeat selections from last fall’s Preseason All-America roster, a feat that hasn’t been accomplished since Mateen Cleaves did it at Michigan State in 1999-2000.

Although it’s just an exhibition game, tonight is the first chance for most UCLA fans to check out the five new Bruin freshmen – most notably freshman guard Jrue Holliday, who was one of 19 other players to earn votes in the AP Preseason All-America selection process.

Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m. PST in Pauley Pavilion against California Baptist University. The NAIA’s No. 5-ranked Lancers could be one of the more decent exhibition teams UCLA has faced in recent years, featuring reigning GSAC Player of the Year Mark Roussin and Eastern Washington transfer Omar Krayem.

A couple weeks ago, Holiday predicted a National Championship for UCLA this season. Come back later to read how he, Collison and the other UCLA freshmen fare in their first game.