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Alford 'surprised' by LiAngelo Ball leaving UCLA, but not angry

UCLA Athletics/YouTube

Steve Alford says he wasn't expecting LiAngelo Ball to withdraw from UCLA, but the Bruins coach is far from angry.

"LiAngelo has been, since coming back (from China), he's been tremendous," Alford said at Tuesday's media availability session. "He's been to all of his classes, he's been to all the tutors, all the mentors. He's done exactly what's been asked of him. I don't think (I'm) angry. I think it was more, maybe, surprised. If you're looking for one word, maybe it's surprised because it's nothing that we saw coming."

Ball followed in older brother Lonzo's footsteps by committing to the Bruins, but never played a single minute for the school. He and two other players were indefinitely suspended from the team due to their involvement in an international shoplifting scandal stemming from the program's trip to China.

Related: Ditching UCLA now is probably the worst thing LiAngelo Ball could do

For Alford's squad, it's more or less business as usual. At 7-1 and fighting for the top spot in the Pac-12, the absence of the least acclaimed freshman on the team isn't liable to disrupt the Bruins' championship aspirations.

"I'm not for sure on (what adjustments need to be made) because we've played eight games to date without 'Gelo," Alford added. "... We're getting better. That's what I'm most proud of with that group of young men; we've traveled a lot and had our share of distractions over the past five weeks."

Alford said he hasn't had contact with LiAngelo or his father, LaVar Ball, since news of LiAngelo's exit broke.

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