UCLA Basketball Vs. Arizona State: TV Schedule, Odds And Preview

Dec 28, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins forward/center Tony Parker (23) shoots against Alabama Crimson Tide guard Rodney Cooper (21) during the second half at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

UCLA (12-3, 1-1) takes on the Arizona State Sun Devils (13-3, 2-1) in a Sunday night Pac-12 showdown. This comes one game after barely losing to the #1 team in the nation, Arizona. The Sun Devils are looking to pull off the road sweep after wrecking USC 79-60 on Thursday night. This should be interesting.

TV: ESPNU

Location: Pauley Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA

Tip-Off: 7:00 p.m. PT/10:00 p.m. ET

Odds: UCLA -6.0

Ticket Information: uclabruins.com/tickets

Preview: It is still tough to see where Arizona State will be in the Pac-12. Their offensive firepower is lead by former Co-Freshman of the Year, Jahii Carson, who is getting 18.6 points per game, and just behind him is Jermaine Marshall scoring 15.1 points per game.

But really, the battle to watch is down low, as ASU’s 7’2” center Jordan Bachynski goes against any of UCLA’s big guys.

This guy has been a problem for the Bruins recently as he usually dominates the boards. Last season in Tempe, he had a career-high 22 points with 15 rebounds against the Bruins. This year, Bachynski is averaging 12.6 points and 9.4 rebounds per game.

But here is why it will be interesting…UCLA’s center, Tony Parker, has started to come alive recently as he has scored over 10 points in 3 of his last 4 games. For the season, Parker is averaging 5.7 rpg, but in the last contest against Arizona, he had 5 offensive rebounds on his way to a total of 8. If Parker can be a disruption to Bachynski, the Bruins just might be able to throw off the Sun Devils.

Even though ASU is prone to slowing down the game, it will be tough against the Bruin’s offense. Kyle Anderson (15.2 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 6.5 apg) and Jordan Adams (18.3 ppg) are showing no signs of slowing down and should be a huge problem for the Sun Devils.

Prediction: Arizona State 75 – UCLA 86

Mike W.R.

Twitter: @TheBigDisco