Issues UCLA Basketball Needs To Address

Mar 23, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard

(20) drives against Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks guard

(10) in the second half of a men

Here at Go Joe Bruin, we have been focusing on the positives of UCLA basketball and with all that they have gone through since the end of last season, we think that they are a team that will compete in the Pac-12. Losing guys to the NBA, eligibility and non-admittance has hurt that, which it puts a dent in the Bruins game plan. Aside from that, looking at last season, there are a few issues UCLA basketball needs to address.

Defense

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Last year, the Bruins defense was not exactly atrocious, but in certain games it was just not there. Head Coach Steve Alford was praised for a defense at New Mexico, but seemed to focus on the more up-tempo offense at UCLA. Sure it is been absent for Westwood for 10 years and implementing it with the athletes he has is fun to watch, but he cannot completely forget the defensive side of the game.

The only constant returning defender is senior Norman Powell. He was not exactly lock-down, but he was really good at pestering opponents. One of the things that really hurts with Jordan Adams leaving for the NBA, was not just his ability to score, but the fact that he was the team leader in steals with 2.6 per game. Still, UCLA should at least have some improvements on the glass with the help of incoming freshmen Kevon Looney and Thomas Welsh. As for rebounds…

Rebounding

Problem 1: UCLA’s leading rebounder form last season, Kyle Anderson, is now part of the San Antonio Spurs.

Problem 2: As a team, UCLA was not much of a force on the glass, especially in the Pac-12.

December 14, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins forward/center Tony Parker (23) grabs a rebound against the defense of Prairie View A&M Panthers guard Louis Munks (3) during the second half at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Part of the problem is that the Bruins only had one guy that could clog up the middle to try to disrupt offenses. That man is junior Tony Parker. He had significant improvement from his freshman to sophomore year and should be a whole lot better this season. It also helps that the weight of rebounding will be off his back as Looney and Welsh, 6’9″ and 7 feet tall respectively, will help the Bruins rebounding right away. Additionally, those two were very proficient blockers in high school which hopefully translates at the next level.

Slow Starts

It is not just an issue with individual games, but the season in general. Last year was Steve Alford’s first, so there was a period at the start of the season in which the team had to adjust to a new coach, a new style and new mind set. Sure the Bruins started 8-0, but that was against cupcakes. They got a big reality check when they went to Missouri and to Madison Square Garden to take on Duke. Things changed after that as the Bruins eventually learned to play as one later in the season.

The proof: an epic Pac-12 Tournament championship over top ranked Arizona.

As for individual games, the Bruins did not start slow all the time, but when they did, it really affected their game and caused them to play catch-up early. Doing that on the road killed whatever game plan Alford had. Speaking of road games…

Road Games

If UCLA wants to compete in this conference, they need to win a lot of away games and try really hard to get a few road sweeps. The Bruins didn’t do that at all last season. Although, you had to give them credit for some of the ones they did pull out, but just as equally, you had to scratch your head at the losses the had, like to Oregon State and Washington State. Horrendous, to say the least.

Rotations/Substitutions

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Betsided

“The best five should be on the floor.” That was not necessarily the philosophy Coach Alford seem to go with. Travis Wear and David Wear had started the majority of the games after Travis had come back from injury. The problem with that is the twin forwards were better shooters than they were rebounders. Parker should have at least gotten the nod for games where they had to match up big men, at the very least, to establish an inside presence early on.

Another issue is that Alford substituted in a pattern which did not always work and was, for the lack of a better word, telegraphed. When Alford would make his first substitution of the game, he would choose two players between Kyle Anderson, Jordan Adams or Norman Powell to come out. Zach LaVine and Bryce Alford would be the ones to come in. Every. Single. Time.

To add, when LaVine and Bryce were on, the were on fire, but would happen the majority of the time, especially later in the season, is that they were momentum killers. Whatever control the starters established, evaporated. It was not that they were a bad combo, but if one was off, so was the set-up. I’m not saying don’t always put in two guys just for the sake of giving players a break, but put in the guys that are hot or those that work well with the guys on the court.

Side note – this year, Steve Alford only has nine scholarship players available after it came out in the last week that Jonah Bolden and Jonathan Octeus will not be joining UCLA this year. At least there will be more playing time for the other Bruins… which is not necessarily a good thing.