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UCLA Vs North Carolina: Battle 4 Atlantis, Round 2 Game Info And Preview

By Mike Regalado

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There are already two shockers in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament in the Bahamas. North Carolina fell to Butler while UCLA let several leads slip from their hands against Oklahoma. While it is conceivable that both UNC and UCLA lost, full well knowing this tournament is full of talented teams, it does bring up questions of how two traditionally elite teams�are already in the losers bracket. Still, who does not want to see two of the best programs in college basketball go at on Thanksgiving Day?

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Records: #22 UCLA (4-1), #5 North Carolina (3-1)

Tip-Off: 4 p.m. PT

Location: Imperial Arena, Paradise Island, Bahamas

TV: AXSTV

Radio: KLAC AM 570 (Los Angeles)

On-line: TuneIn

Preview: Now there is no doubt the Bruins can score. Even in a game where the Bruins struggled for baskets, Kevon Looney managed another double-double and Bryce Alford once again led the team in scoring with 19 points. The problem here is with two important parts of the Bruin’s game: defense and free throws. Although UCLA is 5th in the nation in points per game (95.3), they are 282nd in points allowed (72.2).

Nov 20, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins forward Kevon Looney (5) scores against the Nicholls State Colonels during the second half at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

The Bruins have rebounding, but they do not have lock down defense. UCLA has been mainly running their defense through a 2-3 zone and though they spread they floor, the lack of an overall defensive presence has allowed lanes to open up and shots to be taken unguarded.

As for free throws, UCLA is shooting a horrendous 68% through four games. In the first round match-up against Oklahoma, the Bruins only made 9 of 21 (42.9%). They left 12 points on the floor in a game they lost by ten points. Not good.

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    • Until UCLA gets some defense, they will have to rely on trying to outscore their opposition, but that will not be easy, especially with a team that can score as much as the Tar Heels as North Carolina is averaging 89.7 points a game. Leading the charge is 6’9″ sophomore Kennedy Meeks who has a similar game to Looney and is also averaging a double-double with 16.7 points and 11 rebounds per game.

    Similar to the structure of the Bruins, nearly all of their starters are scoring in double figures as Brice Johnson (14.7 ppg), Justin Jackson (13.3) and Marcus Paige (12.0) have all contributed to the Tar Heel’s production and all have the physicality to change the game. Still, they are susceptible to lack of defense as seen in their first round game against Butler. Though the Bulldogs only shot 30.6%, they were able to muscle through the game with 29 offensive rebounds with a total of 57 (17 more than UNC).

    Strap in everyone, because this will be a high-scoring affair. A lot of baskets, not a lot of defending.

    Prediction: UCLA 75 – North Carolina 89