The UCLA Bench Is Finally Finding Their Way

It has taken half of the season, but the UCLA bench is finally producing for the Bruins. As UCLA has started to take a different approach to their game plan after a horrible five game losing streak, the bench has been utilized a lot more and have used their time on the court to their advantage. For UCLA, that is nothing but a good thing.

Jan 14, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans forward Darion Clark (0) is defended by UCLA Bruins forward Thomas Welsh (40) and forward Gyorgy Goloman (14) at Galen Center. UCLA defeated USC 83-66. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

In the first fifteen games, Thomas Welsh, Gyorgy Goloman and Noah Allen have had very little impact coming off the bench for the Bruins. Not only has UCLA heavily relied on the services of their starters, but it seems like it is a necessity due to the fact that the bench has been producing the bare minimum.

For the season, Norman Powell, Bryce Alford, Isaac Hamilton, Kevon Looney and Tony Parker have been responsible for nearly 90% of UCLA’s scoring.

Sure that is impressive, but it also quite dangerous. With the Bruins more or less evenly distributing their scoring amongst their starters, it would be quite a blow if one of them fouled out in a crucial point in the game or were injured for a significant amount of time. That is why a team NEEDS a stable bench to help the overall production.

Through the first fifteen games, Welsh, Goloman and Allen have had some pretty dismal numbers…

[table id=40 /]

Thankfully, head coach Steve Alford has adjusted the game plan to not only incorporate these players more, but he also has them in a position to be successful. That starts with their minutes. The more time they get on the court, the more comfortable and familiar they become with the game plan as the season progresses.

Jan 11, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; California Golden Bears forward Roger Moute a Bidias (12) and UCLA Bruins guard Noah Allen (22) battle for the ball during the second half at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

In the last five games, Welsh, Goloman and Allen have had slight improvements in their production. For example, in the losses to Colorado and Utah, Welsh pulled down 14 rebounds with a season-high nine in Boulder.

Yet it has been last three games against Stanford, Cal and USC that we have really seen an increase in production from the bench. Along with a boost in minutes, the UCLA bench has been helping out a lot more with points and rebounds. Allen had 5 rebounds against Cal. Against Stanford, Goloman had three rebounds, tripling his season average. In the game against USC, Welsh got eight points, the most he has had since the first game of the season.

[table id=41 /]

Those these statistics are still small, they have no doubt increased in different ways. By looking at the games, Welsh, Goloman and Allen have been doing a lot more to help the Bruins in areas that do not show up in the stat sheets.

UCLA Bruins

They are diving for balls, hustling in transition, getting a hand in the face of the opposition, properly positioning themselves on offense and defense, making great passes and boxing out, among other things.

One of the best examples of that was against Stanford when Goloman had a season-high 24 minutes that did not necessarily include bigger numbers on the stat sheet, but watching the game, you know he did a great number of things that helped facilitate a strong finish over a very good Cardinal team.

As stated before, though it does not count in the stat sheet, what the UCLA bench provides counts in the overall progression of the game. As we have seen, UCLA has vastly improved in their last few contests as they are currently riding a three game win streak.

If the UCLA bench can continue to improve, there is no telling what this team as a whole is capable of.