Will The Real UCLA Basketball Team Please Stand Up! How Will The Bruins Regroup After Their Oregon Trip?
The UCLA basketball team has been a tale of two squads this season. One team can dominate the boards and shoot the lights out in a full fledged romp of their opponents. The other has huge shooting slumps and cannot seem to win outside of the city. Though it would be great for the Bruins to meet somewhere in the middle, or preferably stay on the side of consistency and wins, things have gotten a bit hairy for UCLA hoops lately and it does not look to get easier with Utah coming to town this week.
(*Author’s note: It has come to my attention that some of you think I have been too hard on the team and a bit unfair (though UCLA basketball does not make it easy). With that in mind, I will try to be on the more positive side, but with that said, it is not like I was wrong, take the Oregon game for example. Still, with that in mind, fist bumps and hugs to you all, unless you are sick, then don’t touch me!)
Anyway…
Winning In Los Angeles
UCLA Bruins
UCLA has showed that they can play exceptional ball when they are in their own city. Even against Gonzaga, the Bruins had a shot at taking that game against a good Top 25 team. When UCLA played against Stanford at Pauley Pavilion, they were not only down by more than ten points half-way through the second half, but put up a fight and came back to win the contest in double-overtime.
UCLA even made a laughing stock out of USC when they played 11 miles away at the Galen Center, so it is not out of the question for the Bruins to brutalize a team (albeit in LA). But that will be put to the test this Thursday when the #12 Utah Utes come to town.
In their last contest, the Utes dismantled a frayed Bruin squad 71-39. So which UCLA team will show up on Thursday?
Get The Ball Down Low
December 3, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins forward Tony Parker (23) moves to the basket against the Cal State Fullerton Titans during the second half at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
UCLA has two big men that have been dominating around the rim, Kevon Looney and Tony Parker. Though, Thomas Welsh and Gyorgy Goloman have slowly been coming along, the two Bruin bench players are nowhere near skill level of Looney and Parker.
One big component of the Bruin loses up in Oregon was the fact that junior center Parker did not join UCLA due to back spasms. Parker was essential in the Bruins victories against Stanford, Cal and USC, scoring 22, 13 and 14. Not only did UCLA miss those points up north, but also his big body that has essentially dominated the low post. If he cannot go against Utah, then the Bruins are going to have a heck of a night trying to shoot their way to victory. Which brings us to…
Taking The Good Shot
Jan 4, 2015; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Bryce Alford (20) shoots the ball during the first half against the Utah Utes at Jon M. Huntsman Center. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
Both Bryce Alford and Isaac Hamilton have been in a slump outside of Los Angeles. In their games at Pauley and Galen, they were able to move the ball around, take their time and find the open man. Their priority was going down low to Parker and Looney.
Against the Oregon schools, they reverted back to their style of play during their five-game losing streak. The shoot-early offense did the Bruins no favors and was not able to help the Bruins stay in the either game. Whether UCLA has Parker for the Utah game, the Bruins need to get their low post game going that will not only open up the defense, but will take pressure off Alford and Hamilton and hopefully take less contested outside shots.
Hey UCLA Basketball, Defense Please!
Well. The interior defense is decent, they are getting a lot of rebounds, and they have, um, other qualities. Yet overall, there does not seem to be a lot of “good” defense. Now that is not mean, that is the truth. Against Oregon, UCLA allowed the Ducks to shoot over 70% in the first half. Oregon ended the game 33-of-53 (62.3%) from the field and 9-of-13 (69.2%) from three-point range.
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Betsided
Can we get a hand up, please?
The thing is, the Bruins are not completely terrible on defense. During their three-game win streak, UCLA showed long stretches of good defensive pressure. When they bust their butts at both ends is when they are effective. If they continue to play “Matador Defense” and have the opposition blow post them, then they are going to be in for a bad time!
So who will we see the remainder of the season? The team that works as one unit or the other team, that quite honestly, lacks a description?