A Slight Case Of Home Court Advantage – Colorado Vs UCLA Game Preview And Information

UCLA has literally (thank you ‘Archer’) had an up-and-down season. Five game losing streak. Three game win streak. Two game losing streak. Solid home victory against the #11 team in the nation. It is enough to make a blogger write awkward game previews and analysis, but that is besides the point. UCLA has a chance to continue their current up-swing today against Colorado.

UCLA Bruins

Records:

Colorado (11-9, 4-4)

UCLA Bruins (12-9, 4-4)

Tip-Off: 7:30 p.m. PT

Location: Pauley Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA

Tickets: UCLABruins.com

TV: Pac-12 Network

Radio: KLAC AM 570 (Los Angeles)

On-line: TuneIn

Betting Line: UCLA -6.5

Projected Starting Line-ups:

Colorado – Askia Booker, Xavier Talton, Dustin Thomas, Tre’Shaun Fletcher, Wesley Gordon

UCLA – Bryce Alford, Norman Powell, Isaac Hamilton, Kevon Looney, Tony Parker

Jan 29, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Utah Utes forward Jordan Loveridge (21) shoots over UCLA Bruins guard Isaac Hamilton (10) in the first half during the game at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Preview: So, Bruins, huh? What is up with that? They go to the state of Oregon and get their butts whipped and then come home, do some soul searching (and some interesting game planning) and they take down #11 Utah. Who knew? Well, a lot of people. UCLA is pretty deadly at home.

Additionally, they seem to know when to come out swinging. It is just unfortunate that it is not all the time.

Now although it is fully expected for the Bruins to fight, fight, fight tonight against a lowly Colorado team, they must know that the Buffaloes are not going away quietly either. This past Thursday, the Buffs took the USC Trojans to three overtimes before they cold finally come away victorious in a 98-94 win.

December 3, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins forward Tony Parker (23) reacts during the 73-45 against the Cal State Fullerton Titans at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Along with that, Colorado has already beat UCLA once this year, so they have that to their advantage. But as stated before, this Bruins squad is very good at home, though it also has to do with the way they attack games.

If UCLA looks to score fast and shoot early in the shot clock, it could be very bad for the Bruins. What has worked in their recent victories is the fact that they not only pace themselves, but get the ball down low to Tony Parker and the emerging Thomas Welsh and Gyorgy Goloman. UCLA, though slowly, has finally been able to get their plethora of big men involved in games and they are only getting better.

The other thing that the Bruins need to do is continue their wacky defensive schemes they did against Utah. Every time the Utes took the ball back down court on offense, the Bruins were in a new defensive set. Thye would go from 2-3 zone to man-to-man to 1-2-2 zone and back again. This plan not only disrupted Utah’s sets, but also forced the Utes to shoot late in the shot clock, often resulting in rushed and errant shots.

Colorado is not on the same level of Utah, so if UCLA can confuse the Buffaloes, the Bruins should have the game in their control early.

Prediction: Colorado 62 – UCLA 74