There Is No Crying In Basketball! UCLA Vs Gonzaga Game Information And Preview
UCLA Vs Gonzaga
Dec 13, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Kevin Pangos (4) drives against UCLA Bruins guard Isaac Hamilton (10) during the game at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
UCLA?
Yes Gonzaga.
Is the water warm enough?
Yes Gonzaga.
Shall we begin?
Yes Gonzaga.
UCLA Bruins
Records:
#11 UCLA Bruins 22-13
#2 Gonzaga Bulldogs (34-2)
Tip-Off: 4:15 p.m. PT
Location: NRG Stadium, Houston, TX
Tickets: www.ticketmaster.com
TV: CBS
Radio: AM 570
On-line: TuneIn
Betting Line: Gonzaga -8.5, O/U 145.5
Projected Starting Line-ups:
UCLA – Bryce Alford, Norman Powell, Isaac Hamilton, Kevon Looney, Tony Parker
Gonzaga – Gary Bell, Jr., Kevin Pangos, Byron Wesley, Kyle Wiltjer, Przemek Karnowski
Dec 13, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Norman Powell (4) drives against Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Kevin Pangos (4) during the game at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Preview: What is this? The “we already played them bracket?” This is the second time this season UCLA and Gonzaga have met with the Bulldogs handing the Bruins their only home loss. It is also the second time in this tournament that the Bruins have played a team they have already gone up against this season. There is also a chance that UCLA could meet Utah for a third time if the Utes beat Duke, but let us not get crazy. Let us talk Sweet Sixteen!
The Bruins have proven their critics wrong twice already as they outlasted SMU and wrecked UAB. Now they go up against the mighty Bulldogs. The thing is, the Bruins are a different squad than they were a few months ago. As we have written here at Go Joe Bruin, UCLA has been inconsistent, but the consensus is that they are playing some of their best basketball at this point in time.
There are 3 Keys to UCLA beating Gonzaga:
- Focus on the interior
- Solid man-to-man defense
- Teamwork
Tony Parker and Kevon Looney man-handled UAB in their Round of 32 game. Both had a double-doubles with Parker pulling down 28 points. UCLA as a team had 52 points in the paint. Though it will be harder against Gonzaga, the Bruins need to keep pounding under the basket.
Dec 13, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins forward Tony Parker (23) shoots over Gonzaga Bulldogs center Przemek Karnowski (24) and forward Kyle Wiltjer (33) during the game at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Though UCLA is not a defense-first team, they have shown that they can hold there opponents scoreless when they put their mind to it. The Bruins have had solid defensive stops throughout games this entire post-season. The problem is when they stop playing defense and let the opponent back in the game. UCLA needs to disallow that.
And then they have to work as a team. Bryce Alford needs to continue to be a distributor, Isaac Hamilton needs to get open and Norman Powell needs to show us some fireworks.
If they have a lapse in their game and try to force things, they are setting themselves up for failure. Fortunately, we have not seen that type of play with the Bruins in the last few weeks, so fingers crossed.
As for Gonzaga, well, there is a reason they are the best shooting team in the country. The Bulldogs are hitting 52.4% of their shots which has led to them being the 10th best team in the country in scoring with 79.1 points per game.
Kyle Wiltjer, Kevin Pangos and Przemek Karnowski are all very reliable scorers and seem to be able to hit shots from every where on the court. The Bruins are going to have to neutralize them if they have any chance of winning. If anything, they need to disrupt their offensive flow. Gonzaga is too skilled and too experienced to make a mistake at this stage of the season, the Bruins have to be a step ahead.
Though it is apparent that Gonzaga is the clear favorite, I am going to go against the odds here and go for a Bruin victory. But not by much.
Prediction: UCLA 72 – Gonzaga 71
P. S. – The opening segment was taken from Prince’s “Computer Blue”, in case you were wondering.
P. P. S. – You’re welcome…