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UCLA Bruins Vs Washington Huskies: How To Watch The Conference Opener

By Mike Regalado

Dec 22, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; McNeese State Cowboys guard Jarren Greenwood (10) chases down UCLA Bruins guard Isaac Hamilton (10) in the first half of the game at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 22, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; McNeese State Cowboys guard Jarren Greenwood (10) chases down UCLA Bruins guard Isaac Hamilton (10) in the first half of the game at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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The UCLA Bruins head to Seattle for their first Pac-12 game of the season against the Washington Huskies.

The UCLA Bruins had a very interesting non-conference. They lost their home opener to Monmouth, went 1-2 in the Maui Invitational (which included a beating from Kansas) and then got a stomping by North Carolina in Brooklyn in the CBS Sports Classic.

Yet in that same time, they beat No. 1 Kentucky, got their best road win of the Steve Alford era with a win at Gonzaga and had a 5-game win streak. Now I don’t want to say they are inconsistent, because there has been significant improvement, but this team is inconsistent.

The good thing is that they are collectively getting better. We have seen that with more balanced scoring on the offensive side, better defense and some fantastic progress by guys like Thomas Welsh and Isaac Hamilton.

With things coming together, this is be perfect time for the Bruins to prove their worth heading into conference play.

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Records: UCLA Bruins (8-4, 0-0)

Tipoff: 8 p.m. PT

Location: Alaska Airlines Arena (Cap. 10,000)

Tickets: GoHuskies.com

TV: Fox Sports 1

Radio: AM 570 Los Angeles

On-line Radio: Tune-In

Players To Watch

UCLA Bruins

  • Bryce Alford -16.5 points per game, 5.5 assists per game, 4.5 rebounds per game
  • Isaac Hamilton – 15.3 points per game, 4.5 rebounds per game, 1.5 steals per game
  • Tony Parker – 13.8 points per game, 10.3 rebounds per game, .583 FG%

Washington Huskies

  • Andrew Andrews – 19.7 points per game, 4.3 assists per game, 6.3 rebounds per game
  • Dejounte Murray – 13.6 points per game, 6.3 rebounds per game, 4.6 assists per game
  • Marquese Chriss – 12.4 points per game, .528 FG%, 4.6 rebounds per game

The Washington Huskies are desperately trying to become relevant again and the season is starting out well for them, but Head Coach Lorenzo Romar needs to have his team make some serious improvements this season and wipe away the stench of an 11th place finish in the Pac-12 last season.

So far they have looked decent going 8-4, but they also looked the same last year. Let’s not forget that this Husky team went 11-0 to start the season, getting a no. 13 ranking in the process, but then nearly hit rock bottom against the Pac-12.

Next: The UCLA Basketball All-Time Team

For UCLA, they need to show that they can play tough on the road and it does not get any tougher than their first conference game in an arena that they do not have a lot of luck in. Still, the way both teams are trending, expect UCLA to come out victorious in this game.

Prediction: UCLA 56 – Washington 52