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UCLA Basketball: Will The Bruins Get Up For The Crosstown Showdown?

By Mike Regalado

Jan 13, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Bryce Alford (20) is defended by Southern California Trojans guard Katin Reinhardt (5) during an NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 13, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Bryce Alford (20) is defended by Southern California Trojans guard Katin Reinhardt (5) during an NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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The UCLA Basketball team is back in action tonight against the USC Trojans and look to enact some revenge after their last meeting.

The UCLA basketball team is in a very peculiar situation at the moment. Currently they are tied for seventh place with a 4-5 record in the Pac-12.

Despite all the promise this team had in the non-conference season, they have been very inconsistent during conference play.  The biggest issue, it seems, is that the Bruins do not go into every game with the same mindset.

Basically, UCLA has shown that they can come out strong and battle toe-to-toe with some very good teams, but on the opposite end of that spectrum, they have also shown that they play down to their opponents.

That is not a good thing, especially when every single team they play is going to come after them full force.  It also doesn’t help that the Bruins continue to be so-so on the road.

UCLA under Steve Alford has not gotten a road sweep in his 2 1/2 years in charge of the program.  That is troubling because the next three games the Bruins play will all be away from Pauley Pavilion and that begins tonight as the Bruins take on crosstown rival, the USC Trojans.

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Records: UCLA Bruins (13-9, 4-5), USC Trojans (17-5, 6-3)

Tipoff: 7:30 p.m. PT

Location: Galen Center (10,258)

TV: Pac-12 Network

Radio: AM 570 Los Angeles

On-line Radio: Tune-In

Betting Line: USC -4.5, O/U 160.5

The last time UCLA and USC met up, the Trojans put a beating on the Bruins as it was the worst loss the Bruins suffered at home in Alford’s tenure.

Mar 4, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; USC Trojans guard Elijah Stewart (30) and UCLA Bruins forward Tony Parker (23) battle for a rebound in the second half of the game at Pauley Pavilion. UCLA won 85-74. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; USC Trojans guard Elijah Stewart (30) and UCLA Bruins forward Tony Parker (23) battle for a rebound in the second half of the game at Pauley Pavilion. UCLA won 85-74. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

As I mentioned above, the Bruins tend to play down to their opponents, which it seemed the Bruins did against the Trojans. Before that game, Alford was undefeated against USC and head coach Andy Enfield, which could have lead to there lackluster effort.

Well now the tables are turned and USC is the hot team in LA. With that being said, hopefully UCLA can play up to the level USC is playing right now and put out a decent effort.

Currently, USC is third in the Pac-12 with an impressive 17-5 record.  If you have seen the Trojans play, they are the epitome of the “team basketball”.

USC has a very balanced attack on offense as six players are averaging more than ten points a game. On top of that, their defense has been improving despite allowing 73.9 points per game (8th in the Pac-12, which is still better than UCLA’s 76.8 ppg allowed).

Next: Can UCLA Basketball Dance?

The key to this game for UCLA is stopping the Trojan’s offense which averages 84.2 ppg (2nd in the Pac-12). If the Bruins can play a modicum of defense, then they will have the edge. But if they continue to play they way they have been, expect another USC rout.

Prediction: UCLA 77 – USC 89