Go Joe Bruin
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Colorado Vs UCLA: What Is Left To Play For…

By Mike Regalado

Jan 13, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Bryce Alford (3) reacts during an NCAA basketball game against the Southern California Trojans at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 13, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Bryce Alford (3) reacts during an NCAA basketball game against the Southern California Trojans at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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The UCLA Basketball team has had so many chances to right the ship this season, but seem to be stuck in a rut that is getting worse as the season progresses.

UCLA was neck and neck with Utah on Thursday, up until halftime. In the second half, the Utes pulled away and led by as much as 14. Though UCLA came back, a serious of bad decisions and coaching faux pas sealed the deal on this game as Utah got their first win in Westwood since 1961.

RELATED: UCLA Basketball and the Consistency of Being Inconsistent

Perfect. And now UCLA is three games under .500 with the Colorado Buffaloes staring them in the face as they look to improve their Pac-12 standing. This is going to be a battle.

On one hand, you have UCLA who needs this win to try and stay relevant. If they are able to rattle off consecutive wins in their next five games, that could earn them an at-large bid in the NCAA Tournament. Unfortunately, the Bruins have not been able to get more than two wins in conference play.

As for Colorado, they are in the hunt for the Pac-12 Regular Season Championship. With four games left and two games out of first place, the Buffaloes are looking to at least earn themselves a first round bye in the Pac-12 Tournament, so right now, all the momentum is with Colorado.

Records: Colorado Buffaloes (19-8, 8-6), UCLA Bruins (14-12, 5-8)

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Tipoff: 8:00 p.m. PT

Location: Pauley Pavilion (Cap.: 12,829)

Tickets: uclabruins.com

TV: Fox Sports 1

Radio: AM 570 Los Angeles

On-line Radio: Tune-In

Betting Line: UCLA -1.0

Let us face it, this season will most likely be cut short for the UCLA Bruins. So what is left to play for?

They desperately needed a win against Utah and now have to run the table to be considered for the Big Dance. That or win the Pac-12 Tournament out right. They would need four straight wins to accomplish that feat and as stated above, they they have not be capable of doing anything close to that in conference play.

It gets even tougher as UCLA plays four teams in the next five games that have a better record than the Bruins, with three of them doing better than .500 in conference. That all starts tonight with a Colorado team that has a lot to lose, especially after falling to USC last Wednesday.

Colorado will be looking to prove they are worthy of a top Pac-12 spot, especially with senior forward Josh Scott looking to go out with a bang. Scott is leading the Buffs in points 16.7) and rebounds (8.8) and trying to shake off an ankle injury that kept him out of the two games prior to their USC match.

With the Buffaloes looking to secure a better spot in both the Pac-12 and NCAA Tournaments, expect Colorado to come into Pauley and give UCLA everything they have.

Now if the Bruins win, that is a step in the right direction, but in all honesty, it adds nothing to their already embittered season. Talks of UCLA Head Coach Steve Alford being on the hot seat have once again risen as the overall state of the program is in disarray. Welcome to Westwood.

Next: The UCLA Basketball All-Time Team

Though there is a chance for the Bruins to salvage something at the end of this season (possibly their pride), it does not look to good with the end of the season in sight.

Prediction: Colorado 82 – UCLA 77