The UCLA Basketball team will win the 2017 Pac-12 Tournament… here are five reasons why.
The UCLA Basketball team is back in post-season mode in a big way. The Bruins finished the regular season with a 28-3 record, which was 13 wins better than last season.
In conference, they improved from 6-12 to 15-3. A huge difference that will help their momentum heading into the Pac-12 Tournament.
The Bruins are hot right now and it is due to a variety of reasons. Everything has come together for UCLA at the right time as they are playing some of the the best basketball in the nation.
With that in mind, here are 5 reasons the UCLA Basketball team will win the Pac-12 Tournament… and then get a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
1. 9-Game Win Streak
UCLA lost to their rivals Arizona and USC in consecutive games midway through Pac-12 play. The Bruins responded with nine wins in a row.
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The Bruins had not lost this season until they got into Pac-12 play. They started 0-1 with the Bruins losing in Eugene on a last second shot. It was not a bad loss, but their two others were. The Wildcats embarrassed the Bruins in Pauley Pavilion followed by USC’s “Just Like Football” win at the Galen Center.
The Bruins were not having it. They adjusted and the Pac-12 paid for it as UCLA ran the table from that loss to USC.
The Bruins got their second road sweep of the season the next week against the Washington schools. Then they came from 19 points down to get revenge on Oregon in a win at Pauley. Oregon State also went down.
USC was in the wrong place at the wrong time when they went to Westwood and lost by 32-points. Arizona State had no bench and played the Bruins tough, but could not keep up.
Then UCLA took down Arizona in Tucson and showed the country who the top team in the conference was… even though Arizona was still ahead in the rankings. Washington went down at Pauley and then so did Wazzu.
And now the Bruins are set for the post-season…
2. Defensive Coaching?
But UCLA does not play any defense…
That might have been true for two thirds of the season, but in the last nine games the Bruins have shown more dedication to running a proper defense. Coincidentally, that has paralleled UCLA’s 9-game win streak.
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The Bruins occasionally were left without options when their offense was not clicking. Earlier in the season, that would have been bad as the Bruins did not have defense to back them up.
Then Steve Alford, who should’ve won the Pac-12 Coach of the Year, made an effort to start playing defense and it has paid dividends for UCLA.
Hands are up, Bruins are getting in passing lanes, there are 3/4 court presses and even an occasional double-team. Now, when the Bruins are not getting buckets, they can slow their opponents on the other end. It is not perfect, but it is effective.
3. Veteran Leadership
Bryce Alford, Isaac Hamilton and Thomas Welsh have all been here before.
These veterans have experienced the highs and lows of multiple Pac-12 and NCAA tournaments, as well as had to endure the agony of not making it to the big dance at all last season.
Their experience in the last two and three years, albeit rocky at times, was needed to understand how to get to the next level. Though freshmen Lonzo Ball and TJ Leaf have injected some more offense and athleticism to this lineup, the Bruins would not be where they are without the knowledge and experience of their veterans.
On top of that, they have all had major improvements from last year. Since moving from point guard and shooting guard, Alford has dramatically improved his field goal percentage, specifically from behind the three-point line. Hamilton has also been an effective scorer and tied a single-game record for most three-pointers in a game with nine.
And Thomas Welsh, who is probably one of the deadliest shooters from the baseline in America, has been extremely effective in front court. These guys have talent and they’re going to push it even more during the tournament.
4. Bruin Bigs
So we just talked about Thomas Welsh being an important part of the core veteran crew, but he’s also helping to lead the charge underneath the basket.
With UCLA gaining two solid front court players in TJ Leaf and Ike Anigbogu, the Bruins added offense and defense, respectively. Though Welsh was going to continue to be a force down low, the help he has received from the new guys has been a breath of fresh air.
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Leaf has been nothing short of fantastic. The only drawback he had this season was suffering a sprained ankle in the second to last game of the regular season which kept him out against Washington State in the conference finale. Other than that, his team leading 16.3 points per game has given the Bruins a lot of buckets down low.
On the other end, Anigbogu has been a shot stopper on defense. Not only does his athleticism and tenacity make his opponents think twice about getting into the lane, but if you get too close to him, he will block your shot and it will go into the fifth row.
Not as productive, but still able to contribute to the team, Gyorgy Goloman has done a fine job in the backup role. He won’t get a lot of points, but he’ll throw his body around for the good of the team and that is something the Bruins need as they prepare for battle in the conference tournament.
5. Lonzo Ball
Each one of the five reasons I have listed for UCLA winning the Pac-12 Tournament all have equal parts in their potential success. especially this one.
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- UCLA Football: It’s time for the nation to meet Dante Moore
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- UCLA Football: Position battle breakdown for Utah showdown
- UCLA vs. Utah: Location, time, prediction, and more
- UCLA Football: Highlights from Chip Kelly’s appearance on the Jim Rome Show
Though this has been a complete team effort, Lonzo Ball is a big reason why UCLA is the #3 team in the nation.
This guy can do it all. Literally.
Not only is he an offensive specialist, but he puts serious effort into his defense. Yesterday he was named by the Pac-12 as an All-Defensive Team Honorable Mention along with Aaron Holiday.
He can pass, shoot from way beyond the three-point line, rebound, can always find an open man, gets in the passing lanes and just knows how to run a basketball team.
He has proven his worth in big games against Kentucky, Oregon and Arizona and should be more than ready for the big stage.
Next: UCLA Basketball's Pac-12 Tournament Schedule and Preview
Lonzo Ball does not just play basketball, he puts on a show and he’s going to be showing the nation, if they haven’t noticed already, what he and these Bruins can do.