UCLA Basketball: The Bruin Road Warriors Head to Memphis

The UCLA Basketball team is essentially walking into a Kentucky home game in the SWeet 16, but the Bruins should handle their own as they are pretty good on the road.

Despite what people say about UCLA’s strength of schedule or quality of their opponent, they have proven that they not only defend home court, but they can go out on the road and makes noise.

At 31-4, UCLA has proven they can run with any team on any floor at anytime and will be successful more often than not.

At Pauley Pavilion, the Bruins were 16-1 this season. UCLA was 8-2 in true road games (if you count a trip to the Galen Center a road game) and are 7-1 on neutral sites.

That is 15-3 overall away from Westwood. Most Division I teams would kill to have that as their home record.

This is a good for UCLA because the Bruins are currently in Memphis, TN for their Sweet 16 game agaisnt #2 Kentucky.

Lexington is about 424 miles away from Memphis, which is just over six hours driving. Because of the proximity, you can guarantee the Wildcat faithful will come out in droves.

This will essentially make it a UK home game and that is fine for the Bruins as they have already proven they can beat Kentucky at home.

On Saturday, December 3, 2016, UCLA waltzed into Rupp Arena in Lexington, KY and defeated then-#1 Kentucky, 97-92, snappping their 42-game home win streak. It was also the most points any team put on a John Calipari-coached UK team.

The Bruins can beat Kentucky, but this Friday, things are a little different.

This is not just for bragging rights. It’s not just for a “W”. It is to move on and keep their hopes alive for another National Championship. For UK, they are looking for their 9th title. For UCLA, they are looking for their 12th.

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Though that is a long-term goal, it is one that can eventually be obtained if either team wins on Friday. UCLA will be ready. WIll Kentucky?