Let’s Dance! #11 UCLA Vs #6 SMU NCAA Tournament Preview and Information
Let’s Dance. Put on your red shoes and dance the blues. Those, my friends, are some inspiring words from the great David Bowie. That bloke knew what he was talking about… dancing! It is all about getting down now because this is the Big Dance! Once again UCLA, the most decorated program in college basketball, has made it to the NCAA Tournament and a lot of people do not like that. Many say the Bruins do not belong, well the fact is they are in this thing and they are here to party.
UCLA Bruins
Records:
SMU Mustangs (27-6)
UCLA Bruins 20-13
Tip-Off: 12:10 p.m. PT
Location: KFC Yum! Center, Louisville, KY
Capacity – 22,000
Tickets: www.uclabruins.com
TV: TruTV
Radio: AM 1150 (Los Angeles)
On-line: TuneIn
Betting Line: SMU: -3.5, O/U: 133.0
Projected Starting Line-ups:
SMU – Nic Moore, Sterling Brown, Ryan Manuel, Cannen Cunningham, Yanick Moriera
UCLA – Bryce Alford, Norman Powell, Isaac Hamilton, Kevon Looney, Tony Parker
March 13, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Arizona Wildcats forward Stanley Johnson (5, right) drives to the basket against UCLA Bruins forward Kevon Looney (5) during the first half in the semifinal round of the Pac-12 Conference tournament at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Preview: It is one thing to hang on to the last shred of hope in making it to the NCAA Tournament, it is another to have the entire college basketball world scathing at you for actually doing so. I admit, just like many Bruin fans, I was on the fence about whether this team deserved to big in the tourney. Truth be told, they have been inconsistent and have had some very bad games.
But what the (as the kids say) haters do not recognize is the good games UCLA has had. The Bruins did not get to 20 wins by just standing around on defense… well, not all the Bruins. When they are on, UCLA has been able to match-up and scheme against some of the best teams in the Pac-12. Unlike what “hater” Doug Gottlieb said, UCLA did not get destroyed by Arizona twice. In both games, UCLA not only fought back, but had sizable leads late into the game. Sure, they could not finish those games, but they sure as hell landed a few punches in the process.
The thing about UCLA is that they are not consistent and have been relatively harmless against the Top 25. But now that America spoke out against them, UCLA had bulletin board material in their corner. They are not just going to come out to prove they can win, they are going to come out and prove they are more than worthy of being one of the 68 best teams in the nation.
Mar 14, 2015; Hartford, CT, USA; Southern Methodist Mustangs head coach Larry Brown watches from the sideline as they take on the Temple Owls in the second half during the semifinal round of the American Conference Tournament at XL Center. SMU defeated Temple 69-56. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
The Bruins are playing the SMU Mustangs coached by former UCLA coach Larry Brown, the only coach to win a championship in college and the pros. This legendary coach once again has his team set and ready to do battle in the NCAA Tournament.
SMU has an assortment of big me that can give the Bruins fit, especially in the forntcourt,but the main guy they have to worry about is their point guard Nic Moore who leads the team in points, assists and steals. If the Bruins can shut him down, then they will slow the Mustangs down considerably.
But just as well, the Bruins have to play the game that works best for them. Get the ball down low, limit contested shots and switch up the defense to confuse SMU. Oh yeah… and get it to Norman Powell. The Bruin senior seems to thrive when he has all eyes on him, so if he gets red hot, just give the ball to Powell.
Simple.
Feb 21, 2015; Tucson, AZ, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Norman Powell (4) celebrates after dunking against the Arizona Wildcats during the first half at McKale Center. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports