UCLA Basketball: 3 Things We Learned From the Maui Invitational

Nov 23, 2015; Lahaina, HI, USA; UNLV Runnin Rebels forward

(2) takes a shot against UCLA Bruins center

Thomas Welsh

(40) at the Lahaina Civic Center during the Maui Jim Maui Invitational at the Lahaina Civic Center. UCLA defeats UNLV 77-75. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Good Individually, Better As A Unit

This team has a lot of talent. In each of the three games several players stepped up and had fantastic individual performances. Thomas Welsh scored 20 points in the game against UNLV and proved that he can be unstoppable with his baseline jumpers. Bryce Alford can be very effective from the outside when a shot is created for him, plus his free throw shooting is fantastic as he went 15-for-17 during the invitational.

Nov 24, 2015; Lahaina, HI, USA; UCLA Bruins center Tony Parker (23) dunks against Kansas Jayhawks forward Jamari Traylor (31) during the Maui Jim Maui Invitational at the Lahaina Civic Center. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Tony Parker, when not in foul trouble, is pretty strong underneath the basket. Against Wake Forest he had 15 rebounds and even added 18 points, giving him his fourth double-double of the season. Isaac Hamilton has showed that he can take over games and become a dangerous scoring threat. There is talent all over this team, now they need to make it work as a single unit, which is possible.

The Wake Forest game was evidence of this. The ball was distributed around more which helped spread the wealth as four out of five starters scored in double digits. The one player that did not score in double digits, Aaron Holiday, had nine points.

Collectively, the Bruins looked like they were finally meshing. UCLA had brought the game to within 2 points in the final five minutes, but unfortunately Wake Forest outlasted UCLA on fouls and free throws. Still, it was good to see that cohesion which helped them play as a unit. There was also a little fire there.

Next: A Fire Inside?