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UCLA Basketball: How The Bruins Can Improve in 2016-17

By Mike Regalado

Jan 30, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins center Thomas Welsh (40) gets a high five from head coach Steve Alford as he leaves the game in the second half against the Washington State Cougars Pauley Pavilion. UCLA won 83-50. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 30, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins center Thomas Welsh (40) gets a high five from head coach Steve Alford as he leaves the game in the second half against the Washington State Cougars Pauley Pavilion. UCLA won 83-50. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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Rebounding

Rebounding needs to improve. That is all there is to it. UCLA had a +2.5 rebounding margin, which is not bad, but it is not great, especially when you consider the experience and depth the Bruins had.

Senior Tony Parker never turned into the dominating force he was projected to be and 7-foot center Thomas Welsh, though improved, has a few parts of his game he needs to strengthen, primarily his strength.

UCLA Bruins
UCLA Bruins /

UCLA Bruins

Welsh could make that jump to a dominating rebounder, but the Bruins still need at least one or two other players to help make an impact with the team.

Alford is also going to have to hyper-advance the development of Gyorgy Goloman, Jonah Bolden, Ikenna Okwarabizie and Alex Olesinski, if the maturity of the in-coming freshmen T.J. Leaf and Ike Anigbogu, is not where it should be. At that point, it becomes a depth issue.

But getting back to basics, the Bruins have to focus on this part of the game. Foot work and positioning need to be harped. Hands up and in position needs to be engrained into their brains. Overall, UCLA needs to do is improve on 39.6 rebounds per game. Not bad, but it could be better.

UCLA will also need to improve on preventing the opposition for cleaning the glass and taking away some of the 37.1 rebounds the Bruins gave up in 2015-16.

Next: Effort, Aggressiveness and Leadership