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UCLA Basketball: Lack of Defense Buries Bruins in Loss to Arizona

By Mike Regalado

January 21, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins forward TJ Leaf (22) moves the ball against Arizona Wildcats forward Lauri Markkanen (10)during the first half at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
January 21, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins forward TJ Leaf (22) moves the ball against Arizona Wildcats forward Lauri Markkanen (10)during the first half at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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The UCLA Basketball team loses their second game of the season as they got out-hustled, out-coached and out-played by a very determined Arizona team.

It was a back and forth between the fiercest rivals in the Pac-12 as the Arizona and UCLA Basketball teams traded blows for about 16 minutes. Then the Wildcats took over and never looked back.

The Bruins had several things go against them. Defense was the biggest issue. In the beginning, the offensive assault by Arizona was quelled by the fact that the Bruins were answering every basket they made with one of their own.

But as we have analyzed time and time again at Go Joe Bruin, when UCLA’s shooting disappears, so does any chance of winning. That is exactly what happened here.

The Bruins shot 45.1% from the floor in this game (AZ shot 50.0%). From behind the arc the Bruins were an abysmal 32.3%. At times, UCLA rushed the ball down court and threw up whatever shot they could find.

It is something of a theme we have noticed here at GJB and Arizona proved us right.

Credit to Arizona for doing their homework. They were able to able to use their solid defensive efforts to limit the Bruins. On the other end, because they (and everyone on creation) knew UCLA does not have consistent defense, the Wildcats kept running at the Bruins.

Arizona put Bryce Alford out on an island and exposed his lack of defense. They kept driving into the lane untouched for easy layups against Thomas Welsh and TJ Leaf. They also seemed to take any shot they wanted as the Bruins continued to not put pressure on outside shots.

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Either way, the result was UCLA’s second loss of the season and their first at home. After losing by 11 on Nell and John Wooden Court, these Bruins have a lot of soul searching to do if they want to compete for a Pac-12 title, which just became more out of reach with this loss.