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UCLA Basketball Is Rolling Again, Still Need to Beat Pac-12 Elite

By Mike Regalado

Feb 4, 2017; Seattle, WA, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Steve Alford talks to his team during a timeout in the second half at Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion. UCLA won 107-66. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 4, 2017; Seattle, WA, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Steve Alford talks to his team during a timeout in the second half at Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion. UCLA won 107-66. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports /
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The UCLA Basketball seems to have gotten back on track with their second road sweep, but they still need to beat Arizona and Oregon for a chance at a Pac-12 title.

The UCLA Basketball team was merciless in their 107-66 win last night over lowly Washington. Not only did the Bruins prove they have the better freshman in Lonzo Ball, but they also proved that they are back to there uptempo ways… for now.

The Bruins hit a bump in the road last week with a second straight embarrassing conference loss as they were exposed as a team that has no backup plan when their shots are not falling and have no defensive presence. UCLA lost to USC 76-84 just four days after an 85-96 loss to Arizona at Pauley Pavilion.

Well the Bruins got back to fine tuning their game plan as they were able to get wins over Washington State and Washington over the last few days.

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Though these wins were against an average and a bad Pac-12 team, the Bruins were able to travel into unfriendly confines and get their second conference road sweep of the season — which also happened to be the second in Head Coach Steve Alford’s tenure — and pull to with two games of Pac-12 leading Oregon and Arizona.

Even though the quality of teams they have beaten are below UCLA, it was important to get back on track and get used to winning again. Now the Bruins have to step it up, especially on defense, and take down the conference’s elite teams.

That starts Thursday as Oregon comes to Pauley Pavilion for another big Pac-12 showdown. The last time they played (in the first game of the conference schedule), Oregon needed a last second shot to beat UCLA. It was close, but now the Bruins know they need a little bit more to take down the reigning Pac-12 champs.

f UCLA can beat the Ducks, that will put them in a position to fight for a Pac-12 title. Though that would be hard, seeing as they still have to beat Arizona in Tucson, it is not out of reach.

Next: UCLA Basketball Annihilates Washington

Oregon showed they that can blow the Wildcats out of the water with hot shooting. If UCLA can do the same, the this will make for one exciting finish to the Pac-12 Conference. Go Bruins!