The #3 UCLA Basketball team gets their NCAA Tournament South Region experience going against #14 Kent State. Here is how to watch…
The UCLA Basketball team is ready to dance.
The Bruins begin their expedition into the Big Dance Friday night as they take on Kent State up in Sacramento.
Here is how to watch and listen to the UCLA Basketball team as they take on the Golden Flashes in the Round of 64 game.
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#3 UCLA Bruins vs. #14 Kent State Golden Flashes
Records: UCLA (29-4, 15-3, 3rd Pac-12) | Kent State (22-13, 10-8, 4th MAC-East)
Location: Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA (Cap.: 15,745)
Tipoff: Approx. 6:57 p.m. PT
TV: TruTV
Live Stream: March Madness Live
Radio: AM 1150 Los Angeles
On-line Radio: Tune-In
Satellite: Sirius 145/XM 206
Odds: UCLA -18.5, O/U 161.5
Projected Starters:
UCLA – Lonzo Ball (14.6 ppg), Bryce Alford (15.8), Isaac Hamilton (14.1), TJ Leaf (16.2), Thomas Welsh (10.7)
Kent State – Mitch Peterson (5.3 ppg), Jaylin Walker (15.6), Jalen Avery (5.1), Deon Edwin (13.0), Jimmy Hall (18.9)
Key Stats:
Lonzo Ball – 7.7 asts, 6.1 rebs, 1.9 steals
Bryce Alford – 2.7 apg, .817 FT%, .435 3FG%
TJ Leaf – 8.3 rebs, 2.6 asts, .618 FG%, .453 3FG%
Thomas Welsh – 8.8 Rebs, 1.4 blocks, .581 FG%
Player to Watch:
Lonzo Ball – After an injury hampered Ball’s performance in the Pac-12 semifinal against Arizona, the Freshman of the Year should have some redemption in the NCAA Tournament.
Next: How Does UCLA Make an NCAA Tournament Run
UCLA Basketball vs. Kent State Preview
There are a few things you should know about Kent State. First off, they are hot right now. Nine wins in the last 10 games, wins against the #3, #2 and #1 teams in the MAC Tournament which was good enough for a championship.
And now they battle with the UCLA Basketball team.
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The Golden Flashes are very good on the offensive side. Big men Jimmy Hall and Deon Edwin are very active around the rim. They can muscle themselves in down low or take deadly mid-range shots. Along with the feisty Jaylin Walker, all three are scoring over 13 points per game.
Unfortunately, they are the only players that really score for the Golden Flashes. Fourth on the list of their top scores is Kevin Zabo with 5.4 ppg.
They are going to have to match the six players that score in double-digits for the Bruins. All of UCLA’s starters and Aaron Holiday are scoring more than 10.7 ppg. In all, UCLA is scoring a nation-high 90.4 ppg. That is the number Kent State should be concerned about because they are somehow going to need to match that.
But that is if the Bruins can score. They stalled a bit in their last game against Arizona as they shot 40.7%. The Bruins have proven that if their outside game is off, they are beatable. Though they implemented tougher defense during mid-conference season, it is not entirely full-proof.
UCLA might come out of the gates slow, but there is a good chance that they blow things open in the second half. It is rare for the Bruins to have consecutive bad shooting games, so look for an array of shots from the outside that continually push the Bruins’ lead all game long.
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Prediction: UCLA 96 – Kent State 71