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UCLA Basketball: Injuries Are Hitting the Bruins at The Wrong Time

By Mike Regalado

Mar 17, 2017; Sacramento, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Lonzo Ball (2) falls as Kent State Golden Flashes guard Kevin Zabo (55) defends in the first round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 17, 2017; Sacramento, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Lonzo Ball (2) falls as Kent State Golden Flashes guard Kevin Zabo (55) defends in the first round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
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After a relatively healthy regular season, post-season play has banged up the Bruins, especially their three stellar freshmen.

Injuries are a part of the game, but they are quickly becoming part of the post-season for the UCLA Basketball team.

The Bruins had injuries to Alex Olesinki and Prince Ali to start the season, though they have recovered and opted to take a redshirt to save a season. That did not adversely affect the Bruins who were still pretty deep.

The Bruins did well with the players they had as they finished the regular season 29-3, but heading into the post-season, the Bruins are getting banged up.

Related Story: How UCLA Can Make a Run in the NCAA Tournament

TJ Leaf had sprained his ankle five minutes into the second to last game of the conference schedule. He sat out the final game but came back in the Bruins’ two Pac-12 Tournament games against USC and Arizona, scoring 14 and 15 points, respectively.

Though Leaf was active, he was not 100%. The good news, Leaf seems to be alright as of now, slam dunks and all.

In that Arizona semifinal game, Lonzo Ball had also suffered an injury as a rebound off a short shot was mistimed and smashed Ball’s thumb. He was in discomfort and did not play to his potential in that loss.

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After a week, both Leaf and Ball appear to be in better shape as the Bruins start NCAA Tournament play. But then more injury news came out of UCLA’s camp.

Freshman center Ike Anigbogu had sprained his left foot before the Bruins’ Round of 64 game and was out against Kent St.

Though the Bruins could do without him in that first game, he might be a necessity to play against the tough, defensive-minded Cincinnati Bearcats, UCLA’s next opponent. So it is unknown if Anigbogu will be ready to go.

And then on top of that, Ball had a hard fall at the end of the first half against Kent State as he was undercut grabbing a rebound and landed hard on his hip. He was visibly in pain, but worked through it as he scored 15 points on 6/7 shooting.

Next: UCLA Basketball Pulls Away Late, Advance in Big Dance

Though nothing is serious, even the little setbacks could hamper the Bruins NCAA run. The Big Dance is brutal, but if the Bruins can stay healthy, they have a chance to go far.