UCLA Basketball: Both Bruin teams get wins in their season openers
The UCLA Basketball teams got wins to open the season as the Women blew out San Jose State and the Men went down to the wire against Georgia Tech in Shanghai.
Win and win BIG! That is what UCLA Basketball brought their fans as the Men’s and Women’s teams opened the 2017-18 season. The Women set records. The Men have records, at least three of them do in China, which led to issues with depth.
Still, both Bruin teams are 1-0, but we also learned a lot about these wins. So how did both teams do?
Next: UCLA Basketball: The women’s team 2017-18 season preview
UCLA Women’s Basketball 129 – San Jose State 69
The Women’s team absolutely destroyed San Jose State as they shot 56.6% from the field. That is right, the Bruins’ 60-point victory was a school record for most points in a game as the Bruins had three starters and three players off the bench score in double digits.
Jordin Canada led all with 26 points. She also logged the program’s seventh triple-double in school history with 10 assists and 11 steals. She also had six rebounds.
No. 8/7 UCLA opens 2017-18 with a 129-69 win over visiting San Jose State. The 129 points were a UCLA record. @jaeecee3 had the Bruins' 7th triple-double in school history (26 points, 11 steals, 10 assists). #GoBruins #GoBeyondGreat pic.twitter.com/IYbNSiUbwZ
— UCLA W. Basketball (@UCLAWBB) November 11, 2017
Three other players had double-doubles: Monique Billings (19 pts, 11 rebs), Kennedy Burke (13 pts, 13 rebs) and freshman Michaela Onyenwere (19 pts, 10 rebs -7 offensive-).
The Bruins also won the battle of the boards with 65 rebounds to the Spartan’s 37. UCLA also limited San Jose State to 30.3% shooting. Needless to say, it was a beatdown. Now will you follow the Women’s team?
The women next play Sunday, November 12 against Presbyterian College.
Next: UCLA Basketball: The men’s team 2017-18 season preview
UCLA Men’s Basketball 63 – Georgia Tech 60
Though it was a win, it was a different story with the men. The Bruins had to adjust to playing with three less players, two of which will negatively affect UCLA’s front court depth.
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From the start, the Bruins had trouble keeping the flow going. They played considerably slower (but not at a snail’s pace) than they did in the exhibition and they definitely did not push the tempo like last season’s team.
The biggest thing that stood were the lack of veteran presence, Aaron Holiday and Thomas Welsh were not as imposing as they could have been. Holiday came on late and put up 11 points. Welsh had 10. Good, but both needed to be more aggressive with the ball.
One player that did impress was freshmen Kris Wilkes who had 18 points and made 4 out of 6 3-pointers. The other 5-star freshman, Jaylen Hands added 14 points.
One concern was the defense, or lack thereof. Though it showed up at times, it was inconsistent and spotty as they could not slow down Yellow Jacket forward Ben Lammers who easily put up 24 points on 11 of 18 shooting.
FINAL: UCLA 63, Georgia Tech 60#GoBruins #Pac12ChinaGame pic.twitter.com/4n4RphSixP
— UCLA Men’s Basketball (@UCLAMBB) November 11, 2017
There will be growing pains with the Men’s team, but hopefully they can mesh sooner than later. It is unknown what will happen with the three players being detained for allegedly shoplifting, so this is what these Bruins have to deal with for the foreseeable future. The Men next play Wednesday, November 15 against Central Arkansas.