With the post-season fast approaching, the UCLA Basketball needs some wins and look to get one against the Colorado Buffaloes. Here is how to watch and what to know…
The UCLA Basketball team could technically still win the Pac-12, but that is only if they win their last two against Colorado and USC (giving the Bruins two wins over the Trojans), Arizona loses their last two, and Stanford gets an “L”.
RELATED: Chances the Bruins make the NCAA Tournament
But in reality, UCLA might win one of their last two games or worse, lose both and get knocked out of the top 4 spots in the Pac-12, missing out on the first round Pac-12 Tournament bye. That is where we are at right now and it is consistent with the inconsistency UCLA has displayed this season. But one game at a time…
Here is everything you need to know about UCLA vs. Colorado…
Related Story: Road sweep vs. road swept – Alford’s Pac-12 road losses
UCLA Basketball vs. Colorado Game Day Info
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Records:
UCLA Bruins 19-9, 10-6 (3rd Pac-12)
Colorado Buffaloes 15-13, 7-9 (9th Pac-12)
Location: Coors Event Center, Boulder, CO
Tipoff: 1:00 p.m. PT
TV: ESPNU
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Radio: AM 570 or 1150 Los Angeles
On-line Radio: Tune-In
Odds: UCLA -3.5, O/U: 148
Last Game:u
Utah d. UCLA, 84-78
USC d. Colorado, 75-64
ESPN Win Predictor: UCLA 63.5% – Colorado 36.5%
Projected Starters:
UCLA – G Aaron Holiday, G Jaylen Hands, F Kris Wilkes, F Gyorgy Goloman, C Thomas Welsh
Colorado – G George King, G McKinley Wright IV, G Tyler Bey, G D’Shawn Schwartz, F Dallas Walton
Head Coaches:
UCLA – Steve Alford | Colorado – Tad Boyle
Rosters:
It's GAMEDAY!
— UCLA Men’s Basketball (@UCLAMBB) February 25, 2018
UCLA takes on Colorado this afternoon at the Coors Events Center. Game time is 1 pm PT (2 pm MT), televised on @ESPNU.#GoBruins pic.twitter.com/slLiCth0uj
UCLA Basketball vs. Colorado: Stats, Final Word and Prediction
Key Individual Stats – UCLA:
Aaron Holiday – 19.5 ppg, 5.8 apg, 3.5 rpg
Thomas Welsh – 13.1 ppg,10.6 rpg, .491 FG%
Kris Wilkes – 13.5 ppg, 5.1 rpg, .434 FG%
Key Individual Stats – Colorado:
McKinley Wright IV – 14.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 5.3 apg
George King – 12.9 ppg, 48.1 rpg, .450 FG%
Team Stats:
| Team | Avg Pts | Opp. Pts | FG% | Rebs | Asts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UCLA | 82.4 (2) | 76.3 (10) | .464 (4) | 39.0 (1) | 15.3 (5) |
| Colorado | 71.8 (11) | 72.5 (6) | .441 (10) | 37.7 (3) | 12.8 (10) |
Stats in ( ) indicate Pac-12 ranking
Related Story: Potential 2018-19 depth chart
Players to Watch:
Aaron Holiday and Thomas Welsh – The vets have been able to carry the weight of this team all season long, especially at the end of games, but how will they react at the end of the season with so much on the line?
Last Word:
All UCLA had to do was win. Instead, they lost on Thursday to Utah, who just lost to USC on Saturday. To make matters worse, Arizona (who is going through a lot right now), lost in overtime to Oregon. If UCLA would have won, they would potentially be tied for second place in the Pac-12 with USC.
More from Go Joe Bruin
- UCLA Football: It’s time for the nation to meet Dante Moore
- UCLA Football: Where are they ranked heading into week 4
- UCLA Football: Position battle breakdown for Utah showdown
- UCLA vs. Utah: Location, time, prediction, and more
- UCLA Football: Highlights from Chip Kelly’s appearance on the Jim Rome Show
Instead, as stated above, they are fighting to stay in the top four spots for the conference tourney first round bye. UCLA is also fighting to stay relevant in the eyes of the NCAA Tournament committee. Obviously, if they win, they should have no problem getting an invite to the Big Dance, albeit a low seeding.
The thing is, UCLA has not been good on the road in the Alford era, winning only 41.9% of their games away from home. That does not bode well for the Bruins who are on game 2 of 3 on the road to end the season.
As far as Colorado, UCLA should beat them, if only because of the disparity in talent, but things don’t always go that way for the Bruins, especially since the Buffaloes have already beaten them at Pauley. Trying to get the win in Boulder will be slightly tougher. Though Colorado is on a three-game losing streak, don’t expect the, to sit back and let UCLA push them around.
Will the Bruins respond by beating them the way they should, or will there be lapses on this team that head coach Steve Alford will continue to make excuses for?
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Prediction: Colorado 75 – UCLA 73