Look ahead to Washington vs UCLA in game 24

UCLA will play their 24th game of the season when they host Washington at Pauley Pavilion on Saturday, February 7th. This will follow up their home matchup with Rutgers on February 3rd. These are two games that UCLA is now in must win mode. As they dropped a tough 98-97 contest to Indiana to move to 15-7 on their season. This match up with Washington will be the last that they have before the biggest part of their schedule. They will get Michigan, Michigan State, and Illinois in a seven day span. All three opponents are currently in the top 10 of the rankings.

Washington has struggled this season, but they are not as bad as Rutgers is. It still should be a game where UCLA is heavily favored and should come out with a win. The Huskies are currently 12-10 on the season with their best win coming against then No. 24 USC earlier in the season. They are currently 3-6 in their last nine games as they’re trying to figure out their identity as a team. Similar to what UCLA has been trying to do.

The Bruins will need to do their best to shut down star freshman Hannes Steinbach. He is currently averaging a double double on the season with 17.4 points and 11.3 rebounds. UCLA beat Washington earlier in the season in a really good game 82-80. A game in which Steinbach was unstoppable shooting 11-12 on the floor for 29 points and 10 rebounds. Only to be out done by Skyy Clark who shot 6-7 from 3-point range and had 25 points. The Bruins hope to have Clark back from injury by this matchup.

The Bruins will be favored in this game just like they will be against Rutgers. It won’t be by as many points, but it is a game that UCLA is expected to win. The last game was on the road and now this one is at home. This team has nine games left this season to make a statement. They will need to clean up every mess they have before Michigan. Because that game is approaching fast and is very important.