The next test for undefeated UCLA will be to avoid the classic trap game.
The men’s basketball team just played three games in four days to win the Wooden Legacy championship this past Sunday. Three days from now, No. 11 UCLA (7-0) will fly across the country to take on No. 1 Kentucky on Saturday for a game nationally broadcasted on CBS.
But the Bruins can’t overlook the game sandwiched in between, when they host UC Riverside (1-3) Wednesday night.
So far, the Bruins have been saying all the right things.
“Our attention and focus is that we got to make sure these guys are totally focused in the next 48 hours on Riverside,” said coach Steve Alford. “If not, we can have a tough night on Wednesday.”
And so far, it seems that the message has at least reached the players.
“Obviously we have a game tomorrow, so we have to focus on that,” said senior guard Isaac Hamilton. “So we’re just trying to take it day by day. I’m excited for both games.”
However, it’s one thing to say you’re paying attention to UC Riverside, it’s a whole other thing to actually come out of the gates sharp and focused. No one ever has trouble identifying the trap game – all the problems come once the game actually starts.
UC Riverside has only won one game to begin a season that includes a 71-55 loss to Portland, who UCLA beat 99-77 last Thursday. What Alford is worried about is that the Highlanders are at least road-tested after starting their season with three road games.
Maybe even more worrying is that Riverside is mostly composed of players who played high school ball in California and probably had UCLA high on top of their list of schools they wanted to play for.
“This is a dangerous game, a lot of California kids on the roster that now gets a chance to play in Pauley Pavilion,” Alford said. “We know what that’s like. We play enough teams who come in here with homegrown guys that want to have a good game in Pauley and have the opportunity to play in Pauley.”
All the ingredients for a trap game are there. A short turnaround after a successful yet tiring weekend. A marquee matchup with the No. 1 team in the nation just around the horizon. And a rested, motivated team coming to town.
The challenge will be to board the flight to Kentucky with the pristine, perfect record still intact.
Ike’s back
There were three highly touted freshmen coming to Westwood this year. So far guard Lonzo Ball and forward TJ Leaf have garnered all the attention, but forward/center Ike Anigbogu finally made his debut this past weekend after recovering from a knee surgery.
In the two games, he averaged two points, two rebounds and two blocks in just nine minutes of play – a small, but important first step for the big man who could be the anchor of UCLA’s defense.
“I don’t know if we could have asked any more,” Alford said. “I thought he gave us everything he had with really no practices.”
All Anigbogu had was one contact and one non-contact practice before playing two games in three days. He has since been cleared by doctors and is no longer on any minute restrictions, so the key question will be how fast he can return to game shape.
“It’s unfortunate that I couldn’t start off the way every freshman wants to but I feel fine,” Anigbogu said. “I just want to make a difference in what I can, whether that’s blocking shots, rebounding or finishing in the paint.”