Does men’s basketball’s close loss to No. 1 Arizona show that the Bruins are turning a corner?
Kevin: UCLA fell into a 13-point hole after halftime,but battled back to nearly send the game to overtime. But the close loss is more indicative of UCLA’s problems than them being close to the level of competition Arizona plays at. As they have in all their games against top opponents this year, the Bruins came out of halftime looking flat. The same thing happened in UCLA’s matchups against Missouri and Duke, and the fact the Bruins couldn’t maintain consistent energy at home shows they still aren’t near the level of the nation’s best teams.
Chris: Despite their double-digit second-half deficit to the Arizona Wildcats, the Bruins fought back and nearly stole the game in the waning minutes. But scores aside, the Bruins’ efficient ball movement and improved rebounding in the second half against one of the best teams in the country is a promising sign. It should also be a confidence booster. Don’t be surprised if the Bruins break into the upper echelon of the Pac-12 conference going forward.
Jordan: Following their loss to the No. 1 team in the nation the Bruins now stand at 13-3 on the year and boast a top-25 ranking. The team lacks a signature win, as their three losses have come against the only teams on their schedule that figure to be playing significant basketball in March. However after struggling on the road in the second half against Missouri and Duke, UCLA’s late rally against Arizona – though it ultimately fell short-shows the team can at least compete against college basketball’s top echelon for a full 40 minutes.
Who is UCLA men’s basketball’s best player?
Kevin: This is a tougher question to answer than it seems. Sophomore guard/forward Kyle Anderson would seem to be the obvious choice with his near triple-doubles every night, but sophomore guard Jordan Adams has been the Bruins’ best scorer. A dark horse candidate is freshman guard Zach LaVine,who makes everything he does look too easy. Anderson has made the biggest impact, but based purely on talent, LaVine gets the nod. He has crazy hops, the smoothest jumper and just makes everything he does look like the easiest thing in the world.
Chris: It’s got to be Kyle Anderson. Jordan Adams is a pure scorer, Zach LaVine is too inconsistent and Travis Wear looks to have taken a step back this season. Anderson, though, seems to be having an impact all over the court for the Bruins. He’s a walking triple-double almost every night using his lanky 6-foot-9 frame to dish out dimes, snatch rebounds and score a few points here and there.
Jordan: If we’re talking potential it’s LaVine. He’s an elite level athlete and his shooting has been much better than expected. If we’re talking about production it’s Anderson, who is second on the team in points per game and leads the team in rebounds, assists and minutes played per game. However Jordan Adams also deserves a nod. It’s odd to think that a player could lead a team in scoring and still be considered underrated but Adams is. The sophomore guard averages 18.1 points per game,and his quick hands has allowed him to account for nearly a third of UCLA’s steals.
What will the Super Bowl matchup be?
Kevin: 49ers v. Broncos. Both conference championship games feature great matchups, and honestly, all four of the teams are good enough to win a Super Bowl. In the NFC, the 49ers and Seahawks are division rivals with young quarterbacks, power running backs and tough defenses. San Francisco lost to Seattle 29-3 in Week Two, but has won eight straight gamesand has the momentum and playoff experience to win. Denver v. New England features two of the best quarterbacks of their generation. It’s a toss up, but I’ll pick Peyton Manning and the Broncos to win.
Chris: Seahawks v. Broncos. These two teams have been the two best teams in the NFL all year long, and have seemed to be on collision course from the start: so why should things change now? The Broncos have Peyton Manning. ‘Nuff said. And the Seahawks have Russell Wilson and a hard-nosed defense. Book this matchup for Feb. 2 in East Rutherfords, New Jersey.
Jordan: Seahawks v. Patriots. I hate to disappoint UCLA’s vocal Bay Area contingent but I have a hard time seeing anybody going into CenturyLink Field and coming away with a victory. I’ve had the Seahawks in the Super Bowl since August and that defense has given me no reason to change that pick. The Patriots just ran for 234 yards and six touchdowns. The Broncos defense is missing a number of key starters. Peyton Manning and that offense can’t break any records stuck on the sideline and expect Tom Brady and Bill Belichick to devise a ball-control attack that keeps No. 18 off the field.