UCLA’s first loss of the season hurt, but it was far from embarrassing. It was a two-point defeat on the road at now-No. 10 Oregon that came as the result of a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by the Ducks’ Dillon Brooks. The No. 8 Bruins’ (19-2, 6-2 Pac-12) second loss was different – a putrid defensive effort […]
Author Archives: Matt Cummings
UCLA’s lackluster defense against Arizona overrides offensive efforts
Arizona’s Kadeem Allen held the ball near the half court logo as the shot clock ticked down to just six seconds, with UCLA senior guard Bryce Alford standing in front of him. Down six with just over two minutes left in Saturday’s matchup with the Wildcats, the Bruins were in desperate need of a stop. […]
Humor, work ethic boost TJ Leaf to unexpected prominence
For two weeks, T.J. Leaf was the best-kept secret in college basketball, the forward’s dazzling play overshadowed by the wizardry of fellow freshman Lonzo Ball. Then UCLA played Kentucky, and Leaf exploded onto the national stage with 17 points and 13 rebounds in the Bruins’ victory. As Wildcat coach John Calipari put it afterward, Leaf […]
Thomas Welsh’s mid-range mastery key in UCLA’s offensive success
With its army of dangerous 3-point shooting and devastating commitment to ball movement, UCLA men’s basketball boasts the nation’s top offensive rating – and, by most accounts, its most entertaining offense. Junior center Thomas Welsh is likely the least exciting of the Bruins’ top scorers, the seven-footer’s mid-range jumpers representing a relic of an older […]
Men’s basketball escapes with one-point win over Utah
Freshman point guard Lonzo Ball led No. 4 UCLA men’s basketball to an 83-82 win over Utah on Saturday to complete the Bruins’ first sweep of a road trip during coach Steve Alford’s tenure. Ball played all 40 minutes, producing 17 points, eight assists, six rebounds and five steals to carry UCLA to victory in […]
Men’s basketball aims to improve rebounding, transition game
After a quick scrimmage period early in Tuesday’s practice, UCLA men’s basketball moved into an intense rebounding drill, with assistant coach Duane Broussard firing up shot after shot as groups of Bruins jostled underneath the glass. The drill, which featured two squads competing in a series of two-on-two board battles, was aimed at helping shore […]
Men’s basketball defeats Western Michigan 82-68 despite slow offense
Western Michigan hung around for most of the night, but No. 2 UCLA men’s basketball stayed undefeated Wednesday night by pulling away late in the second half. With a crowd of 10,695 on hand at Pauley Pavilion, the Bruins (13-0) topped the Broncos (3-8) 82-68 to finish up their nonconference slate. The UCLA offense, ranked […]