Jules Bernard will need to step up if Jaime Jaquez, Jr. is unable to play tonight. (Photo Credit: Jan Kim Lim/uclabruins.com)
The UCLA Bruins were supposed to play North Carolina back on December 18th, but the game was canceled due to the COVID outbreak the Bruins had back at the time. As a result, tonight’s Sweet 16 game will be the first meeting between these teams since 2019 when the teams met in Las Vegas.
The Tar Heels have won the last five games against the Bruins, and nine of the last ten meetings, and, because of that, they now have the highest winning percentage against UCLA of any team which has played the Bruins at least 10 times.
When the teams take the court tonight, the Bruins will be looking for their first win over the Tar Heels since 2000 when UCLA beat UNC in Chapel Hill.
For most of this season, it seems like the Bruins have played short-handed. Tonight’s game may not be an exception. That’s because the biggest question about tonight’s game is if Jaime Jaquez, Jr. will be able to play tonight. He’s toughed it out for most of the season while fighting off ankle injuries. Will he be able to do that tonight too? We won’t know the answer to that until game time.
But Jaquez’s toughness cannot be questioned. If he can play, you know he will.
Aside from whether Jaquez can go or not, the most important statistic seems to have to do with whether or not UNC is trailing at halftime. All nine of the Tar Heels’ losses have happened in games where North Carolina trails at the half. Now, that’s not definitive because they have won three of the 12 games they trailed at the half, but they have not lost a game all season where they led at the half or were tied at the half. Does it mean that that they can’t lose if they are winning at halftime? Of course, it doesn’t.
After all, UCLA has very much been a second half team. Just last week, they came back late against Akron to beat the Zips, 57-53.
Let’s look at the Tar Heels’ starting five.
Starting Five
Hubert Davis will likely start three guards and two forwards based on who started last week against Baylor. Four of those five starters are averaging in double figures.
The Tar Heels are led by junior Armando Bacot, who is averaging 16.4 points per game. He also leads the team with 12.5 rebounds per game to go along with 60 blocks. Basically, Bacot is their “do everything” guy. The upside to that is that he also leads the team in personal fouls. Look for the Bruins to go after him to try to get him in foul trouble early in order to shut down his production.
Sophomore guard Caleb Love is second on the team in scoring with an average of 15.3 ppg. Love can hurt you from three where he is third on the team, among shooters with at least 100 attempts, with a 37.3% three-point percentage. Defensively, Love leads the team in steals with 37.
Right behind Love with an average of 15.1 ppg is graduate transfer Brady Manek. Manek joined the Tar Heels this year from Oklahoma where he led the Sooners to an eight seed in the West last season. The forward from Harrah, Oklahoma has been the Tar Heels’ best three-point shooter with a 39.5% three-point percentage. He is also second on the team in rebounds, though his average of 5.8 boards per game is quite the falloff from Bacot’s 12.5 per game.
Sophomore guard RJ Davis is the final member of the team averaging in double figures. Davis averages 13.5 ppg. He falls in between Manek and Love in three-point percentage with 38.7%. He also leads the team in assists with 130 for the season and is right behind Love with 36 steals.
Carolina’s final starter is senior forward Leaky Black. While he only averages 5.0 ppg, when Black does shoot, he is pretty accurate with a 48.4% shooting percentage. Just don’t look for him to shoot much from the outside as he’s only made 15 of 43 from three for a 34.9% from three.
The first guy off the bench for the Tar Heels will likely be Dawson Garcia. The sophomore transfer from Marquette averages 9.0 ppg and 5.5 rebounds per game despite average a little over 20 minutes per game.
Outlook
In order for UCLA to win tonight, they are going to need to play that tenacious Bruin defense. If UCLA can hold UNC to less than 70 points, the Bruins will likely win the game. If the UCLA starts off cold shooting, it could be a long night for the Bruins.
North Carolina has not lost a game this season when they lead at the half. That means that another miraculous Bruin comeback likely won’t be in the cards against this Carolina team. If the Bruins have the lead at the half, I expect they will close this one out and advance to another Elite Eight.
This is your UCLA Bruins vs. North Carolina Tar Heels 2022 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 game thread.
Here’s how to watch tonight’s game:
2022 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Second Round
Teams: 8-seed North Carolina Tar Heels (26-9) vs. 4-seed UCLA Bruins (27-7)
Series Record: North Carolina leads, 10-3
When: 6:39 pm PT, Friday, March 25, 2022
Where: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA
TV: CBS with Ian Eagle, Jim Spanarkel, and Jamie Erdahl
Thanks again for supporting The Mighty Bruin. Your paid subscriptions make this site possible. Questions, comments, story ideas, angry missives and more can be sent to to @TheMightyBruin on Twitter.
Be interesting to see what happens with this roster. Some seniors with eligibility left who may or may not stick around. Juzang didn't exactly up his stock this year, IMO. Watson is probably still their best pro prospect. two five stars and a four star coming in along with McClendon. We'll see.
Yeah, but in heat of game, you don't really feel the hurt, but when you slow down at the line, the pain can become a little more apparent, prolly cuz no adrenaline there...
I think he should scour the various message boards. There seems to be a lot of people that know more than Mick with plenty of ideas.
Might replace Lewis with another assistant who's bald (a Cronin job requirement?) :-)
Yep time to root for the underdogs
I don't think Singleton played a minute.
Actually he is already a Senior, though I guess he technically has another year of COVID eligibility?
Be interesting to see what happens with this roster. Some seniors with eligibility left who may or may not stick around. Juzang didn't exactly up his stock this year, IMO. Watson is probably still their best pro prospect. two five stars and a four star coming in along with McClendon. We'll see.
With the transfer portal these days, I hesitate to say anyone will be back. But Mick has a good reputation, clearly.
Yeah that was a bit weird, but I wouldn't say the rotations lost us the game.
I don’t get it. Mick prepares them but I don’t get why he goes with the lineups that he uses.
Why was Jaquez playing (or at least shooting) so much? Couldn't like 3 of his 18 shots have gone to Singleton or Clark?
Singleton sure, but Clark has not shown that he can do much offensively other than hit an occasional open three or floater.
U
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A
clap clap, fight! fight! fight!
St. Peter's with the win! Wow what a run!
Looked like it was going in for a second. St Peter’s free throw shooting at the end was impressive.
Agreed. Very composed team throughout the entire game.
And Purdue wasted a lot of clock at the end
Even 2 sec more on the clock and they’re taking a regulation 3 instead of a long heave. May still have lost, but cost them the opportunity
St. Peter's took advantage of the turnovers as well
I hope we get the chance to end their run.
Let's go, Bruins!!
Surprised we're starting Cody
Johnny!
Juze!
Jules with the steal and score!
Need to be better on the boards
Julez, we'll need that!
Jaime has his move!
Tyger!
Grrr!
Jaquez at the shot clock expiry!
Like the way we're playing right now
Hm not sure who benefits more with the no fouls called so far
We all do!
It’s nice to watch without whistles but UNC definitely has a shorter bench…
Oh, Peyton...
That's on Jalen. Just get it to Tyger.
Myles with the denial!!
Julez again!
Need an A game from him!
Bruins by six, shooting 53% vs 37%
Bernard getting what he wants. So far a mismatch.
Jaime again!
Cody's shots are too strong. He is usually golden with those short ones.
That jumper for Riley should be an alternative, but he's fallen in love with it.
What a drive by Bernard!
Nice moves by Julez!
Oh, Jaime, hit your free throws...
A bit of shocker there
Wonder if his ankles are affecting his free throw shot
He looks fine otherwise though.
Yeah, but in heat of game, you don't really feel the hurt, but when you slow down at the line, the pain can become a little more apparent, prolly cuz no adrenaline there...
Good point
We will always wonder about those ankles.
I thought this was sarcasm because Jaime usually misses a couple of free throws in the first half.
Kind of actually. I figure based on his percentage he will make them from here on out!
Weird to see kyman that last minute. He's been stuck to the end of the bench most of the year
Yep. And did he miss that blockout?
He just allowed a put-back and made it worse with a foul. Time to sit him
Yep he's out
Bad time to expirement
Going to be a nerve wracking game.
When did we forget how to rebound?
Giving up too many offensive rebounds
Too many offensive rebounds for UNC
We can go for last shot
Jaime, Our main man is here!
Overall, I'm pleased with our defensive effort except for rebounding. We were in control of the first half.
Agree the only issue has been that they have 8 offensive boards. D has been great.
Didn't like that long 2 to end the half.
But overall we're playing well
Could have been better, but could have been worse. I'll take it.
Defense continues to be solid....Cronin trying to steal rest for starters knowing UNC has short bench.....need to continue making shots.
Would like to see us try the press. UNC looked terrible against the press vs Baylor.
Maybe we're saving it for the 2nd half!
Let’s do this….Go Bruins!!!!
Riley, let's not rely on that!
Jaime putting the team on his back
Fouls starting to take their toll on NC
Offensive rebound by Myles!
Myles' position leading to fouls on NC! Nice!!
3 on Bacot!!
Here we go, Bruins, here we go Bruins!
Juzang just can't get hot.
That's why we don't do that!