Tyger Campbell led the Bruins with 22 points when UCLA faced Arizona in Tucson last month. (Photo Credit: Greg Turk/uclabruins.com)
What a difference a month makes.
When the Bruins visited Arizona last month, they were in the middle of an eight-game conference winning streak and they controlled their destiny when it came to conference tournament seeding. Now, as the Wildcats visit Pauley tonight, UCLA has lost three of their last five games and fallen out of first place and will need some help in order to get back to a first place tie before they face the Trojans at home to end the regular season.
UCLA has not looked very good, but there is some hope that UCLA can build on last Saturday’s win over Washington. That hope exists because Arizona comes into Pauley Pavilion having lost three of their last four games and four of their last six.
Coach Mick Cronin needs to find a way to beat Sean Miller. That may not be hard because Cronin has won every meeting against Miller since he arrived in Westwood. That may be the basketball equivalent of beating Southern Cal in football.
In some respects, it seems like the players have been pressing a bit too hard on offense. Sure, Johnny Juzang has been putting up a ton of points, but the Bruins need Jaime Jaquez to relax and start scoring again. On Saturday against Washington, Jaquez only shot the ball once, a three-pointer which he made. They need to get him the ball and let him do his thing.
When UCLA beat Arizona in Tucson, three Bruins scored in double digits and two more were just a bucket away. Against Washington on Saturday, Juzang and Jules Bernard were the only two players to score more than six points.
That won’t work tonight. UCLA needs to spread the offense around and play tough defense — in other words, Mick Cronin basketball. That’s how they will win tonight. If they don’t, it could be another long night for Bruin fans.
Listen to the Game Here on TMB!
The TuneIn player won’t embed here on Substack, but you can open another tab to listen. Today’s game is on ESPN2 with Dave Pasch and national treasure Bill Walton calling the game. If you would prefer to listen to Josh Lewin and Tracy Murray call today’s game instead you can listen to today’s game online.
Join your fellow Bruin fans discussing today’s game below.
This is your Arizona Wildcats at UCLA Bruins game thread.
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U!
L! clap! clap!
A!
UCLA Fight! Fight! Fight!
Game on ESPNNews right now
Now back on ESPN2
Feed the beast! Go, Riley!
Sadly, he's only 2/8... he's been off since he came back from his ankle injury
Both teams scoring in the paint beginning of game
First Bruin time out at the 16:45 mark, down 10-2
JJJ more active offensively which is good.
Bruins shooting a cold 35% from the field
Seven minutes left in first half, and we're 0 for 6 from the 3 point line. no bueno...
Meanwhile, AZ 3 of 7
Bill is right, earn it!
Exactly! Earn respect thorough your play
Another grinder...
.50% vs 38% Az vs the U. We are just ahead in rebs, they are in assists. They got the TOs and fouls. If a Bruin can get some drops we are still here.
Riley is still hurt.
At least not better.
Jaime!
I just got a new TV!
did it help
We’ll see.
Wow where's our Drebs? Stand back and watch?
0 for 10 at the half, yet winning 31-30.. boards are even, free throws even, but we've more points off turnovers than AZ
0-10 3 pt
Forgot to mention it, but Jules finally hit a 3 for us, so 1 of 11
back to back fouls on Riley
Was just gonna write, 3 fouls on Riley
Both bad fouls. Riley needs to be smarter than that.
That was a nice steal by Jaquez; we've only 5 turnovers to AZ's 11 (so far)
OMG how many times can we foul in one minute?? I count 3 in less than a minute
Pulling away!
9-0 run :-)
Tyger playing well!
Riley just went straight to locker room
Riley back in at the 6:30 mark
Riley is really hurt. Gotta take him out.
Um that was no foul. Juzang never touched him.
SPTRs calling their bullshit fouls this game
They totally missed Brown throwing an elbow
Sweet 3 by Tyger!
Jaquez in the paint!
He's starting to feel it :-)
Our offense is there for the second half. Just gotta defend!
Happy birthday, Jaime!!
Yowza!
16 turnovers by AZ
Yowza again!
Up 11, 2:20 to go, is there a reason to put Riley back in?
Maybe not.
Well, looks like he's in...
Yeah.
Tyger slowing everything down is working, also thanks to Jaimie hitting on all cylinders.
wow, Jaime, leave some for Saturday! LOL
Great game for the Bruins!
Looks like my new TV is working...
Well done!
Defense played a big part in this game; we turned over AZ 16 times for 18 points :-)
Great win!
Bring on the Sun Devils!
Good game, Bruins! I'll see you all on Saturday
Ima watch CO OR why not.
Welcome back, Jaime Jaquez, Jr.
Yay, G'Night Bruins.