UCLA needs to get a better game out of Jaime Jaquez, Jr. tonight. (Photo Credit: Don Liebig/uclabruins.com)
So, on Thursday night, the Bruins were flat in the second half, but they managed to get lucky and force overtime, only to lost to the Ducks in the end. Now, tonight, UCLA hosts the Oregon State Beavers.
This year’s Oregon State team is nothing like last year’s Beaver basketball team, which went 20-13. So far this season, the Beavs are just 3-12 and they’ve won just one of their first five conference games. That win came against Utah and the other two came against Portland State and Nicholls.
On Thursday night at the Galen Center, Wayne Tinkle’s squad lost to Southern Cal, 81-71. To be sure, they narrowly lost to Oregon in their previous game, 78-76, but I don’t believe tonight’s game will be that close. I’m fairly sure Mick Cronin will make sure the Bruins come to play tonight as a response to how they played on Thursday.
Let’s look at the Oregon State starting five.
Starting Five
Not surprisingly, the Beavers’ top two scorers are the team’s only two starters returning from last season. Junior guard Jarod Lucas leads Oregon State with an average of 14.3 points per game while senior Warith Alatishe is averaging 12.3 points per game. Alatishe is the team leader in assists with 71.
Junior guard Dashawn Davis is third on the team with an average of 9.4 ppg. Davis is the team in both assists and turnovers. So, look for him to be the guy OSU turns to try to both stop the Bruins and get their offense moving.
Rounding out the starting five are senior center Roman Silva and junior guard Dexter Akanno. Neither of whom seem to contribute much. How inconsequential has Silva been for the Beavers? Well, despite being a seven-footer, he has fewer blocked shots and averages fewer points than Ahmad Rand who is listed as 6’8” tall and who is averaging three minutes per game less than Silva. I won’t be surprised to see Rand play more than Silva tonight.
As far as Akanno goes, he may not get the start tonight even though he started against the Trojans. The Beavers lost guard Gianni Hunt for the season when Hunt decided to take a mental health break and put basketball on pause indefinitely earlier this week. So, not only is Hunt not available off the bench, but his departure has left Tinkle looking for a replacement. Looking at the statline from Thursday night’s game, Akanno may be the best available from a bad bench.
Outlook
On paper, the Bruins should blow the Beavers out tonight. That said, they should have been able to beat the Ducks on Thursday. Instead, they were flat and, ultimately, blew their slim five-point halftime lead in the second half and overtime.
Should UCLA be capable of beating this Oregon State squad even if the Bruins are sleepwalking? Yeah, probably. It would be nice to see the Bruins make a statement tonight, even if they are just playing a bad Beaver team.
Listen to the Game With TMB!
TuneIn.com now has UCLA’s games listed as “premium” content. So, rather than using TuneIn, you can just listen through the official website like we have done with the small sports for a long time in order to listen to Josh Lewin and Tracy Murray call today’s game, but why would you want to? Yes, you guessed it! National treasure Bill Walton is working the game tonight with Ted Robinson on the Pac-12 Networks. How could you not want to listen to Big Red? In case you don’t, just be sure to right-click on it so that you can open up another tab and have it going while you chat in the comments below.
This is your Oregon State Beavers at #3 UCLA Bruins game thread.
#3 UCLA Men’s Basketball (10-2, 2-1)
Opponent: Oregon State Beavers (3-12, 1-4)
Series Record: UCLA leads, 99-40
When: 7:30 pm PT, Saturday, January 15, 2021
Where: Pauley Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA
TV: Pac-12 Networks with Ted Robinson and Bill Walton
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Why does ucla keep letting their big get out to the perimeter on defense leaving their guard on the big underneath? Happened a lot in oregon and already happened a few times tonight
Meanwhile Jules still pulling the trigger too often to start this game. I don’t like the idea of him shooting himself out of a funk when there are so many others that can shoot while he figures it out
Bruins taking the charges tonight which is great. Cronin really mad about that last call. Watson and the other player literally just got their feet tied up. It happens...
U!
Bruins won't being getting a better game from Jaime tonight.
UCLA already shooting much better… I’d like to see singleton get some minutes
Clark!
UCLA’s bigs are not good at boxing out on the defensive glass. Dasilva is a big dude, but get better positioning
Great way to work inside, Bernard!
Why does ucla keep letting their big get out to the perimeter on defense leaving their guard on the big underneath? Happened a lot in oregon and already happened a few times tonight
Glad Jules knee is looking ok
Clark
OSU is really hitting from the perimeter
3 fouls on our bigs. Ugh!
Oregon state will be covering the spread… this game will be a lot closer than I wanted it to be
Riley trying to dribble it out is a bad idea
UCLA allowing the beavs to shoot 75%
Glad singleton getting some time. He’s a good player and deserves more
Meanwhile Jules still pulling the trigger too often to start this game. I don’t like the idea of him shooting himself out of a funk when there are so many others that can shoot while he figures it out
Clark that was a thing of beauty!
Walton saying Riley doesn’t take jump shots… clearly hasn’t watched Riley play. Riley takes lots of jump shots
Watson dribbling is still not my favorite idea at this point in time
Riley with 2 fouls again early in the game. Not good
Myles back out there with two fouls…
Johnson is big but he just can't seem to come down with the ball when he needs to
Nwuba should get some time
Too much dribbling on offense
Offense doesn’t seem to be a problem though. Defense looks abysmal at the moment
OSU is working the ball outside in and they are getting their own rebounds
Singleton slow to get up on the sideline fall
That’s not a foul on Jules come on
Silva finally called for the constant hip checking!
Trainer still with singleton on the sideline. What happened? Did he get hit in the head
Horrible call against Clark setting the pick
Bruins taking the charges tonight which is great. Cronin really mad about that last call. Watson and the other player literally just got their feet tied up. It happens...
Tyger attacking the paint!
UCLA playing with passion tonight… or intensity if you like that word better
Beaver kicked out his leg and it was called a foul on Watson
Clark with a career high!
Gotta stop giving up the rebounds. Hope they adjust.
Far from perfect, but much more effort that half.
Would like to see us get Or St to shoot less than 40% next half and stop them from getting offensive boards
Another missed rebound. Ugh
Another foul on Silva. That's 4
Clark with 3. That's gonna hurt. We need him on the court.
Would like to see more full court pressure with Clark and Watson on the floor at the same time.
Did I miss any updates on singleton?
Is singleton even on the bench? Don’t see him over there
Nwuba checking in
Can the Bruins get a rebound. Had 4 chances there.
Nwuba twisted his ankle. Wow
There’s singleton in warm ups… bummer, hope he’s alright
UCLA shooting free throws well tonight