After losing to CSUN on Tuesday night, UCLA is now on a three-game skid. Things might not get any easier for the Bruins tonight. Maryland is a Big Ten team whose record coming into tonight’s matchup is 7-4.
The Bruins and the Terrapins have one common opponent so far this season — Villanova. While UCLA lost to the Wildcats by nine points two weeks ago, the Terps lost to them by 17. If only the transitive property worked in sports, tonight’s game would be a win for the Bruins.
But it doesn’t and there may not be much of a home court advantage in Pauley tonight because the student body is out on Christmas break. Hopefully, the season ticket holders will show up and give the Bruins some added support.
UCLA has chosen to make tonight’s game a “White Out”, and all fans have been asked to wear white. So, it should be pretty easy to see how much support is in the building tonight.
The Terps are in their second season under head coach Kevin Willard. He led Maryland to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season in his first year in College Park. Prior to joining the Terps, Willard was the head coach at Seton Hall. He compiled a 225–161 record with the Pirates.
He led Seton Hall to the NCAA Tournament in five of his last seven seasons, though one of the two years they didn’t go was 2020 when the tourney was cancelled. The Pirates were tied for first in the Big East that season and certainly would have made the Big Dance if it had been played.
Let’s look at the Terrapins’ starting five.
Starting Five
Look for Willard to start a lineup consisting of two guards and three forwards based on who he started in Maryland’s last game against Nicholls.
Jamir Young leads the team in scoring with 17.7 ppg. The guard who played his first three seasons at Charlotte also leads the team in assists with 46.
The other guard will be DeShawn Harris-Smith. He is averaging just 8.0 ppg and is second on the team in assists with 30. He is not a good three-point shooter. His three-point percentage is just 17.2%
Forward Julian Reese is second on the team in scoring with 15.2 ppg. Reese is shooting 51.0% from the field and hasn’t taken a shot from behind the arc yet this season. He leads the team in rebounds with 10.2 rpg as well as blocks with 25.
Donta Scott is in his fifth year with the Terps. He’s averaging 9.1 ppg and his 32.6% is the best three-point percentage on the team for any player who has tried more than 20 three’s.
Transfer forward Jordan Geronimo joins the Terps from Indiana. He averages just 6.8 ppg and his 48.2% shooting percentage is high mostly because he doesn’t take a lot of shots. He’s taken just 56 shots overall.
Listen to the Game With TMB
Tonight’s game will be on ESPN2 with Dave Pasch and national treasure Bill Walton calling the game. If you prefer, you can listen to Josh Lewin and Tracy Murray. 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. Listen to today’s game online.
This is your UCLA men’s basketball vs. CSUN Matadors game thread. Here’s how to watch, listen and stream tonight’s game:
UCLA Basketball (5-5)
Opponent: Maryland Terrapins (7-4)
Series Record: UCLA leads, 7-2.
When: 6:00 pm PT, Friday, December 22, 2023
Where: Pauley Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA
TV: ESPN2 with Dave Pasch and Bill Walton
Live Stream: WatchESPN.com and the ESPN app
Radio/Audio
Local Radio: AM 570 with Josh Lewin and Tracy Murray
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 @TheMightyBruin on Twitter.
Hi everyone! Dropping in to say hi and wish everyone the best. Will try to pop in and watch some of the game. Our daughter arrived from Los Angeles and our son is on his way. Go Bruins!
This team is so frustrating. I don't believe youth is the main reason. I think fundamentals are missing on both offense and defense, and players are not in sync as they don't seem to know their roles.
Very true. Bona has regressed and is not the leader I thought he would be. I think he's a great young man with a wonderful character but he simply isn't dominating witg his talent.
the problem is that a good college team (like UCLA last year) should not need a guy like Bona to score more than 10 a game. It's not that he has regressed like the commenter above you said. It's that he's being asked to be THE guy this year and he's just never going to be that kind of offensive player. It's like asking Ryan Hollins or Lorenzo Mata to be the guy on offense. Also not really fair to compare him to an NBA all star.
we’re not getting the Sebastian Mack we got in hawaii. Maybe in an effort to limit his Jules-Bernard-esque tendencies, the coaching staff has asked him to defer to his teammates, all of whom are not players that look for their own shot. In the first game back from Maui, Mack had 5 assists so I do think he’s being asked to defer more but this inadvertently just stalls the offense
McClendon and Stefanovic shooting 0% and Andrews 14% not helping, nor is Mara only shooting 1 time this half. We're only shooting 32% while they hitting 52% of the time. Terps got 9 points off our turnovers, but biggest discrepancy is their shooting 58% from outside to our 14%. This has got to change.
Sort of makes you wonder… why did all of the experts not realize how good Jaime was… all the nba experts are shocked and constantly say things like “no one expected this” and “where did this come from” and “why didn’t anybody realize how good Jaime was”? could it be because he wasn’t properly utilized to fully showcase his skill at ucla?
Oh gosh… had edey declared for the draft he would have gone above Jaime. That doesn’t diminish the experts undervaluing Jaime based on what they saw in college.
Yeah… if you believe that you are really gonna be disappointed this year. Bona is going before Edey if Edey even gets drafted.
There have been 3 upperclassmen lottery picks in 3 years. The NBA just doesnt value 4 star players who develop over 4 years into NBA role players. 13/4/3 is not the stat line they are hoping for out of an early draft pick. They can find those guys around the league. They are drafting lottery tickets for the next superstar and those guys don’t stick around in college generally.
lol… you guys are all so delusional. You should talk to some people outside of LA that watch college basketball. They are all asking the same questions that the nba experts are asking
This is looking to be the worst season of micks career at ucla. This team is not getting better this season. All this while under the first season of an all mick team. This is what ucla will look like because mick can’t recruit.
Mick definitely missed on recruiting at home. And the focus on overseas players has not worked out despite all the hype. Their is no rhythm due to lack of defined roles. This is a team that I doubt will make the tourney.
Cronin could have done a better drop with roster construction in terms layering longer term players, but only 3 contributors from last years team weren't his recruits. You act like he can't land anyone.
Who were those three players… not giving credit to mick for recruiting Jaime. He was coming to ucla already. Singleton who was the only three point shooter cronin has had, he did not recruit singleton.
Tyger Campbell… so, your flagship recruit is Jaylen Clark? Because Amari bailey certainly didn’t produce much of anything until the tourney, and adem bona while a freakish athlete certainly isn’t making any strides in my view. 20 minutes and fouled out while shooting 2-4? Until you can tell me who he landed… the only reason he took Mara is because he had potential, but there certainly wasn’t a need for him on the current roster as he doesn’t really fit. I’ll just throw it back, you’re acting like he’s landed lots of solid contributors
This a bad roster. We were spoiled with Tyger, Jaime etc. Only Mack can create his own shot. Andrews has been a disappointment. Zero consistent outside shooting.
U!
C!
L!
A!
UCLA Fight Fight Fight!!!
Here's a correct link to StatBroadcast, if anyone is interested...
https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=488213
Good evening Mighty Bruins! Welcome to Christmas weekend. I hope y'all are with family!
Happy holidays, Jim!
Thank you, BB!
Good evening Jim! Happy Christmas!!!
Hi, Tamara and Merry Christmas!
Dammit, we gotta make our free throws, esp at home!
Def, good evening, BB!
Maryland shooting well from the arc so far, going 2 for 4. We need hands in their faces
Good defense by our Bruins
caused 2 turnovers in a row
Great to see Berke back!
Well, that was a quick 2 fouls on Berke
They're shooting the lights out, we're not!
Fact.
Nothings new
Not in the least, Gen2
OMG Stefanovic smdh
Yep.
Jan Vide not suited up tonight.
What a late whistle on Bona!
We're not looking sharp.
I just don't know why our offense is consistently non existent.
Freakin' SPTRs trying to take over the game tonight; they're whistle-happy
2 on Bona now
Tradition, sadly.
Bad call
This is going to be a long season.
It already is, sadly.
It's prolly already over.
Bona ha half of our points and that's not enough. We're shooting 25%, while they're at 50%.
They are hitting from outside (4 of 8) while we are not; big difference in this game so far
Finally a 3 from Mack!
Mara! That's the way to do it, just put it in!
Hi everyone! Dropping in to say hi and wish everyone the best. Will try to pop in and watch some of the game. Our daughter arrived from Los Angeles and our son is on his way. Go Bruins!
Hi BruinMom! So wonderful your family will be with you! Have a beautiful Christmas 💙💛
Indeed! Always happy when they are both here! Merry Christmas! 🎅
Good evening, Bruin Mama and Merry Christmas. Safe travels to your son!
Thanks Doctor! Fortunately he is fairly close, driving from his place in Berkeley. 😅
This team is so frustrating. I don't believe youth is the main reason. I think fundamentals are missing on both offense and defense, and players are not in sync as they don't seem to know their roles.
Roles? No one wants to be the man!
Very true. Bona has regressed and is not the leader I thought he would be. I think he's a great young man with a wonderful character but he simply isn't dominating witg his talent.
Bona is like Deandre Jordan from the clippers. Freak athleticism, not much else. To succeed, he needs a Chris Paul like PG which Tyger was last year.
the problem is that a good college team (like UCLA last year) should not need a guy like Bona to score more than 10 a game. It's not that he has regressed like the commenter above you said. It's that he's being asked to be THE guy this year and he's just never going to be that kind of offensive player. It's like asking Ryan Hollins or Lorenzo Mata to be the guy on offense. Also not really fair to compare him to an NBA all star.
Lack of fundamentals is a sign of youth. Our bad defense is a sign as well.
it's also just a lack of talent. We have a bunch of guys who should be the 3rd or 4th option on offense.
Mack ran into pick like he didn’t know it was there even though it was right in front of him.
Nice drive, Mack!
I love Mick. But, I don’t know why Fibleuil is sitting. We need his D.
Good evening, Army. Right now we need some offense.
With all due respect, we need both. #1 for MD has 23 points. Mick’s teams don’t give up this many points.
No argument, Army.
This a good question
Refs have called 24 fouls so far, and there's still 4 minutes in the half.. WTF?
One thing I will never miss once we are in the BIG.
we’re not getting the Sebastian Mack we got in hawaii. Maybe in an effort to limit his Jules-Bernard-esque tendencies, the coaching staff has asked him to defer to his teammates, all of whom are not players that look for their own shot. In the first game back from Maui, Mack had 5 assists so I do think he’s being asked to defer more but this inadvertently just stalls the offense
Damn, after like 4 second attempts, Nwuba finally put it in
Finally Nyuba!
Well, ready for another half like that?
Oh, god no!
Looks like we are getting one. Smdh.
McClendon and Stefanovic shooting 0% and Andrews 14% not helping, nor is Mara only shooting 1 time this half. We're only shooting 32% while they hitting 52% of the time. Terps got 9 points off our turnovers, but biggest discrepancy is their shooting 58% from outside to our 14%. This has got to change.
Bad offense plus bad defense = Big trouble.
Jaime Jaquez is at 19pts 6 rebounds tonight, so happier news there!
If Chet Holmgren wasn’t considered a rookie this year, Jaime would be the frontrunner for ROY
Gives you an idea of what we lost as both a player and a leader. Plus, Tyger, Jaylen and Singleton.
We should have won the Natty sans the injuries 😢
Certainly could have. Right now, we have a roster of role players and no alphas.
💯
Sort of makes you wonder… why did all of the experts not realize how good Jaime was… all the nba experts are shocked and constantly say things like “no one expected this” and “where did this come from” and “why didn’t anybody realize how good Jaime was”? could it be because he wasn’t properly utilized to fully showcase his skill at ucla?
The guy who was conference POY and shortlisted for National POY didn’t showcase his skill?!
But that doesn't fit the tear it all down narrative.
It certainly had nothing to do with the fact that the NBA drafts youth and he was the first Junior or Senior taken in the entire draft.
Oh gosh… had edey declared for the draft he would have gone above Jaime. That doesn’t diminish the experts undervaluing Jaime based on what they saw in college.
Yeah… if you believe that you are really gonna be disappointed this year. Bona is going before Edey if Edey even gets drafted.
There have been 3 upperclassmen lottery picks in 3 years. The NBA just doesnt value 4 star players who develop over 4 years into NBA role players. 13/4/3 is not the stat line they are hoping for out of an early draft pick. They can find those guys around the league. They are drafting lottery tickets for the next superstar and those guys don’t stick around in college generally.
lol WUT?
lol… you guys are all so delusional. You should talk to some people outside of LA that watch college basketball. They are all asking the same questions that the nba experts are asking
Damn, they're still shooting lights out from 3; the half didn't cool them at all
Nope.
Finally, Fibleuil is about to come in.
This is looking to be the worst season of micks career at ucla. This team is not getting better this season. All this while under the first season of an all mick team. This is what ucla will look like because mick can’t recruit.
Mick definitely missed on recruiting at home. And the focus on overseas players has not worked out despite all the hype. Their is no rhythm due to lack of defined roles. This is a team that I doubt will make the tourney.
In the world of NIL, Cronin can’t recruit because his toolbox is empty.
Sorry but no… 5 star players can get their own nil money. If they really wanted to play at ucla for mick, then they would figure it out
not exactly how NIL works.
Cronin could have done a better drop with roster construction in terms layering longer term players, but only 3 contributors from last years team weren't his recruits. You act like he can't land anyone.
Who were those three players… not giving credit to mick for recruiting Jaime. He was coming to ucla already. Singleton who was the only three point shooter cronin has had, he did not recruit singleton.
Tyger Campbell… so, your flagship recruit is Jaylen Clark? Because Amari bailey certainly didn’t produce much of anything until the tourney, and adem bona while a freakish athlete certainly isn’t making any strides in my view. 20 minutes and fouled out while shooting 2-4? Until you can tell me who he landed… the only reason he took Mara is because he had potential, but there certainly wasn’t a need for him on the current roster as he doesn’t really fit. I’ll just throw it back, you’re acting like he’s landed lots of solid contributors
you are trying REALLY hard to find issues with Mick's recruiting and not doing a very good job. What are you trying to prove?
This is so frustrating. I was hoping they would bounce back after that embarrassing loss to CSUN. Nope. We are terrible across the board tonight.
This a bad roster. We were spoiled with Tyger, Jaime etc. Only Mack can create his own shot. Andrews has been a disappointment. Zero consistent outside shooting.
I much prefer Berke in the game as opposed to Mara; we have a better offensive presence with Berke
It's just not helpful that he's only on the floor for a few minutes before fouls sit him down...
Except for the horseshit calls against Berke tonight.
Oh the SPTRs are on fire tonight, calling bullshit every other play on both sides
He doesn’t look for his shot but he has an energy and passion that our team seemed to have lacked
Send it, big man!
Fibleuil comes in and we defend and go on a little run. Now, we take him out and put Lazar the Bricklayer!
four on Bona :(
And Berke
Apparently, Nwuba won't make it until he has lined up an and-one...
Way to muscle it Nyuba!
He traveled!
Yes, he did!
Down to 10 points with 9 and a half to go
4 on Mack
So many fouls
Ridiculous.
Idk Bill, this game doesn’t feel like a “dream come true”
Mack pulls us within 6!
We have hope!
Just like Charlie Brown!
🤣
Lazar killing us yet again. How many bad games in a row for him?
At least he followed his shot.
His best play of the night.