Myles Johnson has been playing in beast mode the past few weeks and has been a big part of the Bruins’ success. (Photo Credit: Don Liebig/uclabruins.com)
Even though many Top 25 schools lost over the weekend, the Bruins paid the price for Thursday’s loss to Oregon today when this week’s AP Top 25 poll was released. The Bruins have fallen to 17th this week, their lowest ranking so far this season. What’s worse is that Southern Cal, at #16, is now ranked higher than UCLA.
The good news is that a win tonight against Washington and a win on Saturday at home against Southern Cal, coupled with a deep run in the Pac-12 Tournament, could help fix that as the NCAA Selection Committee always seems to reward teams which finish the season strong.
As for the Huskies, the Bruins blew them out by 26 points at home just nine days ago and there is absolutely no reason to think that tonight’s game will turn out any differently.
There is one thing which will be different for the Huskies. Graduate transfer Daejon Davis finally returned to the linup, playing 27 minutes against Washington State on Saturday. That’s more minutes than two of the Huskies’ starters. So, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him start tonight.
While Davis didn’t start. he had nine points and seven rebounds. He also led the team in assists against the Cougs with five while serving as the spark plug on the floor with a +/- of 16 which was the best on the Huskies.
UCLA should still win tonight’s game easily. Just don’t expect it to be as much of a blowout with Davis back on the floor for Washington.
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 tonight’s game. Granted, I’m not sure why you might want to do that given that Sean Farnham will call tonight’s game with his ESPN partner Dave Pasch. But if you do want to listen to Lewin and Murrary, 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.
In the meantime, here’s how to watch tonight’s game:
This is your #17 UCLA Bruins at Washington Huskies game thread.
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I’ve obviously been critical lately, but ucla doesn’t have any quality wins in quite some time. They need to win out to increase their tournament rankings. I still think this team can beat anybody when offense is clicking and most games are close.
That said, the rpi rankings are skewed due to what was said above. UCLA is at 13th in the net and 10th on kenpom which I think are more reflective of what ucla should be ranked. 17th is unfair given all the other top teams losing… doesn’t matter at this point of the season it’s just win baby
He's an okay spot up three point shooter but he hasn't shown the ability to shoot off the dribble or finish with his left. He has a decent floater and finishes pretty well with his right but isn't much more than an opportunistic scorer.
The 10:00 mark of the first half has been a predictor of Bruins success over last 4 weeks. When they let teams hang around, bad things happen. Abysmal shooting and most from inside 10-12’. That continually puzzles me along with Cody inabilities to finish at the rim.
One thing that kills me is that Johnson has 0 shot attempts compared to Riley's 3. I need him to get hungry under the board and start putting up shots. If he's not gonna shoot, defenses are going to take advantage and pressure us outside
Unfortunately these bad shooting nights are no longer an anomaly. Oregon game was worse. Bernard has completely forgotten how to shoot yet Mick keeps him on the floor.
Not calling bad mojo here but really don’t like how this half has played out. Another example of coming out flat compounded by awful shooting that erodes confidence. 5 offensive turnovers in the paint. If Jaime gets in foul trouble their doomed.
Something missing for weeks now. Just too much talent to play this inconsistently, regardless of injuries. Sure they’re a factor but some terrible road efforts and too many upper class men on this team to allow such uneven effort. And I think the blame goes across the roster and staff. This team needs a major reset to make a sustained run in the tourney.
I take it back, Mick should stop experimenting. Seriously stop experimenting and just play Clark and Johnson the entire time, because your defense is giving up 48% shooting at the half.
We shall see how Cronin’s half time speech works. I don’t think 1 guy going to get this W so need sustained defensive effort and injection of offense. Going to take 40+ this half to win
Watched the Baylor game earlier. Flagler is capable of leading the team to victory. UCLA has no leader without juzang. Singleton missing open looks
Riley, tyger, and Jules shooting a combined 2-18… the coach isn’t shooting for them, but he’s calling the plays every time… every time tyger comes down the floor he looks at mick… every time!!!! And this is what is being drawn up. Coaching problem
Agreed, Army! Where's the intensity we thought was back? We're just going through the motions right now. Play like you give a shit! Dive at the ground!!
I don’t think it’s a coincidence that we started playing inconsistent basketball when we started getting injured and playing more games in a shorter period of time. We need to suck it up for 20.
Hope the second half looks different than the first. UCLA usually gives a snapshot within the first 5 minutes of the second half on how the game will go
A game this sloppy and out of control almost calls for a lot of minutes for Watson. It's not like he's going to upset any cohesion, and maybe he can defend.
I know, it's almost like the perfect game for him to play a lot. Maybe when everyone on the team can't shoot or defend and keep from turning it over, it's like they're all in his element!!
I’ve obviously been critical lately, but ucla doesn’t have any quality wins in quite some time. They need to win out to increase their tournament rankings. I still think this team can beat anybody when offense is clicking and most games are close.
That said, the rpi rankings are skewed due to what was said above. UCLA is at 13th in the net and 10th on kenpom which I think are more reflective of what ucla should be ranked. 17th is unfair given all the other top teams losing… doesn’t matter at this point of the season it’s just win baby
Yeah, we need to take it one game at a time. Just win one, all we need.. each time.
U!
C!
L
A!
Shooting isn't always consistent - defensive intensity should and needs to be.
Looks like Juzang still out and Myles Johnson is back in the starting lineup… and David Singleton instead of Jaylen Clark?!?!?!
it's because our best shooter is out. Clark cannot shoot the 3.
As usual, game beginning on ESPNNews
Finally got Bill Walton back. Those other announcers were brutal.
Huh? Don't hear him on tv
was basing my comment on the above listing of announcers. This sucks.
Was hoping you would turn us on to your Walton connection!
Sorry, guys....I saw Dave Pasch and assumed he would be working with Walton. My bad.
The position and color of the camera is weird
agreed! Was considering adjusting my tv LOL
two tone courts should be outlawed
When you get it inside, you need to finish.
Now we're on ESPN2
Dammit! Sean Farnham announcing, not Walton -_-
My bad. I saw Pasch and assumed Walton would be joining him.
Shots not falling. Hope it won't be another one of those games where we can't make a bucket
UCLA not passing it around at all to start
Great pass from Tyger to Clark!
Why are they saying Clark isn’t a shooter when he’s been leading the team in scoring with juzang out?
Not quite leading, but he can definitely score
He's not a shooter? Not good at 3s
because he's not. it's like the one thing he cannot do.
He's an okay spot up three point shooter but he hasn't shown the ability to shoot off the dribble or finish with his left. He has a decent floater and finishes pretty well with his right but isn't much more than an opportunistic scorer.
Good comeback from Riley's turnover; stupid foul by Clark
Great D, Kyman!!
Looked like a block, but will take it
That wasn’t a foul on riley
Called it on Bernard. Showed it on the replay.
Wow, Kyman being a defensive force is new to me! You go, boy!
Sloppy and erratic sums it up
Wow, 19% from the field?? Really??
I think they've missed the last 13. Ouch
Missing layups again. Getting good looks and shots not going down.
You’re not happy with 23.5%?
Not really LOL
Shooting 23.5% and up by a point… ucla needs to play their game and blow Washington out
Yeah, we can't keep letting them stay in this game. We need to win going away.
The 10:00 mark of the first half has been a predictor of Bruins success over last 4 weeks. When they let teams hang around, bad things happen. Abysmal shooting and most from inside 10-12’. That continually puzzles me along with Cody inabilities to finish at the rim.
One thing that kills me is that Johnson has 0 shot attempts compared to Riley's 3. I need him to get hungry under the board and start putting up shots. If he's not gonna shoot, defenses are going to take advantage and pressure us outside
Singleton bailed out by an awful goaltend 😂
Terrible tyger showed up to this game
And terrible Bernard and terrible cody
Clark should be out there with singleton
Fatigue or just sloppy play?
Piss poor shooting. Bruins will need to start hitting some shots.
Unfortunately these bad shooting nights are no longer an anomaly. Oregon game was worse. Bernard has completely forgotten how to shoot yet Mick keeps him on the floor.
Well, at least Johnson tried to shoot it! LOL
Why is he trying to dribble when he has the ball 2 feet from the hoop?
Grad student should not make freshman mistakes smdh
Not calling bad mojo here but really don’t like how this half has played out. Another example of coming out flat compounded by awful shooting that erodes confidence. 5 offensive turnovers in the paint. If Jaime gets in foul trouble their doomed.
Clark should be in instead of Jules… when Jules is stinking up the joint send a message cronin!!!!
Good lord that's a terrible call. Foul for not getting out of his way fast enough.
That was a terrible call for sure
This camera angle makes the game hard to watch, but this is also the sloppiest I've seen them look in a long, long time.
Their D is solid tonight. Everything’s contested.
Washington is 116 in adjD according to kenpom… holding ucla to 20 points
If you lose to a 14-13 team you beat by 20+ last week, you deserve to fall out of top 20.
^^ This!! ^^
There is not way this game should be this close
UW now shooting 48% so 2 Achilles heels apparent: bad Bruin shooting % and disappearing defense. That was a REALLY crappy first half.
Get tyger off the court
Singleton!!
Oh, David....
UCLA let Washington believe they would win this game… and now they are going to have to scrap the rest of the game
Singleton misses 2 free throws. Wow
feeling like one of those nights.
Atrocious really… what a terrible basketball game
Wow... we are really going into the locker room behind to Washington.
I keep thinking these crappy games are behind us...
Something missing for weeks now. Just too much talent to play this inconsistently, regardless of injuries. Sure they’re a factor but some terrible road efforts and too many upper class men on this team to allow such uneven effort. And I think the blame goes across the roster and staff. This team needs a major reset to make a sustained run in the tourney.
UCLA with a demeanor like they planned on losing.
Wtf kind of "shooting" IS this game. This is too much of a habit to ignore. Love my Bruins, but they are now afraid to shoot the ball
UCLA still getting 2.5 points this game by live betting lines. I’m not sure how anyone thinks ucla looks capable of winning
I take it back, Mick should stop experimenting. Seriously stop experimenting and just play Clark and Johnson the entire time, because your defense is giving up 48% shooting at the half.
Need someone who can shoot
Jaquez, singleton, and Clark are shooting 8-11!!! Shooting isn’t the problem. It’s the plays being called by the sideline!
I’d say shooting is the problem when you score 25 at the half
Yes… having the wrong guys keep shooting. But ucla has players that can shoot
We shall see how Cronin’s half time speech works. I don’t think 1 guy going to get this W so need sustained defensive effort and injection of offense. Going to take 40+ this half to win
For sure
I'm a genius.
Watched the Baylor game earlier. Flagler is capable of leading the team to victory. UCLA has no leader without juzang. Singleton missing open looks
Riley, tyger, and Jules shooting a combined 2-18… the coach isn’t shooting for them, but he’s calling the plays every time… every time tyger comes down the floor he looks at mick… every time!!!! And this is what is being drawn up. Coaching problem
Bruins are playing very tired tonight. No energy. Heavy legs. Need to try and suck it up for the 2nd half.
Agreed, Army! Where's the intensity we thought was back? We're just going through the motions right now. Play like you give a shit! Dive at the ground!!
I don’t think it’s a coincidence that we started playing inconsistent basketball when we started getting injured and playing more games in a shorter period of time. We need to suck it up for 20.
10th game in February!
And with a banged up team. We need a few buckets from Myles.
Yeah… he just rimmed another out, but it looked better!
Hope the second half looks different than the first. UCLA usually gives a snapshot within the first 5 minutes of the second half on how the game will go
Cronin needs to look to his bench. Other than Jaime nobody can score. Jaime, Clark, Johnson, Singleton, and then Kyman or Watson.
Jaime literally scored half of our points. This is bad.
A game this sloppy and out of control almost calls for a lot of minutes for Watson. It's not like he's going to upset any cohesion, and maybe he can defend.
Mick doesn’t trust him enough
He can’t defend and he can’t shoot. When he dribbles he turns it over… Watson has been an absolute bust this year and isn’t useful when it matters
I know, it's almost like the perfect game for him to play a lot. Maybe when everyone on the team can't shoot or defend and keep from turning it over, it's like they're all in his element!!
True dat…
let's go, Defense! Great D leads to good O!!