The calendar has officially turned to March, but a late February swoon has probably left the Bruins on the outside looking into the Madness.
In fact, Thursday night’s loss may have been the last chance for UCLA to earn a trip to the Tourney on their own. They may now need to win the Pac-12 Tournament in order to get in.
Regardless of whether or not that’s the case, they definitely need to win their last final three games if they do want to retain any hope of making it on their own.
This afternoon, the Bruins face a Washington State squad which is currently ranked 19th in the nation. Fifth-year head coach Kyle Smith has the Cougars in second place in the Pac-12 with a 22-7 overall record and a 13-5 conference mark.
Of course, the Cougs are the only Pac-12 team that UCLA hasn’t played yet this season due to the fact that WSU was not scheduled to visit Westwood this season. As a result of that, let’s take a look at Smith’s starting lineup.
Starting Five
Smith will start a non-typical lineup with just one guard, three forwards and a center this afternoon. The Cougars come into this afternoon’s game with two players tied for first on the team in scoring. Redshirt freshman guard Myles Rice and 5th year senior forward Isaac Jones are both averaging 15.4 points per game. Rice also leads the team in assists with an average of 3.8 per game while Jones also leads the team in rebounds with an average of 7.6 per game. So, the Bruins will have to stop at least one of these two explosive players this afternoon.
The other two forwards are both also averaging more then ten points per game. Junior Jaylen Wells is third on the team in scoring with an average of 11.8 ppg. Wells is the Cougs’ biggest three-point threat. He’s shooting 44.6% from beyond the arc. Senior Andrej Jakimovski is averaging 10.3 ppg and he is second on the team in rebounds with an average of 5.4 per game. Interestingly, Jakimovski has actually made four more threes than Wells, but he’s also attempted 49 more of them. So, his three-point percentage is lower than Wells, but don’t be surprised when he starts shooting from long-range.
It’s not clear who will start at center for the Cougars today. Smith has employed a platoon featuring freshman Rueben Chinyelu and junior Oscar Cluff. Smith has generally been using Chinyelu when he wants better defense from the position and Cluff when he needs more offense. Chinyelu leads Washington State in blocks with 37 compared to Cluff’s 28, despite the fact that Cluff has averaged seven more minutes per game this season. Cluff has scored an average of 7.7 ppg compared to 4.9 ppg for Chinyelu. Chinyelu is the guy the Bruins will want to foul down the stretch if they have a choice because his 42.9% free throw percentage makes him the worst free throw shooter on the team.
Analysis
Today’s game is going to be a tough one on the road. After the last three games, UCLA really needs a win today, but I’m just not sure that it’s going to be possible against a tough Cougar team.
Can the Bruins finally bounce back from their late season swoon? I’m not counting on it at this point.
Listen to the Game With TMB
Today’s game will be on Pac-12 Networks with Ted Robinson and Eldridge Recasner 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 todays’s game online.
This is your UCLA men’s basketball at Washington State Cougars game thread. Here’s how to watch, listen and stream today’s game:
UCLA Men’s Basketball (14-14, 9-8)
Opponent: Washington State Cougars (22-7. 13-5)
Series Record: UCLA leads, 114-19
When: 4:00 pm PT, Saturday, March 2, 2024
Where: Beasley Coliseum, Pullman, WA
TV: Pac-12 Networks National, Los Angeles and Washington with Ted Robinson and Eldridge Recasner
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It happens every game. There is no consistency on offense, so we get long scoring slumps that let the opposition back in. Gah it's so frustrating to watch, in part because it's so predictable.
U - Clap! Clap! Clap!
C Clap! Clap! Clap! Good evening Terry! Go Bruins, another gotta have!
C! Clap! Clap! Clap!
L Clap! Clap! Clap! Hi, Tamara, great to "see" you!
L! Clap! Clap! Clap!
A Clap! Clap! Clap!
Uh oh. Something already seems out of synch here. :-)
Go Bruins!
Hi beautiful friends Terry and Jim! 💙💛
Hello my good friends.
Don’t get game on TV. Will follow play by play on Bleacher Report and as usual depend on your great comments. Go Bruins.
I am listening to Josh and Tracy plus gamecast! Go Bruins! 💙💛
UCLA Fight! Fight! Fight!
Ditto!!
B Wills!!!
Mack!!!!
Great start!!!!
Keep it up.
Wow! What a different beginning from Wash game!
Mack again!!!! 💙💛
He looks hungry tonight. I hope he keeps it up and gets some team support.
Dylan for 3 we need that!
Yep
Smart move, Bona and Dylan finishes for 3 again.
Wow!!!
44 minutes more!
We have yet to show we can play 40 minutes too great BB. Hopefully tonjght will be different.
Truth.
FG shooting is 88% to 17%.
Dylan looks like he has pigtails!
🤣
Stef for 3!!! 💙💛
Stef for 3 at the shot buzzer!
WooHoo!
Wow, it's loud!
Steph is our one consistent shooter.
Ok we need to defend Rice.
Need to keep pressure on
We might need to start moving the ball again.
Good afternoon, Bruin fam. I've been fighting with the various phone apps, wifi, cables, and TV inputs, and I think we're good now. Go Bruins!!
Glad you can join us. Technology!!
Happy to see you G!!!!
Hi Greg, good to see you made it in!
Sweet Dylan!
Cooling off. Darn.
We need to never let up!
Yep
Yet we do :(
Ok. Let’s keep this lead!!
Dylan for 2 Throws!!!
Good lookin start. I’m here for now, but am at a D3 college March Madness game with a few people. Let’s go bruins
Hi sweet Ry!!! 💙💛 That sounds so much fun!
Thanks
Enjoy your game, Ry, we'll keep it loud for you! Good evening!
Excited for it. Hopefully we keep this lead
Mack woohoo!!! 💙💛
Where the heck was this team for the last 3 games?
Need to get lead back to 10
Getting sloppy
Lazar!
Stef for 3 again!
Too many bad fouls being made
WSU has 7 offensive rebounds. That is awful
Well there went that lead.
Gone cold :(
Same old.
Again
Lost a double digit lead again.
How about putting Mara in the game?
I’m surprised. I thought he has given them some good minutes
Why? Scarecrows won't work.
They work better than statues
Was just thinking that. Kenny just isn't there offensively.
Unbelievable fouls.
They have only called 2 fouls on them
It happens every game. There is no consistency on offense, so we get long scoring slumps that let the opposition back in. Gah it's so frustrating to watch, in part because it's so predictable.
Well said.
💯
True
Need to end half strong.
Yup
Geez about to be a 4 point trip
Dylan!!!! 💙💛
Great individual effort. He's keeping us in this game.
Bruins running the one guy dribbling and 4 guys watching offense.
Wow Mack got clobbered twice, no call. Officiating seems pretty one sided so far.