UCLA got back on track on Wednesday night by almost doubling up on Pepperdine, 100-53. This afternoon, Coach Cronin and the Bruins host the Bellarmine Knights in the second meeting between the schools.
The first meeting took place last season in Las Vegas and the Bruins won that game, 75-62. After last weekend’s rough outings, expect Cronin to show no mercy to his friend and Bellarmine head coach Scott Davenport.
Davenport’s Knights will play a starting lineup that features not just three guards but four. In fact, the team roster lists 13 players as guards, just five forwards and no centers. It should pose an interesting matchup for the Bruins on defense.
The Knights are led by freshman Peter Suder. Suder is averaging 12.5 ppg for Bellarmine which leads the team. A pair of seniors are tied for second in scoring with 10.0 points per game. That would be Bash Wieland and redshirt senior Garrett Tipton. Wieland has played more minutes and has the higher shooting percentage, but Tipton takes more shots. Neither are particularly good behind the arc. They are both shooting less than 27% from three.
Juston Betz is the team’s offensive catalyst. He leads the team with 19 assists and he’s averaging 33.5 minutes per game. He doesn’t shoot as much as the other starters and, when he does shoot, his hits the lowest percentage of shots among the starting five, but he does lead the team in rebounds with an average of 5.3 per game.
The team’s lone starting forward is sophomore Curt Hopf. Hopf sees the least playing time among the starters but he makes the most of his minutes. He leads the team’s starters in three-point shooting percentage at 40%.
Look for Ben Johnson and Alec Pfriem to see the most minutes. Johnson is the only guy on the team with more threes than Hopf while Pfriem’s 47.6 shooting percentage is second among players who have taken more than two shots.
This is your UCLA men’s basketball vs. Bellarmine game thread. Here’s how to watch tonight’s game.
#19/17 UCLA Men’s Basketball (4-2)
Opponent: Bellarmine Knights (2-4)
Series Record: UCLA leads, 1-0
When: 4:00 pm PT, Wednesday, November 27, 2022
Where: Pauley Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA
TV: Pac-12 Networks National and Los Angeles with Gary Apple and Don MacLean
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Bona with 16 pts and 5 boards in 29 min, just 3 PF. Stats say just 2 blocks but I felt like there were more, and he certainly altered a bunch more. Really encouraging game!
Right. He looks pretty polished already for his relatively short Bball career. He needs to learn how to stay out of silly foul trouble and play patient within the offense. I'm really excited about his future.
Bona with 16 pts and 5 boards in 29 min, just 3 PF. Stats say just 2 blocks but I felt like there were more, and he certainly altered a bunch more. Really encouraging game!
Yes, Greg, Bona made some mistakes early on (dumb fouls) but he appeared to adjust his game to the better.
Good night, Mighty Bruins, y'all rest well.
Wish Mac had gotten some playing time.
Bona earned his.
Good solid effort tonight. Go Bruins!!
Bailey!
Bona has had a really nice game.
Yes, a marked improvement. It's good to see.
Bona played good D there.
The Bruins have shown better intensity on both ends these last 2-3 minutes and the lead pops right back up to 17 as a result.
And Tiger just got his
Tygrrr THREE!
Bailey with a 10 point game!
Let's work on our perimeter defense. They're making too many 3s.
Bona says NO!!
Where was this team in Vegas? Is it just Bellarmine isn't that good?
I think it's just they aren't that good.
Pauley is really empty. Holiday stuff, I'm sure, but bummer to see it.
Shoot 58% at the half and 25% from long range. Working inside.
Three!
Great kick out to Singleton!
Umm. Don, uh, no. No Bruin wants those clowns in the CFP.
If/whenBona figures out how to play smart and stay in the game, he can be the force in the middle we have been missing for a long time.
Yes. Good evening, Greg!
Good evening, kingjim! Hope you and everyone here had a nice holiday!
To you as well, my "kids" have left so now we wait for Christmas.
Hard to believe sometimes that the guy hasn't been playing his whole life
Right. He looks pretty polished already for his relatively short Bball career. He needs to learn how to stay out of silly foul trouble and play patient within the offense. I'm really excited about his future.
He is showing improvement.
Great shot by Canka!
Larry hits our first three!
Jaime is everywhere!
Jaime hits again!
Noob's got some practicing to do!
Jaime, and it falls!
Do we have the stamina to keep this up? I like Bellarmine's passing game.
Defense!
U clap clap!
C clap clap!
L clap clap!
A clap clap!
UCLA Fight fight fight!
U!
clap clap!
Good evening, Bruin Mama! My 'kids' have gone back to their places and the holiday is over for a few weeks.
Hello Doctor from the other side of the country! One of ours lives the local, the other in Los Angeles. Will have them both for Christmas. Woo hoo!
Dan is a five hour drive in PA, Jess is an hour at school.
Like us, you are at least in the same time zone!
Yep.
clap clap!
A clap clap!
UCLA Fight fight fight!
You must use that power for good, Bruin Gold!
Singleton, starts.
Oh, noes!
Jaylen certainly makes the game exciting!