After last week’s road sweep of the Oregon schools, the UCLA Bruins are up to fourth in both the AP and the USA Today Coaches Polls. UCLA now trails just Alabama, who lost to #10 Tennessee on the road yesterday, Houston and Purdue.
So, if UCLA can hold serve tonight and on Saturday, the Bruins will be poised to move up again next Monday.
Of course, nothing is guaranteed, but UCLA returns home tonight where they have won 21 consecutive home games and, while they are facing the weakest pair of teams in the conference this weekend, Stanford is flying high after knocking off Arizona last weekend at home, 88-79.
But the Cardinal will not be at home when the teams meet tonight which will make an upset of the Bruins much harder than it was to upset the Wildcats.
Stanford is not riding high just from beating the Wildcats. It’s also because they’ve won six of their last eight games.
For a while, it looked like the Cardinal would be fighting with UC Berkeley to see which team would finish last in the Pac-12 this season. That’s because Stanford began conference play with seven straight losses.
However, since they lost to Washington State on the road by just a point on January 14th, Stanford has been on a tear. First, they swept the Oregon schools at home. They followed that with wins over Chicago State and UC Berkeley also at home. Then, they hit the road for the dreaded Mountain road trip and they split, beating Utah, 78-72, before losing to Colorado, 84-62. When they returned home, they dropped a close one to the Sun Devils, 69-65, before beating Arizona by nine on Saturday.
That means that, since January 15th, Stanford has an identical 5-2 conference record to the Bruins heading into tonight’s game.
What does all of this mean?
Simple. It means that the Bruins cannot take Stanford for granted tonight. If they do, there’s a good chance that UCLA’s home winning streak could get snapped. At this point in the season, Stanford would pretty much need to run the table to have any hope of making the NCAA Tournament, but they way they’re playing, it could happen and the Cardinal would like nothing more than having back-to-back wins against the fourth-ranked team in the country. They beat Arizona last weekend when they were fourth and, now that the Bruins are ranked fourth, they would love to notch a Quad One road win tonight. It would certainly boost their NET ranking which currently stands at 77 and be a big boost to making the tourney.
So, what’s different about the Cardinal from when the Bruins? Not much. There’s been one change to the starting lineup. Isa Silva has been benched in favor of junior guard Michael O’Connell. O’Connell’s stats are a definite jump from Silva’s. He’s averaging 5.3 ppg, 2.6 rpg and 2.3 apg compared to Silva’s 3.6, 0.6 and 1.3 per game, respectively. O’Connell also shoots a lot better from the line, 78.7% to 72.0% and has a lot more steals than Silva, 22 to 5. A guy like that can really provide a spark and that may explain the Cardinal’s sudden resurgence.
Of course, it could also just be the team a matter of a young team learning what they have to do to win. Either way, UCLA needs to come out tonight looking to retain their two-game lead in the loss column in the Pac-12 standings. If they don’t, Arizona’s loss last weekend may not mean much in the big Pac-12 picture.
Listen to the Game With TMB
Tonight’s game will be on ESPN with Dave Pasch and, no, not national treasure Bill Walton. Instead, Seth Greenberg will be paired with Pasch calling tonight’s 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. Stanford Cardinal game thread. Here’s how to watch tonight’s game:
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Hi everyone, we just took our seats. Traffic was painfully slow and we had to exit and take service streets to Westwood. When we walked by the benches, I shook hands with Tracy Murray during his station break. This will be a romp and already the noise is deafening.
Last night the Washington Oregon game was delayed 45 minutes because Washington couldn't get one of their baskets to work. Finally had to wheel one out from the back.
Yeah, but I find it hard to believe that the Trees will be shooting around 60% the whole game. We just need to keep it close and let our defense win this game
U Clap Clap - -- Go Bruins
C clap clap!
Good evening Mom17 - Here's to another great win.
Hi Terry! Go Bruins!
L Clap Clap - Keep the foot on the pedal.
Hi Misterioso! Agreed time to clamp down!
A Clap Clap - UCLA Fight, Fight Fight1!!
UCLA Fight! Fight! Fight!!
Hi everyone, we just took our seats. Traffic was painfully slow and we had to exit and take service streets to Westwood. When we walked by the benches, I shook hands with Tracy Murray during his station break. This will be a romp and already the noise is deafening.
Sounds like an awesome environment! Been listening to the Pregame Show with Josh and Tracy!
The band just played the UCLA fight song and boy, it really whipped up a frenzy inside Pauley. I have a feeling we will win the rest of the home game.
Good evening, Bruins! Hoping we come out focused early and take care of business tonight.
Hi gbruin - good to have you with us tonight!! Petal to the metal!!!!
Hey, Gregg! Go Bruins!!
Oops! forgot you are Greg (not three Gs :-)
lol. No worries.
Hi Doctor! Go Bruins!
I presume BSPN is gonna make us sit through the end of this 28 point game before going out to Westwood.
What else is new.
It's already gonna be a late late night for you, Terry.
That's ok - I can sleep in in the morning! Nice to be retired. Thanks for the good thoughts.
Tip-off around 7:05 so think we're okay :-)
Last night the Washington Oregon game was delayed 45 minutes because Washington couldn't get one of their baskets to work. Finally had to wheel one out from the back.
Here's a better link to StatBroadcast:
http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=428834
Jaime was in front of us ?
Let's go!!!
Jaylen!!
that's how you start a game!!
Good to see Bailey out there right away.
Okay, we will talk some more. Someone told me to out the cell phone away and watch the game. Guess you know who could say that to me. LOL !!!
She's right!
Enjoy the game!
Nice low-post pass from Bona to Jaylen for the easy layup :-)
Nice find by Bona from the low post. He's inconsistent with that but it's really effective when he finds someone.
Interesting how Cronin pulls Bona immediately upon his first foul, but allows Jaylen to stay in the game after he commits his first...
historically, of course.. Bona hasn't fouled yet :-)
Let’s see that lockdown D
Agreed. Furd beat AZ by shooting like 60%. Need to limit their easy baskets and open looks tonight.
Need some rebounds too
6 of 7 for 87% thus far... not quite the lockdown we need to see...
Yup. Lots of easy shots near the rim. Just the one 3 I think. Gotta make it harder than how we've started.
Stanford is a bit hard to read. Not a great overall record, but they seem to play better against good teams
Yeah, but I find it hard to believe that the Trees will be shooting around 60% the whole game. We just need to keep it close and let our defense win this game
I think we should take this, but can’t sleep on the trees
We are not getting any offensive rebounds; just 1 and done on the shots
Bona with the steal and dunk!! Yes!!
Bona with the two hand jam!
Bona!!
Shots not falling
38% compared to 86%. Gotta top making them look good.
Only Bona and clark have scored for us so far
Need some spark after the TO
I have a feeling Bona’s play inside will be key tonight
Stanford shooting 6/7 right now. Just need to play some better defense here
Cronin looks furious
Sure does
Ingram out with 2 fouls
At least we’re getting them into foul trouble
We need to put a body on their 7 footer
Clark way to follow the shot!
right place, right time!
Bona forces the travel!
Tripleton!
Can't believe we're shooting so poorly from distance at home
Nice run
Send it, Bona!!
Block party!
Who woulda thought Dylan Andrews would get two fouls before Bona?
Tyger drew that foul in the lane but no call
Looks like he was fouled twice maybe with no call??
Looked like there should have been a foul thete
Great inbounds play
Great minds think alike!
Great inbounds play!
I agree with both comments below!
LOL
Not getting the 50/50 balls
I didn't know it was Hack-A-Bruin tonight? SFPTRs
Three blind mice
And call the strip a foul on the Bruins. Wow...
bona getting hacked inside but he gets called for the foul... right.....
When is Cronin gonna let bona play with 1 foul?? Damn, man, give him some experience playing with fouls!
He’s played 12.5 mins straight. Prob could use a rest
Just concerned about upcoming tournament; we can't yank Bona off the court against the better teams in the country
Nwuba been on the court for 4 minutes so far; that's more than a breather
Not good on the boards right now
Bruin basket surrounded by red shirts
Stanford is playing as well as it possibly can - we aren't - yet it is close. We will settle down, they can't keep this up all night.
That is what Arizona thought
Ya gotta think that UCLA's home field advantage will come into play eventually; that's what AZ didn't have
Plus, I've always thought Cronin >> Haase
Their offensive rebounding is really good too.
Bailey can't buy a bucket
The team can't buy a bucket!
Truth ^^^^
Baileys jumpers not falling so far
Yuck
Why is it always such a chore?
Seriously!
Ugly passage of play
We’re allowing them to score 55.5 % while we’re only shooting 33.3%