The Bruins clinched at least a share of the Pac-12 regular season title yesterday when the Arizona State Sun Devils topped the Arizona Wildcats, 89-88. UCLA now holds a three game lead ahead of both Arizona and Southern Cal. That also means that one more UCLA win will clinch the title along with a number one seed in the Pac-12 Tournament.
The Bruins will go for that win when they play the Colorado Buffaloes to close out the Mountain road trip this afternoon.
The only advantage Colorado has going into today’s game is the fact that the Bruins played on Thursday in Utah to begin the road trip. The Buffs have won each of the backend games of their Pac-12 home games this season. They have beaten Oregon State, Washington State and Stanford in the backend of a home weekend.
In fact, Colorado has been very good at home overall. They’ve only lost three home games all season. The first came against ASU in December while the other two home losses came against Washington and Southern Cal as part of the front end of a home weekend series.
So, despite the fact that Colorado will finish the regular season under .500 in conference play and somewhere between 8th and 10th place in the Pac-12 standings, UCLA will need to bring their A Game this afternoon.
There will be one big difference to the CU starting lineup compared to the starters who took the floor for the Buffs last month at Pauley. J’Vonne Hadley was lost for the season with a finger injury. While Jalen Gabbidon was initially moved into the starting lineup, that lasted only two games before Gabbidon was replaced in the starting lineup by Luke O’Brien. In fact, Gabbidon, who missed the game in Westwood, had scored on 5 points in two games as a starter and didn’t do much to help his case off the bench before suffering a concussion that will keep him out of today’s game.
The Buffs will also be missing Javon Ruffin, who scored 11 points against the Bruins last month off the bench. Ruffin has a knee injury which will prevent him from playing.
Without those three guys, it will be difficult for Colorado to keep up with the Bruins, even at altitude. So, the Bruins should be able to wrap up the Pac-12 regular season title this afternoon.
Listen to the Game With TMB
Today’s game will be on CBS with Spero Dedes and Bill Raftery. 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.
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Far more concerned about defense atm; we need to give them nothing but empty possessions and then we'll get back in this game. This includes keeping them off their offensive boards
Well, when we finally decided to play some defense, it turned the tide of this game. We need to come out of the locker room with a shut-down defensive mentality, and this game will be ours. We just need to focus and play our game.
U! Clap clap
In the house today and there’s already a good Bruin turnout with 25 minutes until tip.
Bruins have to keep the metal to the pedal the next 3 games. No prisoners. It's tournament seeding time....
Well, it's Sunday so there's no hurry to start our game... rooting for Wisconsin to beat Michigan
Buzzer beater or not?? That was close!
Thanks, CBS, for not showing us the beginning of our game smdh
Let's go!!
Stupid decision on that lazy pass, Tyger.
Where was the foul??
What foul?
SPTRs starting in rare form, calling the phantom foul on Jaime for whiffing air at Buffs on their layup
OMG can we get a rebound, please???
TV timeout couldn't have come at a better time; we really need to reset
Buffs have 10 boards to our 3 so far smdh Main reason they're up!
Really poor, unfocused start.
Why is Nwuba shooting that??
Great steal by Tyger ad then another empty possession
Bona with no fouls, so confused as to why Nwuba is playing...
Thank you Will McClendon!
Uh jump ball???
Far more concerned about defense atm; we need to give them nothing but empty possessions and then we'll get back in this game. This includes keeping them off their offensive boards
Entry passes should not be this difficult!
Getting outhustled.
Bona!!
Sweet layup, Jaylen :-)
Crap! 2 on Baiiley
Going with the small lineup again
Defense looks absolutely terrible. Easy shot after easy shot.
I thought we’d come out focused and motivated. Not so.
Jaylen back to back!
Do we not know how to block out?
Looked like Jalen got credit for only one free throw?
Good evening, MightBruins. I got caught my surprise by this early game. Go Bruins!
OMG make a free throw!
Oh no, Jaime's foot!
Ouch! Jaime's ankle hurting a bit after he came down on a Buff shoe
Suweet, Tygrr to JJ for 2!
Weird game. Poor shooting. Too many stoppages. SPTRs. We need tougher D to get some transition flow going.
With this physical game both teams need to step up for free throws.
throw it down, young man!!
Bona with the jam! Maybe it will spark something.
Bona!
I like that they're looking inside to low post but it's been well-defended so far
Jaquez is so patient
Jaime pirouettes under the basket for two, that's Our Guy!
Singleton got ups!
That free throw was pretty, Bona!!
Um... where's the Buff foul for running into Bona?
LOL I LOVE how upset the Buff coach is!!
Well, when we finally decided to play some defense, it turned the tide of this game. We need to come out of the locker room with a shut-down defensive mentality, and this game will be ours. We just need to focus and play our game.
I don’t remember us making any 3s in the half. Is that right?