Jaylen Clark is one of six Bruins shooting 50% or better from the field. (Photo Credit: Jan Kim Lim/uclabruins.com)
This afternoon, the Bruins will look to complete a road sweep of the Washington schools when they face the Huskies on Pac-12 Networks. Today’s tip-off is at 4 pm PT.
Washington dropped to 1-2 in conference play on Thursday when they lost to Southern Cal, 80-67. In that game, the Huskies struggled at the end of both halves. They were up 28-27 before allowing 14 points in the final six and a half minutes of the first half. At the same time, they only managed to score six points themselves and trailed 41-34 at the break.
The second half actually saw the Huskies come back and re-take the lead with 10:52 to go, but, again, they faded down the stretch as they were outscored 23-9 in the final ten minutes of the game. What really stands out, though, is the fact that Southern Cal outshot the Huskies 45.9% to 32.4%.
Washington head coach Mike Hopkins may find himself on the hot seat if the Huskies don’t play better in conference play. Despite being 9-5, none of their wins have really been quality wins. In fact, they’ve lost to the only two ranked opponents they’ve played and today’s game should add a third to that list.
Let’s look at Washington’s starting five.
The Huskies only have two guys who are averaging in double figures. The first is senior forward Keion Brooks, Jr., who leads the team with 17.1 ppg. Brooks also leads the team with 6.6 rebounds per game.
Senior guard Cole Bajema is the other guy on the team averaging more than ten points per game with 10.5 ppg.
Two other starters are close to double figures. Freshman guard Kenyon Menifield is scoring 9.4 ppg while junior center Braxton Meah is averaging 9.0 ppg. The Huskies’ fifth starter is senior PJ Fuller II, who leads the team in steals with 20 and is averaging 8.1 ppg.
There is one area where the Huskies seem to excel and that’s in blocked shots. Brooks, Meah, Fuller and reserve center Franck Kepnang all have more than 10 blocks each and Meah leads the team with 19.
While defense is certainly important, basketball is a game of scoring and it won’t matter much how many shots the Huskies block if the Bruins hit their shots and the Bruins have been shooting almost 50% from the field.
Listen to the Game With TMB
Today’s game will be on Pac-12 Networks with Ted Robinson and national treasure Bill Walton calling the game. Personally, I’m not sure why you would want to turn down the volume and not listen to Big Red. Josh Lewin is back from the Sun Bowl, though, and he’ll be joined by Tracy Murray as usual. 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. Washington Huskies game thread. Here’s how to watch today’s game:
UCLA Basketball (12-2, 3-0)
Opponent: Washington Huskies (9-5, 1-2)
Series Record: UCLA leads, 105-43
When: 4:00 pm PT, Sunday, January 1, 2023
Where: Alaska Airlines Arena, Seattle, WA
TV: Pac-12 Networks National, Los Angeles and Washington with Ted Robinson and Bill Walton
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Happy new years guys! Ucla looks good so far but they’ve been making UW look bad too.
Looks like Cronin took the criticism abt playing his bench against Wazzu and Andrews and Canka have seen 1st playing time. And McClendon is once again seeing extended minutes
How To Watch, Game Preview and Game Thread: #11/8 UCLA Bruins at Washington Huskies
Awesome. Thank you very much.
U!
Nwuba in already?
Starting off cold again.
Jaquez
Anyone know what the situation with Bailey is?
Good evening and Happy New Year, Might Bruins!
Much better start tonight than Friday
Neither team has their rhythm.
Bona keeps getting better
Beauty, Tyger to Bona for a dunk!
Canka for three! Can that slow down the Huskies?
Happy new years guys! Ucla looks good so far but they’ve been making UW look bad too.
Looks like Cronin took the criticism abt playing his bench against Wazzu and Andrews and Canka have seen 1st playing time. And McClendon is once again seeing extended minutes
Canka looking pretty good
Trippleton!
Bruins need a big in the game -/ too many rebounds for Washington
Tripleton again!
Tyger from pro range
Tyggrrr for 3!
Halftime, 36-27. Huskies still in it.
9 pt lead at half. Not bad for the bit of a slow start by the Bruins
Coming out strong after the halftime break!
Bona at both ends!
Jaime on D and a three!
Loving the Huskies shot selection. A combination of bricks and airballs from behind the arc.
UW should stop playing their zone D. We’re not a good 3-point shooting team and we’re still exposing their D
Loose steamroller on the court!
20 point lead, Bruins and 8 minutes to go.
Enjoying this game way more than WSU!
Jaime +3!
Hope to see more of the bench soon
Jaime with an O-reb, and Bona the finish! It's good to see an O-reb!
There have been some weird TV angles tonight
Trading air-balls.
Whia! David Singleton!!
Wow. Great leadership moment by Singleton there.
Leadership from Singleton, great to see!
Wake up, Mac!
Bruins 74 Huskies 49
Way to start the new year!
12and 2, we win! Happy New Year, Bruin family! See ya around the campus!
Great for Bona18 pts. We are going to need that from him. Love a road sweep.
Woohoo. That was a lot more fun, and comfortable, tonight. Love it. Have a good night, gang.
Go Bruins!!