The UCLA Bruins host the Long Island University Sharks tonight at 8 pm at Pauley Pavilion. LIU is coached by former NBA point guard Rod Strickland, who’s in his second year as the coach of the Sharks.
LIU’s history dates back to its founding in 1926. Interestingly, Long Island University isn’t actually located on Long Island. Its main campus is located in Brooklyn. The Sharks play in the Northeast Conference, just like last week’s opponent, the St. Francis Red Flash.
While LIU’s game notes are quick to claim that the school has beaten in its “only” meeting with UCLA in a meeting between legendary LIU coach Clair Bee and UCLA’s John Wooden. UCLA’s game notes, however, indicate that UCLA won the first meeting between the teams. While the game notes say it occurred in 1948, the game was actually played on December 29, 1947. So, both sets of game notes appear to be incorrect.
Regardless, tonight’s game is the first game between these teams in a heck of a long time.
In his first season with the Sharks, Coach Strickland led the team to a 3-26 finish. The only teams they beat last season were the College of Mt. St. Vincent, SUNY Purchase and Sacred Heart. But Strickland has brought in nine new players this season, consisting of six freshmen and three transfers. Two of those transfers are Strickland’s sons, grad transfer Tai and redshirt junior Terell. Tai joins the Sharks from Georgia Southern while Terell originally attended James Madison.
Let’s look at the starting five.
Starting Five
So far, Strickland has started the same five guys in both of the Sharks’ games this year. He will start three guards, a forward/guard and a center.
Freshman guard RJ Greene played 39 minutes against Pepperdine two days ago. He leads the team with an average of 13 points per game so far along with 8.5 rebounds per game. Terell Strickland is second on the team in scoring with a average of 10.5 ppg. He looks to be the team’s best guy from long-range, having hit four of his seven attempts from three-point range. The third starting guard is Andre Washington. The junior from Staten Island is averaging 9.5 ppg and is shooting 50% from beyond the arc. He also leads the team in steals with four.
Tana Kopa is a junior swingman from Perth, Australia. Kopa plays both guard and forward. While he’s averaging just 6.5 ppg, he’s second on the team in rebounds with 6.5 per game. Freshman center Gezim Bajrami joins the team from Tampere, Finland. He’s played the fewest minutes of any of the starters, seeing just 18.0 minutes per game without getting into any foul trouble in either one. He’s averaging just 3.5 ppg and only 1.5 rebounds per game, which is certainly a problem for a guy who’s the team’s starting center. He does lead the team in blocks with two.
Against Pepperdine, the first guy off the bench was Tai Strickland who is the only other Shark averaging in double figures, having scored 10 points against the Waves. The other prominent bench player is freshman Eric Acker. While Acker is averaging 31 minutes per game so far, he’s only averaging 6.0 ppg and 3.0 rpg. He’s also tied with Washington and Terell Strickland for the team lead in assists with five.
Analysis
After overestimating what the Bruins should do against their first two opponents and seeing Coach Cronin’s post-game press conference on Friday, it became obvious that he is, smartly, using the early part of the season to tinker with his lineups. He said after Friday’s game. So, I’m not going to make any predictions as to how soon the Bruins will put the Sharks away tonight.
I do trust that Coach Cronin will keep tinkering now while he can so that he can see what his guys can do in non-typical situations. That will go a long way towards helping him coach the team later in the season when he may have to do something he may not prefer to do.
In the end, the Bruins will win. You can take that to the bank. Just don’t freak out if they take a while to put the Sharks away, especially if UCLA trails at the half.
Listen to the Game With TMB
Tonight’s game will be on Pac-12 Networks with J.B. Long and Don MacLean 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 today’s game online.
This is your UCLA men’s basketball vs. LIU Sharks game thread. Here’s how to watch, listen and stream tonight’s game:
#25 UCLA Basketball (2-0)
Opponent: Long Island University Sharks (0-2)
Series Record: Tied, 1-1.
When: 7:00 pm PT, Wednesday, November 15, 2023
Where: Pauley Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA
TV: Pac-12 Network National and Los Angeles with J.B. Long and Don MacLean
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Two big questions still to look for answers today… when is Berke going to be cleared and why isn’t there any updates on this? Why is andrews sitting out the whole half when he’s dressed and ready to go? Seems likely a coaching punishment
Agree that Andrews is sitting due to some type of team issue. Regarding Berke, from what I’ve read it isn’t just UCLA. It’s other schools and a variety of sports. The NCAA aid apparently understaffed and very slow and not getting players cleared in a timely manner. Lots of teams suffering.
We have cut turnovers by a lot. Are holding them to 22% shooting. Some positives. Lots of growing up to do if we are going to be competitive in aHawaii.
It’s obvious ucla is going to win and can do so in the paint… they should work on some three point sets though because this isn’t going to work against high quality teams
Vide is having a really nice game - penetrating for himself and really good with the little pocket passes to the bigs. Adds a nice dimension if we're gonna play twin towers
Well, 78-58, shoulda been a Big Mac night. We see we've got a lot of potential. Vide had 7 assists with his 11 points. Adem double-doubled with 20 points and 11 Rebs. Good night, Might Bruins! Next stop $UC with the prolate spheroid! Hopefully see you then Everyone be well!
That was a very uninspiring game. UCLA won because they were bigger and stronger. Their outside shooting was absent. They’re all afraid to take threes for fear of the coaches reprimand. Andrews sitting on the side for questioning mick cronins god like authority? Mick needs to stop micromanaging the team. He’s one of the few coaches who calls plays from the sideline on almost every offensive possession. His ego has gotten too big and it shows in all his press conferences. He’s done well to hide his little man complex in the past, but feels justified based off of his success and seems to belittle the players not named bona… it’s a team sport mick!
I disagree with the Dylan Andrews thing. Team discipline (I guess we don't know for sure) is a normal and fine thing, especially early in the season.
And it may be that this is a bad shooting team, but I don't think there is any "fear" going on. Our inside game was just working extremely well, so why go away from it?
Team discipline sure… an entire game? You have to punch a team mate to get benched in the nba… I get it, this isn’t the nba, but an entire game seems harsh.
This is so far a very poor jump shot/3pt shooting team. I would say there is lots of fear going on in this roster… have you watched any of micks press conferences? “You’re gonna do it my way”, “if you want to play pass it to bona”, the quick pull of guys when they get a foul that he doesn’t like… those are all “fear” tactics in my book. If he’s talking about things that way in a press conference, you can bet your a$$ he’s doing the same things at practice… it’s not a good long term success idea. Wind up looking like Bobby knight and eventually nobody going to want to play for you
I thought I was the only one who thought that CMC has lost his humility. I hope he doesn't go down the CBH road where a tight leash loses his hold on the team.
U! Clap Clap Clap
L! Clap Clap Clap
L! Clap clap clap
Good evening, Bruin Mama!
Hi, Terry, go Bruins!
C! Clap Clap Clap
Yikes we messed up!
Yep. All typing at same time. Still means great spirit!!
True!
Without me! :)
A! Clap Clap Clap
Why is NWuba not starting?
2-2 on free throws, a good sign. Also it is so nice to have 50-6 at pauly with Cronin, not .500 with chip kelly
Good evening, Mighty Bruins. It's looking sloppy so far...
Hi Doctor!
Slam, Bona!
Mara needs some polish.
Freight train coming through!
Bona!
This is good basketball, Cronin must be happy.
LIU has 7 fouls!
Where’s Andrews?
Nevermind. Not playing but unknown why per announcers
Nice hook and soft touch by Mara
Yeah, a nice shot
Don McClain said still no info why Andrews isn’t playing
Shooting 47% without a three.
Hope that bucket gets Stefanovic going
11 fouls for liu
12
Bona definitely put in time shooting free throws. Much improved!
Yes
D. Williams checking in
DTR is starting for the browns against the steelers!
McClendon with some solid D
15-7 on fouls at the half, their whole team almost has 3 fouls.
CMC likely not too happy with Mack’s ISO ball (as he is shown running his face)
35-17 at the half. So far this year's team looks like it has a lot of promise but needs more polishing. We went big from having an excess of guards.
Two big questions still to look for answers today… when is Berke going to be cleared and why isn’t there any updates on this? Why is andrews sitting out the whole half when he’s dressed and ready to go? Seems likely a coaching punishment
Agree that Andrews is sitting due to some type of team issue. Regarding Berke, from what I’ve read it isn’t just UCLA. It’s other schools and a variety of sports. The NCAA aid apparently understaffed and very slow and not getting players cleared in a timely manner. Lots of teams suffering.
Oh and hi BB by the way!
Hello!
It’s strange that Mara was cleared though… seems some other layer of complexity or else they would have processed them together right?
Supposedly Mara’s clearance started earlier but hey who knows. Puzzling and aggravating
Back to the original starting line up for the second half
Thank you for just scoring, Adem! I keep losing my PAC-12 feed.
That’s annoying!
It sure is!
In person it looks like Mara might be getting away with a few extra steps. Yes?
I think I've noticed it, too, ArmyBruin.
Agreed… he seems to inadvertently pick up his set foot sometimes too and that hasn’t been called either
Agree - does it make sense that he looks both smooth and raw at the same time?
Sweet move, Mack!
I got to go, night y'all
Good night Ry! See you next time!
See ya, Ry, be good!
Hey Bruin Fam... very late to the party - one of those days 🙃
Hello 💙💛
Hi BruinMom! 💙💛
Hi Tamara.
Hi Terry! 💙💛
Hi, Tamara, good to see you again!
Hi Jim! Great to see you!
You joined right after I left!😆
Sorry I missed you! 💙💛
It's ok!
Double double for Bona
We have cut turnovers by a lot. Are holding them to 22% shooting. Some positives. Lots of growing up to do if we are going to be competitive in aHawaii.
Mara looks very raw but already pretty good
Mack is out of control too much
He made some of those wild shots on Friday and got to the free throw line a lot. Not working tonight so much…
Extremely disappointed that Andrews isn’t going to play. Cronin has quite the ego these days
Must be some violation of team rules., aka a disciplinary thing. So he's in the doghouse
Yup. Better now than next week!
Must have been something big
Baskets, yeah it's ego alright! It couldn't have been that he had a suspension for violating team rules!
Hey gib… good to see you!
It’s obvious ucla is going to win and can do so in the paint… they should work on some three point sets though because this isn’t going to work against high quality teams
This game is potentially going to be one is a long time without a made 3
Vide is having a really nice game - penetrating for himself and really good with the little pocket passes to the bigs. Adds a nice dimension if we're gonna play twin towers
Agree, he deserves more playing time going forward
Bona drops a three!
Stats still say 0-4. Long 2 maybe???
Yeah, I must be mistaken, thanks!
I wish he made one!
23 years of at least one 3 made according to Don McClain.
They keep talking about the walk ones making one to keep the streak alive 😁
I know. Gonna run out of time!
We are shooting 56%. Been a while since we hit that mark.
They scored 41 points in 2nd half. Not good. CMC will not be happy.
Also 14 TOs is probably more than coach likes too
Night all! 💙💛 See you Sat for suc.
See ya, Tamara!
Good night!
Night! 💙💛
Well, 78-58, shoulda been a Big Mac night. We see we've got a lot of potential. Vide had 7 assists with his 11 points. Adem double-doubled with 20 points and 11 Rebs. Good night, Might Bruins! Next stop $UC with the prolate spheroid! Hopefully see you then Everyone be well!
Good night!
Night Jim! Sat against suc will be intriguing on the Chip front.
Going to tune into the post game to hear the radio commentary
That was a very uninspiring game. UCLA won because they were bigger and stronger. Their outside shooting was absent. They’re all afraid to take threes for fear of the coaches reprimand. Andrews sitting on the side for questioning mick cronins god like authority? Mick needs to stop micromanaging the team. He’s one of the few coaches who calls plays from the sideline on almost every offensive possession. His ego has gotten too big and it shows in all his press conferences. He’s done well to hide his little man complex in the past, but feels justified based off of his success and seems to belittle the players not named bona… it’s a team sport mick!
I disagree with the Dylan Andrews thing. Team discipline (I guess we don't know for sure) is a normal and fine thing, especially early in the season.
And it may be that this is a bad shooting team, but I don't think there is any "fear" going on. Our inside game was just working extremely well, so why go away from it?
The true test will start next week when we face good teams in Hawaii
Team discipline sure… an entire game? You have to punch a team mate to get benched in the nba… I get it, this isn’t the nba, but an entire game seems harsh.
This is so far a very poor jump shot/3pt shooting team. I would say there is lots of fear going on in this roster… have you watched any of micks press conferences? “You’re gonna do it my way”, “if you want to play pass it to bona”, the quick pull of guys when they get a foul that he doesn’t like… those are all “fear” tactics in my book. If he’s talking about things that way in a press conference, you can bet your a$$ he’s doing the same things at practice… it’s not a good long term success idea. Wind up looking like Bobby knight and eventually nobody going to want to play for you
I admittedly haven't watched his press conferences but am doubtful that Cronin is a bobby knight type of coach.
Baskets, do you ever have anything good to say about Cronin? All you do is bitch.
I thought I was the only one who thought that CMC has lost his humility. I hope he doesn't go down the CBH road where a tight leash loses his hold on the team.
Me too… my commentary clearly over the top, but you seem to see my actual concern. The loss of humility is what has me worried for sure
That guy loves to take shots at the coach every chance he gets.
You know all this how?
0 threes in a entire game snaps what, a 97 game streak?
It was like 290 games :)
Yikes, then this game really hurt some people.