Tyger Campbell scored a career-high 28 points in last night’s win over Oregon. (Photo Credit: Jan Kim Lim/uclabruins.com)
Last night, it was Tyger Campbell’s turn to take the Bruins on his back as he scored a career-high 28 points as UCLA dominated Oregon.
Meanwhile, Arizona took care of business against the Sun Devils, 78-59, and also won by 19 points, just like the Bruins.
As a result, UCLA and the Wildcats will meet for the third time this season tonight at 7:30 pm PT on ESPN. It’s also the second year in a row that these teams will play for the Pac-12 Tournament Championship.
Of course, Arizona won the first game in Tucson and the Bruins won the second meeting in Westwood.
Who’s going to win the rubber match? That’s anyone’s guess.
Arizona is known for traveling well to Las Vegas for the Pac-12 Tournament. So, the crowd may be pro-Zona.
UCLA may be missing 40% of their starters in Jaylen Clark and Adem Bona after the freshman Bona was injured in last night’s game and did not return. Will Bona be available to go tonight?
If he is, great! The Bruins need him.
If he isn’t, will either Kenneth Nwuba or Mac Etienne step up with a great game?
Those are the questions going into tonight’s game.
Overall, I think the Bruins have a bit of a chip on their collective shoulder. They’ve had it there since those committee rankings came out that didn’t list them as a number one seed. They need to keep that there and come out to play against Tommy Lloyd’s Wildcats.
If the Bruins can win tonight, it will be Lloyd’s first Pac-12 Tournament loss and his first loss in Las Vegas.
I’m pretty sure that the Bruins can win without Clark. We’ve seen it twice already this week, but they will need to make up for the production that Clark had last Saturday night in Westwood when he scored 11 points in UCLA’s nine-point victory. Bona had just three points last weekend but he had three big blocked shots.
Can the Bruins find a way to compensate for a loss of 14 points if both Clark and Bona are out? It may require another big game from Amari Bailey as well as one from David Singleton.
It also won’t hurt if UCLA can get Azoulis Tubelis and Kerr Kriisa to both foul out again. Last Saturday, Tubelis led the Wildcats in points with 24 despite playing just 29 minutes. UCLA will need to find a way to stop Tubelis.
This one has the makings of another knockdown, dragout fight for the conference title.
As if all that isn’t enough, a win will certainly wrap up that number one seed in the West for UCLA. So, they have a lot to play for tonight.
I won’t be surprised, however, if this one requires overtime.
Listen to the Game With TMB
Tonight’s game will be on ESPN with Dave Pasch and Bill Walton. 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 tonight’s game online.
This is your UCLA men’s basketball vs. Arizona Wildcats Pac-12 Championship game thread. Here’s how to watch tonight’s game:
Thanks again for supporting The Mighty Bruin. Your paid subscriptions make this site possible. Questions, comments, story ideas, angry missives and more can be sent to @TheMightyBruin on Twitter.
I am strangely relaxed. Without Clark and Bona, my expectations are lowered. It’s all upside. If we beat the ‘Cats, it will be even sweeter shorthanded.
Another late one for me.
U clap, clap!
If Bona is less than 100%, I hope he rests. It’s not worth the risk.
Here’s to a great win by our Bruins. I join Jim with a late one, but it is worth it.
We will be outstanding tonight. Coach says as long as he has 5 players on the court UCLA is good. I trust him. Screw Arizona “the standard “. Really.
Looks like the Duke game will go a little late.
Go Bruins. Beat the Wildcats. Start time is listed as 9:40.
I am strangely relaxed. Without Clark and Bona, my expectations are lowered. It’s all upside. If we beat the ‘Cats, it will be even sweeter shorthanded.
Duke takes the ACC.
This game reminds me of how much I dislike Ariz. A very close second to SUC.
First points by the freshman!
D pressure is good to start.
Bailey, we start two-zip!
Kenny came to play!
Kenny looking good
Nubian is hustling!!!
JJ is off.
Guess it’s don’t call fouls on AZ night.
Great tip by Mac. Bailey has slipped twice and lost the ball. Kind of weird. Floor? Shoes?
So far we have gotten much better shots off. Just need them to go down. Our D pressure is much better than Ariz.
Mac forcing the turnover! Great D!
Love it when we celebrate great D
Good job, Mac! But JJ is limping.
We're 1 for 8.
Need JJ to score.
Both Mac and Kenny are working it.
Bailey is not backing down
MAC with an aggressive RB!
Andrews with the 3! Go freshman!
Dylan!!
Dylan hits a three!
Heating up.
Jaquez makes his first. Go Bruins!
Jaime's shot!
I’ll take this start.
They keep saying AZ is playing for a 1 seed? Is that possible??
Looks like a wrestling match
Way to go Andrews!
Dylan is looking good.
Not a good possession
AZ bench is annoying…they learn from their fanbase
Need a stop now!
Tyger!!!
Go Tyger.
McClendon looks like he’s on skates tonight
We have played tough D on Tubelis. Keep it up.