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Bruinbaskets's avatar

I am usually the first to complain about the refs, and usually do so in these threads… but for the first time in a long time, the disparity didn’t bother me as much. I agree that this team has played better basketball the last two games. The first half ucla were shooting over 50% and had made 7/11 3’s if I’m not mistaken? Zona was also missing everything.

In the second half, the 3’s weren’t falling, the only person driving to the hoop was Mack (as usual), and zona started to play the offense that they are known for. They have several capable veterans on their team including their UNC transfer. As much as I despise Larsson, he is a great player and could make his way to the nba at some point for his shooting alone. This makes them hard to defend, and they aren’t a small team and started pounding the paint and getting the ball inside where the refs were blowing their whistle.

The free throw disparity is the biggest stat in this game and does account for the difference. The next stat notable to me is the rebounding. Im curious if anyone else watches the bruins positioning on rebounding and wonder what they are being coached to do? Most teams that I watch in college get in a position inside their man when trying to get the defensive rebound. For whatever reason, ucla players don’t seem to look at their cover and try to establish the inside position. Instead they just stand where they are and look for the ball. Most of the time bona in particular is standing outside like he’s going for an offensive rebound? You all know I have minimal knowledge on these basketball topics, so maybe someone can explain why ucla defensive rebounding doesn’t look like any other defensive teams in the ncaa? Meaning, they don’t look for their guy first and box him out and then look for the rebound. This should be common sense at this point right?

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