Postgame Talk: UCLA Re-Introduces Itself with Blowout Victory Over Oregon, 78-52

The Bruins got on the Ducks from the jump and never let up.

Sebastian Mack and Eric Dailey (Photo credit: @UCLAMBB)

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The last time I felt the need to go to Fat Sals was on November 12, 2021. I was exiting Pauley Pavilion with my friends after we watched UCLA prove their Final Four run was not a fluke with a victory over Villanova to start the season. We were flying high after the victory and decided that we did not want the night to end, so we shuffled off to Fat Sals to meet up with even more friends so that the party could continue.

Last night, I felt like going to Fat Sals again. Not because of the food, which I find to be terrible, but because I did not want the night to end. UCLA has had many big wins since that game, but this specific win, where the Bruins went wire-to-wire and wiped Oregon off the court for a 78-52 victory, felt like something larger, as if this new team was starting to make good on all of the potential they possess.

Before I continue, don’t worry about me. I did not go to Fat Sals. Instead, we went to pay tribute to David Lynch with a late-night visit to Bob’s Big Boy in Burbank. My stomach lives to fight another day.

This game felt like a statement of intent by the Bruins, showcasing what the fully weaponized roster can do to an opponent. UCLA got contributions up and down the lineup, featuring an offense that was hitting shots from multiple levels and a defense that was suffocating their opponent at the point of attack. Oregon was neutralized on offense throughout the game, finishing at 41.2% shooting from the field. Most critically, UCLA understood that Oregon is not a great team from a distance and forced Oregon into an outside shooting game that they were uncomfortable with. Almost half of Oregon’s shots came from behind the arc, and the Ducks rarely got an open look, finishing with an abysmal 17.4% on three-point attempts.

Of course, it helps when you have a real rim protector on defense, and the continued emergence of Aday Mara stood out in this game. The Big Lad, or El Nino Grande (we’re workshopping these nicknames) did not light up the stat sheet on offense, finishing with only seven points on 3-4 shooting and three rebounds, but his defense was the real story here, as he did an amazing job of shutting down Oregon big man Nate Bittle when he was on the court. Bittle did most of his damage when he was matched up with Bilodeau, which is unsurprising, but Mara’s presence seemed to bother Bittle too much and he was forced into a more physical matchup than he saw back in December.

This is not to say that Bilodeau was bad in this game, and if anything this was perhaps his best defensive outing of the season. Bilodeau was more active and engaged on defense, hedging harder and getting back in rotations with more of a purpose. He still struggled at times (my favorite moment was when Mara shoved Bilodeau towards the correct rotation) and he needs more time sharing the court with Mara in general so that he figures out how to play as more of a traditional power forward on both offense and defense, but this was an encouraging return to the court. Mick Cronin also seems to have figured out a solid rotation down low, with Bilodeau starting, Mara being the first off the bench and getting at least 20 minutes (he probably would have had more had the game not turned into a blowout) and Eric Dailey being in rotation with Bilodeau at the four.

Speaking of Eric Dailey, this was some night for the sophomore forward. Dailey was in his bag all evening, leading the team with 21 points on a ridiculous 8-9 shooting night. Dailey has turned the midrange jumper into a quasi-layup, to the point where I just assume that every time he takes that shot it’s going to go in regardless of how well he is being defended. His dribbling has improved as the season has progressed, and he hit a few stepback shots, including two ridiculous three-pointers in each half that send the crowd into an uproar. Dailey has consistently been referred to as UCLA’s best player, and he continues to prove how indispensable he is in each game.

The biggest story of the night, however, was Dylan Andrews. I think it is safe to say that Andrews is officially back in form, looking much more confident in both his shot and his ability to get open off the dribble. Andrews finished with 15 points on the night, and is looking more confident playing alongside Mara and using him to get open. Just as important, Andrews seems more locked in on the defensive end than he has been in months, looking closer to the shutdown defender he was last season. When Andrews plays to his potential level, the ceiling of the team rises exponentially, as he possesses both three-level scoring ability and elite point-of-attack defense, making the entire team around him better.

You could go up and down the rest of the lineup and find good contributions. Kobe Johnson did all of the little things in this game, and his defense continues to improve as he shakes the bad Enfield habits of reaching and gambling too much and allows his athleticism and basketball knowledge to take over. Skyy Clark did not light up the scoreboard, but he similarly did a lot of little things and somehow kept grabbing rebounds while surrounded by giants. Sebastian Mack seemed to be a defensive focal point for Oregon, but to his credit, he did not force much and played more in the flow of the offense, which meant there was much less in the way of the offense bogging down into iso play. Trent Perry and William Kyle III provided good energy off the bench. The only player who seemed to struggle was Lazar Stefanovic, as he continues to be in a bit of a slump offensively.

There are many moments that could have taken the spot of play of the game, but the moment that will stick in my memory was during UCLA’s last major run that put the game away for good. Aday Mara fought for a rebound and noticed a streaking Eric Dailey flying up the court. Mara threw a full-court heave to Dailey, who caught the ball in stride and slammed it home. The team immediately got back and forced a turnover on the next Oregon possession, and as the team walked back to the huddle, every single player gestured to the crowd to get louder, and they happily obliged. This is a team that is starting to believe in themselves and each other, and looks more than capable of living up to the hype that existed at the start of the season.

Go Bruins!

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