Games like this and against Washington State get you thinking. Both games were dominated by great flowing offense and strong defense. Sure, Washington State and Washington are by no means at the caliber of Arizona and USC, but would the original starters been able to dominate these last two games like we've seen the "bench" players the last few days?
My takeaways (these are just opinions, plse provide constructive criticism)
1. Miles should be starting over Riley. I think in the last 3 or 4 games, Miles has shown a greater defensive and offensive rebounding presence than Riley has all season. Riley has an alright jump shot and a great left hand, but struggles with matchups (given his size more of a PF) and rebounding. What we need rn is defense, more specifically guys that can rebound well and be active/energetic. Riley just doesn't bring it like Miles does for me, and Miles has shown what kind of boost he can provide when he starts these last two games.
2. Jaylen Clark should be played more than Bernard. Sure, Bernard is a veteran but something is definitely off with his game. He takes wild shots, can't handle the ball well, and plays suspicious defense. While Clark seems much more composed, is the most active defensive player, and is a matchup problem for most teams. Let Bernard prove himself. Let him earn those minutes, because I think he may be getting complacent with them.
These are my two main takeaways.
Just a final point: I feel like Watson may still be injured. Man, he just has unlimited potential but UCLA has so much depth its tough to get minutes, especially when hes turning the ball over so much on offense. I believe in his future and want to see him exceed, so I hope he starts feeling better physically and is able to start dominating on defense again like he did against Arizona at home.
It's Myles Johnson, not Miles, and yes, he should be getting more minutes than Riley. Johnson is easily the best defender on the team.
If you look at the teams currently sitting in the top 10, most of them have at least 1 or 2 players with NBA level talent who will end up in the upcoming draft. By contrast, UCLA has none. They have zero NBA ready players, including Juzang. The only way UCLA wins is by playing lockdown, grind it out defense, needing to suffocate their opponent as they did against UW.
Johnson, Clark, and Watson need to play because they are recognizably the 3 best defenders on the team. Johnson protects the paint and the rim, Clark and Watson protect the perimeter. All 3 guys deserve minutes, particular Johnson (who I agree should be starting) and Clark, who should get as many minutes as Jaquez and Bernard, if not more.
Watson is still a project. The game still goes too fast for him and he's prone to making mistakes. But as a one on one defender, he's pretty darn good. Maybe Watson doesn't play in those crucial close game moments, but Cronin needs to be selective with Watson's minutes to ensure he gets matchups that he can win. But Watson has to play as many minutes as the game allows him to play. He cannot sit on the bench for the entire game - he needs to play in order to reach his potential of which he has plenty. IMO, Watson can be and should be an NBA talent.
Jaylen Clark flat out needs to play. Forget the stats, the eyeball test says Jaylen Clark impacts the game whenever he's on the floor. On the defensive side, he rebounds, gets deflections, and locks down his man. On the offensive side, he's constantly moving and working in space and he makes himself available for catch and shoot (except he isn't a knock shooter yet), slash opportunities, and offensive rebounds. If the score differential is 5 or less, Jaylen Clark needs to be on the floor period end of story. He is becoming the head of the snake on defense.
Defense is the only way UCLA has a chance of getting deep into the tournament. They are not going to win by blowing teams away. But they can win and should win because they are capable of wrecking the other team's possessions. That's how a Cronin team plays.
Watson had 5 assists and 1 turnover in 13 minutes of play. He’s improving and he’s not forcing things. He’s a tough and long defender. People’s expectations are a bit too high.
Bernard has been terrible lately and Clark (as well as Singleton) should absolutely be playing more minutes going forward. As long as Jaquez is healthy come March, I'm honestly fine with benching Bernard entirely when it's time for the tournament. I'm rooting for him since he seems like a great kid and plays hard but after four years he's just not someone you can rely on to make the right basketball play when it really matters. I do hope he figures it out though since what he can do that Jaquez/Singleton/Clark/Watson can't really do is create his own shot and make difficult jumpers off the dribble.
Cronin has to play Bernard when Tyger is on the bench for rest or foul trouble. He's tried Singleton and Jaquez as backup PGs but that has not worked, so Bernard will get minutes. But when Tyger is on the floor, Clark or Singleton or possibly both should be on the floor. Jaquez and Juzang had their share of bad performances lately. I'm not opposed to seeing more minutes given to Clark, Singleton, and Watson at the expense of Juzang, Jaquez, and Bernard, particularly when the latter go ice cold which they're prone to do.
In some ways it feels like UCLA plays better on Offense without Juzang. It just seems like they move the ball more looking to break down the D. With Juzang, it seems like we force it to him as ‘the shooter’.
I agree. I’ve made that same point that the other players tend to stand around and watch Juzang. We have better ball movement and cutting when not relying on Johnny.
This is off-topic, but does anything know anything about the DC, Bill McGovern, that UCLA football hired to replace azzinaro? It sounds like he knows chip but I don't know if that is a good or bad sign.
This could be a puff piece. The article portrays the 2021 Chicago Bears defense as being good when, in reality, their defense was pretty sucky, but that's not all on McGovern since he was not the Bears DC. Personally, I think the Chip could have done better, but after Azzinaro, there's no where to go but up.
It's already been discussed ad nauseum about Chip's deficiencies as a coach. It's already a universally known fact that Chip could do better but he is simply not capable. Why bother clarifying what is already an indisputable truth?
I'm not wrong in saying Chip could do better. That could be applied literally to everything that he does as the head coach of Bruins FB.
Myles kicks it out immediately for most of the his offensive rebounds. Assume this is a standing order by Cronin. Unless he is in dunking position, he does not even look at the basket.
Another off topic, how can Waller have a depth issue when he has 21 gymnasts on the roster? He struggles to find four gymnasts that can produce quality routines in each event when he needs five. In the uneven bars, he lost one girl to injury and three of the six Bruins fell.
A decisive victory. Hope they crush ASU as well.
Games like this and against Washington State get you thinking. Both games were dominated by great flowing offense and strong defense. Sure, Washington State and Washington are by no means at the caliber of Arizona and USC, but would the original starters been able to dominate these last two games like we've seen the "bench" players the last few days?
My takeaways (these are just opinions, plse provide constructive criticism)
1. Miles should be starting over Riley. I think in the last 3 or 4 games, Miles has shown a greater defensive and offensive rebounding presence than Riley has all season. Riley has an alright jump shot and a great left hand, but struggles with matchups (given his size more of a PF) and rebounding. What we need rn is defense, more specifically guys that can rebound well and be active/energetic. Riley just doesn't bring it like Miles does for me, and Miles has shown what kind of boost he can provide when he starts these last two games.
2. Jaylen Clark should be played more than Bernard. Sure, Bernard is a veteran but something is definitely off with his game. He takes wild shots, can't handle the ball well, and plays suspicious defense. While Clark seems much more composed, is the most active defensive player, and is a matchup problem for most teams. Let Bernard prove himself. Let him earn those minutes, because I think he may be getting complacent with them.
These are my two main takeaways.
Just a final point: I feel like Watson may still be injured. Man, he just has unlimited potential but UCLA has so much depth its tough to get minutes, especially when hes turning the ball over so much on offense. I believe in his future and want to see him exceed, so I hope he starts feeling better physically and is able to start dominating on defense again like he did against Arizona at home.
Go bruins!
It's Myles Johnson, not Miles, and yes, he should be getting more minutes than Riley. Johnson is easily the best defender on the team.
If you look at the teams currently sitting in the top 10, most of them have at least 1 or 2 players with NBA level talent who will end up in the upcoming draft. By contrast, UCLA has none. They have zero NBA ready players, including Juzang. The only way UCLA wins is by playing lockdown, grind it out defense, needing to suffocate their opponent as they did against UW.
Johnson, Clark, and Watson need to play because they are recognizably the 3 best defenders on the team. Johnson protects the paint and the rim, Clark and Watson protect the perimeter. All 3 guys deserve minutes, particular Johnson (who I agree should be starting) and Clark, who should get as many minutes as Jaquez and Bernard, if not more.
Watson is still a project. The game still goes too fast for him and he's prone to making mistakes. But as a one on one defender, he's pretty darn good. Maybe Watson doesn't play in those crucial close game moments, but Cronin needs to be selective with Watson's minutes to ensure he gets matchups that he can win. But Watson has to play as many minutes as the game allows him to play. He cannot sit on the bench for the entire game - he needs to play in order to reach his potential of which he has plenty. IMO, Watson can be and should be an NBA talent.
Jaylen Clark flat out needs to play. Forget the stats, the eyeball test says Jaylen Clark impacts the game whenever he's on the floor. On the defensive side, he rebounds, gets deflections, and locks down his man. On the offensive side, he's constantly moving and working in space and he makes himself available for catch and shoot (except he isn't a knock shooter yet), slash opportunities, and offensive rebounds. If the score differential is 5 or less, Jaylen Clark needs to be on the floor period end of story. He is becoming the head of the snake on defense.
Defense is the only way UCLA has a chance of getting deep into the tournament. They are not going to win by blowing teams away. But they can win and should win because they are capable of wrecking the other team's possessions. That's how a Cronin team plays.
Watson had 5 assists and 1 turnover in 13 minutes of play. He’s improving and he’s not forcing things. He’s a tough and long defender. People’s expectations are a bit too high.
Bernard has been terrible lately and Clark (as well as Singleton) should absolutely be playing more minutes going forward. As long as Jaquez is healthy come March, I'm honestly fine with benching Bernard entirely when it's time for the tournament. I'm rooting for him since he seems like a great kid and plays hard but after four years he's just not someone you can rely on to make the right basketball play when it really matters. I do hope he figures it out though since what he can do that Jaquez/Singleton/Clark/Watson can't really do is create his own shot and make difficult jumpers off the dribble.
Cronin has to play Bernard when Tyger is on the bench for rest or foul trouble. He's tried Singleton and Jaquez as backup PGs but that has not worked, so Bernard will get minutes. But when Tyger is on the floor, Clark or Singleton or possibly both should be on the floor. Jaquez and Juzang had their share of bad performances lately. I'm not opposed to seeing more minutes given to Clark, Singleton, and Watson at the expense of Juzang, Jaquez, and Bernard, particularly when the latter go ice cold which they're prone to do.
In some ways it feels like UCLA plays better on Offense without Juzang. It just seems like they move the ball more looking to break down the D. With Juzang, it seems like we force it to him as ‘the shooter’.
I agree. I’ve made that same point that the other players tend to stand around and watch Juzang. We have better ball movement and cutting when not relying on Johnny.
This is off-topic, but does anything know anything about the DC, Bill McGovern, that UCLA football hired to replace azzinaro? It sounds like he knows chip but I don't know if that is a good or bad sign.
https://247sports.com/college/ucla/Article/UCLA-Football-UCLA-Hires-Bill-McGovern-As-Defensive-Coordinator-183020953/
This could be a puff piece. The article portrays the 2021 Chicago Bears defense as being good when, in reality, their defense was pretty sucky, but that's not all on McGovern since he was not the Bears DC. Personally, I think the Chip could have done better, but after Azzinaro, there's no where to go but up.
Don't misinterpret my words.
It's already been discussed ad nauseum about Chip's deficiencies as a coach. It's already a universally known fact that Chip could do better but he is simply not capable. Why bother clarifying what is already an indisputable truth?
I'm not wrong in saying Chip could do better. That could be applied literally to everything that he does as the head coach of Bruins FB.
Myles had 6 Orebs but only 7 points, his first few plays look like he had been working on his footwork under the rim. I'm glad he's trying.
Myles kicks it out immediately for most of the his offensive rebounds. Assume this is a standing order by Cronin. Unless he is in dunking position, he does not even look at the basket.
Another off topic, how can Waller have a depth issue when he has 21 gymnasts on the roster? He struggles to find four gymnasts that can produce quality routines in each event when he needs five. In the uneven bars, he lost one girl to injury and three of the six Bruins fell.