Utes take aim at Bruins in Pac-12 tilt

Los Angeles, CA (SportsNetwork.com) – With their sights set on keeping pace atop the Pac-12 standings, the 11th-ranked Utah Utes head to the City of Angels this week for a two-game set, starting with Thursday’s showdown with the UCLA Bruins at Pauley Pavilion.

Larry Krystkowiak’s Utes are coming off a clean sweep of the Washington schools last week at home, as they topped both Washington State (86-64) and Washington (77-56) in impressive fashion. With the wins, Utah improves to 16-3 overall and 6-1 in league play, a half game behind Arizona (7-1).

Steve Alford’s Bruins have disappointed this season. UCLA is just staying afloat above .500 at 11-9 overall, which includes a mere 3-4 mark in Pac-12 play. The Bruins return home after a fruitless trip to the state of Oregon, falling in back-to-back games at Oregon State (66-55) and most recently, Oregon (82-64).

UCLA holds a narrow 7-6 lead in the all-time series with Utah, but it is the Utes seeking the regular-season sweep after handing the Bruins a humbling 71-39 whipping in Salt Lake City back on Jan. 4.

Utah has shown very few weaknesses this season, as the team’s +18.6 scoring margin would suggest. The Utes are extremely efficient at the offensive end, shooting .499 from the floor overall, including .417 from behind the arc. The defensive play has been just as strong though, with foes averaging a mere 56.5 ppg on .379 shooting. Scoring depth for Utah comes in the form of Delon Wright, Jordan Loveridge and Brandon Taylor. Wright is the straw that stirs the drink for Utah, with the ability to score (14.6 ppg), distribute (6.1 apg – second in the Pac-12) and play tight defense (43 steals). Loveridge (11.2 ppg) is next in the scoring column, followed closely by Taylor (10.7 ppg), who is the team’s resident sniper (40 3-pointers – .465 from behind the arc).

Utah made light work of Washington last time out by shooting .538 from the floor in the game, including a scorching .611 from behind the arc (11-of-18). Dakari Tucker had a huge game, as he came off the bench to tally a career-high 19 points, thanks in large part to 4-of-5 from long distance. Taylor finished the game with 14 points, while Chris Reyes chipped in with 11.

There wasn’t much UCLA could do to counter the hot-shooting Ducks last weekend in Eugene. Oregon shot a sizzling .622 from the field overall and was a ridiculous 9-of-13 from 3-point range in lopsided affair. UCLA could do very little to keep pace, despite getting 23 points from Norman Powell in the game. Bryce Alford and Kevon Looney both added 15 points to the cause, but the Bruins shot just .409 from the floor in the loss.

The Bruins’ roster is top heavy, as five players are averaging double-digit point totals, followed by a harsh dropoff in production, as the sixth leading scorer checks in at just 4.0 ppg. Overall, UCLA comes into this contest averaging a modest 71.9 ppg, doing so on just .419 shooting efficiency. Alford, the coach’s son, leads the way as both the top scoring threat (15.8 ppg) and distributor (5.5 apg) on the team. Powell (15.5 ppg) can fill up the basket as well, followed by Looney (13.0 ppg), Tony Parker (10.8 ppg) and Isaac Hamilton (10.2 ppg). The 6-foot-9 Looney is just a freshman, but has dominated in the low post this season, recording 10 double-doubles on the year and ranking second in the Pac-12 in rebounding with 10.2 rpg.

Categorized in: NCAA Basketball