Don't underestimate UCLA. It's would foolish.
Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2015 3:44 pmUCLA had a lot of struggles early in the year. They lost four guys to the NBA off of last year's team. While they are short on depth, they have a certain amount of UCLA level-NBA talent. In fact, they have four McDonald's All American's on their roster. Kevon Looney, their top freshman was recruited by everyone last year. Isaac Hamilton has been rusty after a year long lay off, but he scored 36 in the PAC 12 semi final. Norman Powell is athletic in the mode of Russell Westbrook, who drives to the basket as well as any guard in the country. Bryce Alford is their point guard by default, he can play them into and out of games. The guy is deadly from three point range if left open. Tony Parker can be a beast down low if he stays out of foul trouble.
UCLA's problem is they have almost no depth. They start three guards. Off the bench they have a talented but skinny 7 foot center, a McDonald's All American, named Thomas Welsh. He is going to be good but he is a freshman. He can be a shot blocker. Also off the bench is 6-6 tweener Noah Allen. He's not much of a scoring threat but plays a little defense, and doesn't screw up much. Then there is a 6-10 kid named Gigi Golyman. Under normal circumstance he would have been red shirted. He can hit a few threes, and plays defense half way decent.
UCLA's starting guards play over 35 minutes a game.
If UCLA plays well, they can beat SMU. If SMU plays poorly, UCLA can blow out SMU. If SMU plays well they can beat UCLA.
This game is a toss up, with a very slight edge to the Pony's thanks to Larry Brown over Steve Alford.
I've seen a number of UCLA games this year. If there ever was a trap game for SMU it is this one. IN both games vs Arizona this year, UCLA led late into the second half before running out of gas.
UCLA's problem is they have almost no depth. They start three guards. Off the bench they have a talented but skinny 7 foot center, a McDonald's All American, named Thomas Welsh. He is going to be good but he is a freshman. He can be a shot blocker. Also off the bench is 6-6 tweener Noah Allen. He's not much of a scoring threat but plays a little defense, and doesn't screw up much. Then there is a 6-10 kid named Gigi Golyman. Under normal circumstance he would have been red shirted. He can hit a few threes, and plays defense half way decent.
UCLA's starting guards play over 35 minutes a game.
If UCLA plays well, they can beat SMU. If SMU plays poorly, UCLA can blow out SMU. If SMU plays well they can beat UCLA.
This game is a toss up, with a very slight edge to the Pony's thanks to Larry Brown over Steve Alford.
I've seen a number of UCLA games this year. If there ever was a trap game for SMU it is this one. IN both games vs Arizona this year, UCLA led late into the second half before running out of gas.
