UCLA

[Balatro Diabolus Ex]

The UCLA Bruins are having a down year, they lost 3 key players who entered the NBA draft early, after last seasons run to the Sweet Sixteen. This year UCLA has had to mix in two veteran guards with several freshman in the frontcourt, and the results have been mixed. All five starters for UCLA average double figures in points, led by senior guard Norman Powell, who averages 16.4 ppg. Powell is a 6'4" shooting guard who will knock down a couple of 3-point shots every game, but his real strength is taking the ball hard to the basket. He isn't afraid to drive the lane against bigger players, and he finishes strong at the rim, but can also drive and dish. Powell is the only senior on scholarship for the Bruins, and they rely on him for leadership on and off the court.
Perhaps the most important role player for UCLA is junior center Tony Parker. Parker averages 11.1 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, those are solid numbers, but they dont tell the whole story. Parker was the teams only experienced big man coming into this season, and he's the only frontcourt player they have who doesnt look anorexic (6'9" 260 lbs.) UCLA isnt a great defensive team, and they desperately need Parker to stay out of foul trouble and throw his weight around under the basket. Fouls have been his downfall, though, as he averages almost 4 per game, and his minutes are often limited because of foul trouble. Of the 5 starters he easily averages the fewest minutes played at 24.6 per game, the other 4 all average more than 30 minutes. Parker is a player who has improved slowly but steadily throughout his career, and has begun to flourish in hs first year as a starter. Over the last 5 games he has shown signifigant improvement, raising his scoring average to 17ppg over the last 5. Normally a weak free shooter, he has also improved recently in that area, raising his made percentage to 65% over the last 5 games. The key for an opponent is to get Parker in foul trouble early, and get him off the court because the rest of UCLA's big men are a not as physical. Parker is a strong kid showing real steady improvement, with another year progressing at the same rate, he could be an NBA prospect before he graduates.
Everyone considers UCLA freshman Kevon Looney to be an NBA talent already. A highly recruited prospect out of Milwaukee, the 6'9" freshman averages 11.8ppg, and also leads the team in rebounding with 9.2 per game. He's shown the ability to play both inside and outside, and has shown he can knock down shots from outside the arc, where he connects on 46% of his attempts. Some think Looney could enter the NBA draft after this season, but I think he would benefit from another year in college.
After Looney and Parker, UCLA's front court is pretty thin, literally. Seven-foot freshman Thomas Welsh is listed at 240 pounds, but its stretched out over a pretty long frame. He plays extensive minutes because of Parkers foul problems, and averages 4 points and 4 rebounds per game, which is more than half of the production UCLA gets from its entire bench. Welsh is another recruit with big promise, but the freshman is probably playing more minutes than he was really ready for. He is showing signs of progress, though, scoring 15 points in UCLA's 2 PAC-12 tournament games. He's a developing player that the Bears will count on to try and control the paint while Parker is on the bench.
Hungarian freshman Gyorgy Goloman is 6'10 and a whip thin 210lbs. He averages a consistent 10 minutes a game, and could be an important contributor in future years, if he puts on some muscle. Goloman has the unusual distinction of leading the team in three point percentage, shooting 55% from outside the arc. Oddly, he's an awful free throw shooter, going 2/9 for the season. Goloman had his best game of the year last week against USC, scoring 6 points and grabbing 7 rebounds.
Sophomore guard Isaac Hamilton also had his best game in the USC win, when he exploded for 36 points. A week before that he had his first collegiate double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds against Washington. Hamilton averages 10.7 points for the season, but like the rest of this team he seems to be stepping up as the season progresses. Hamilton was 7/9 from 3-point range against USC, and he is second on the team in both makes and attempts from outside the arc, where he is averaging about 40%. UCLA has a couple of other good perimeter shooter, but this is their gun, Hamilton expects to put up 5 shots from outside the arc, every night. Hamilton will do a bit of everything, he hauls in his share of rebounds and dishes out a few assists every night, but his real role is to shoot the ball and stretch the defense.
Sophomore guard Bryce Alford is the son of head coach Steve Alford, and is a chip off the old block. From the point guard spot Bryce averages 15.1 points per game and leads the team with 5 assists per game. Alford is the fuel that makes this team run, he controls the offense and can break down defenses with his penetration. He also isnt shy about shooting from long range, as he will hoist up an average of 6 shots from outside the arc, per game, and he makes roughly 37% This will be a tough match-up for Nic Moore, Alford is taller, stronger and I dont think Nic will be able to stop him from driving, and Alford will be able to shoot over him. It might be wise to put Ryan Manuel on Alford, but neither of UCLA's other guards are good matches for Nic, either. Sophomore Noah Allen (6'6") is the only other guard who sees playing time for the Bruins, and he is actually more of a small forward. He averages 12 minutes off the bench every game, but he's unproductive and his shooting percentages are abysmal. If he's in the game leave him uncovered and try to goad him into taking a shot.
UCLA is a young team that has gone through some growing pains, but they seem to be playing better later in the year, as the younger players mature and grow into their roles. They have also played a tough schedule that included Arizona (twice) Gonzaga, Kentucky, and Oklahoma. They have some head scratching losses, but also quality wins over Utah and Oregon. It would be a mistake to take this team lightly, or assume it will be an easy win. Playing on the road may be their downfall, I think they only won 3 road games all season.
I should mention that highly recruited forward Jonah Bolden, who had considered SMU originally, will not play, and has not played all season. He was declared ineligible by the NCAA, before the season began. He left Australia in the middle of the semester to enroll at a prep school in the US, and that caused a discrepancy with the number of core classes he had actually finished. He practices with the team, and should be cleared next year.

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[Balatro Diabolus Ex]

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