Bruin Nation breaks down their opponent.

[Rebel10]

If UCLA were in the AAC where does everyone think they would rank? Maybe somewhere between Temple and Cincinnati?

UCLA would be 23-10 if they were in our conference and they would be playing in the NIT with Tulsa, UCONN and Temple.

Right, but as far as ranking in the conference would they be the 3rd, 4th, etc best team in the conference?

[Stallion]

No doubt they played some good teams:

Kentucky
OU
UNC
Gonzaga
Utah (2)
Arizona(2)
Oregon (2)

I think at least 8 games against Top 25 plus 2 more with No. 26 Oregon

alson NIT teams like Alabama, Stanford

[mustangxc]

UCLA is inconsistent so they probably would have beaten us at home and lost to some of the bad teams in conference. I think they would have finished 4th behind us Tulsa and Cincinnati. Probably tied with UCONN.

[PonyTime]

UCLA is inconsistent so they probably would have beaten us at home and lost to some of the bad teams in conference. I think they would have finished 4th behind us Tulsa and Cincinnati. Probably tied with UCONN.

Their numbers would have been dragged down by games against UCF, USF, Tulane, ECU, Houston. Plus they would have been road weary having to travel across the country to play all of their road games - which would lead to a loss to one of those aforementioned teams...

[Rebel10]

UCLA is inconsistent so they probably would have beaten us at home and lost to some of the bad teams in conference. I think they would have finished 4th behind us Tulsa and Cincinnati. Probably tied with UCONN.

4th sounds pretty reasonable.

[sadderbudweiser]

If UCLA were in the AAC where does everyone think they would be? Maybe somewhere between Temple and Cincinnati?

Located? Somewhere between Lubbock and Odessa.

[ojaipony]

I think you all are way underestimating UCLA. They have better athletes than us in the starting 5 and played much better competition across the board. You don't lose by 6 to Zona on a neutral court and be "terrible".

We haven't played against athletes like these this year (Arky maybe).

The ONLY way we win is via superior coaching, get their bigs in foul trouble early (especially Looney), play solid perimeter D, and Nic go off from 3.

Call it panicking all you want, I'm just being realistic.

This is going to be a very tough game for us to win. They have solid bigs to nullify our bigs. And their guards are much more productive offensively than our guards.

Watch some tape - review their stats and their players. They would win the AAC to answer the previous question. This one is going to be tough.

[EastStang]

As Hampton proved last night, any team can win from here on out. We need to play our mansized game tomorrow in Louisville. UCLA is athletic and has some lottery picks. They can beat us. We need to play our game and make them shoot from the perimeter. If they light it up, we lose. If they don't we have a great chance of winning. We have to beat them in the paint where it matters.

[LA_Mustang]

Watch some tape - review their stats and their players. They would win the AAC to answer the previous question. This one is going to be tough.

Everyone has a right their opinion but it is crazy to think UCLA would've won the AAC this year, which means you think they are a better team than us. I'd like to know what you're basing that opinion on. I've watched several recorded UCLA games the last couple of nights and I just don't see it. No doubt they are talented, but they are nowhere near the team we are.

[ojaipony]

Watch some tape - review their stats and their players. They would win the AAC to answer the previous question. This one is going to be tough.

Everyone has a right their opinion but it is crazy to think UCLA would've won the AAC this year, which means you think they are a better team than us. I'd like to know what you're bases that opinion on. I've watched several recorded UCLA games the last couple of nights and I just don't see it. No doubt they are talented, but they are nowhere near the team we are.

Each of their 5 are better than our 5.

Powell is better than Nic. Much bigger, more athletic. Will just shoot over him. (if we put Nic on Alford, same thing - he'll just shoot over him).
Looney is a consensus lottery pick. Who on our roster will even MAKE the NBA next year?
Alford (see note above - 40% 3 pt shooter)
Parker is a beast. MK will not be able to just push anyone around in this game if we don't get him in foul trouble.

We have mismatches across the board in their favor. Again, it seems LB can coach circles around Alford and if we can get their bigs in foul trouble early and keep them from going off from 3 land, I like our chances (Sterling and Cannen will need to be really productive). But, otherwise, I can't see it happening.

[Grant Carter]

Gotcha down

[ojaipony]

Oh, and also Isaac Hamilton.

Scout’s 31st-ranked player in the Class of 2014, shoots 39% from 3 land. 6'4". If you put Manuel on him, who is Nic going to guard? 6'4" Alford? Powell? Come on.

These kids are elite level athletes we did not face in the AAC. McD AA and lottery picks. Yes, we CAN win (our depth and coaching for sure) of course. But let's not pretend UCLA is 'terrible'. It's going to be a very tough game to win.

[ericdickerson4life]

Most talent on the court does not always win. Most of the time it goes to the best team. Time to stop acting scared and act like we belong. I have respect for UCLA but we are the better team. We opened as favorites in Vegas. It's time we start thinking along those lines. I for one will be disappointed with a loss tomorrow. I'm enjoying the ride, but I still have expectations. Think UCONN would be acting like they would be lucky to beat UCLA if they were in our shoes?

One at a time beginning tomorrow. Pony Up!

[LA_Mustang]

Again, I know you're a pessimist based on your posting history, so I'll I chalk it up to you overreacting. You must have watched a lot of UCLA because I didn't see what you're describing in the games I watched - you make it seem like UCLA should be a top 4 seed.

Powell can score but I don't think he's a better player than Nic. Nic is outsized by every PG he plays. Nothing new there. I don't think Powell's any better than Boatright or Cummings. Parker is a load and Looney is long but I'll take our interior guys over them everyday of the week.

[ojaipony]

Most talent on the court does not always win. Most of the time it goes to the best team.

I agree 100%.