LOS ANGELES — The preliminary part of the UCLA men’s basketball season has consisted of matchups against nonconference opponents, most of which have allowed the Bruins to work through early-season kinks while avoiding the loss column. The one exception came on Nov. 8, when UCLA lost 72-64 in a neutral-site game to New Mexico.
“We weren’t ready to play that hard, that intense,” head coach Mick Cronin said about that defeat.
He and a number of players, though, feel the Bruins (6-1) are a different team from the one that couldn’t match the Lobos’ fervor. They’ve used the games since then to prepare for an upcoming slate which includes the start of Big Ten play Tuesday at home against Washington (6-1) at 7:30 p.m. UCLA also has upcoming neutral-site games against No. 20 North Carolina and No. 7 Gonzaga in December.
The Bruins are far from complete, but they’ve grown together through their early nonconference games. Tougher tests are ahead.
Here are four takeaways as they enter Big Ten play.
UCLA’s defense is as suffocating as advertised
After seven games, the Bruins have the fourth-highest defensive rating in the nation, according to KenPom. The stat calculates the overall points allowed per 100 possessions, but doesn’t account for strength of schedule, which for the Bruins is 339th.
With the schedule ramping up, it will soon become clear just how real the Bruins’ defense is. There are reasons on film for Cronin and others to trust that it will translate well into games against tougher opponents.
“Our effort, our intensity, it can disrupt any team,” forward Eric Dailey Jr. said at Monday’s practice.
The Bruins had 62 deflections against Southern Utah on Nov. 26, which Cronin said was probably a record. They ran a gap discipline drill during the media viewing portion of Monday’s practice. Their activity and presence in the passing lanes will continue to keep them in any game regardless of the opponent.
UCLA will need better offensive production out of its guards
Heading into the season, the perception was that junior Dylan Andrews, the longest-tenured Bruin and Skyy Clark, a junior who led Louisville in scoring last season, would be two of the key offensive creators at the guard spot. Instead, returning sophomore Sebastian Mack has flourished as the sixth man, averaging 9.9 points per game, and more importantly, shooting 48.6% from the field, a 10-point uptick from his freshman season.
“The shot selection has been much better,” Cronin said Monday about Mack.
Tyler Bilodeau (13.9 ppg) and Dailey (12.3 ppg) have been the most consistent contributors aside from Mack. But if the Bruins want to reach their potential, they’ll need more from that guard spot.
Andrews (8 ppg) missed two games with left groin pain, but in his third game back he seemed to find a groove, scoring 11 points against Southern Utah. Clark (4.9 ppg), on the other hand, has been hot in practice, Cronin says, but it has yet to translate to a game.
“I need Dylan and Skyy to start helping Sebastian with the scoring,” Cronin said.
UCLA will need to improve its half-court offense
In relation to the last point, guards knocking down shots would help solve this issue. It’s a problem that hasn’t aggrieved the Bruins to this point because they’ve generated so many points off turnovers.
But in stretches when their defense isn’t leading to buckets, the Bruins can look lifeless. Their offensive sets rarely lead to open looks. After their victory over Lehigh on Nov. 11, senior Lazar Stefanovic addressed this topic pointing to the lack of playing experience this team, with six newcomers in the rotation, has together. The Bruins have had time since then to work through their half-court offense struggles without it impacting their record, but Big Ten play will be different.
“When you get into the meatier part of the season, they’re going to try to not turn it over,” Cronin said. “You’re not just going to be able to steal the ball and lay it in. You’ve got to continue to get better in the half court.”
Cronin has mentioned he wants these Bruins to be a “ball-movement team”, rather than one that relies on isolation. They’ll need to lean into that and run cleaner offensive sets to compete throughout their upcoming stretch.
UCLA has no clear cut superstar
Cronin has expressed a comfortability with the lack of a demonstrative hub. It’s why he wants his team to rely on ball movement. Bilodeau leads the team in scoring and Kobe Johnson is the main defensive stopper. But any given night can be anyone’s night. Mack scored 21 against Idaho State, Dailey has been the most consistent Bruin, and Clark had 16 deflections in one game.
This is an intended advantage of the Bruins’ depth and as long as they lean into it, it will remain a strength.
