[llperez]

 UCLA is currently ranked #5(25-3) while Arizona is ranked #4(26-3). I cant wait for tonights game.

You have two of the top NBA prospects in freshman Lonzo Ball and Lauri Markanen. Both squads battling for NCAA tournament seeding and adding another huge win to their resume. (On a side note, how the F are the bruins still a 4 seed according to both espn and cbs brackets?!?!?)

The first matchup, Arizona led almost wire to wire winning by 11 points although their biggest lead at any point was 13. Bruins did enough to stay within striking distance throughout getting it to 3-4 points a couple times in second half but never enough to catchup. Ball had a great game with 24 points 8 assists 6 rebounds 2 steals 1 block and just 1 turnover while shooting 10-15 but he didnt have enough help as the bruins as a team had one of worst shooting performances of season hitting just 45% of shots and 10-31 from three. For Zona,Kobi Simmons led way with 20-5-6 while markanenn put up 18 and 7.

Zona has been red hot throughout conference play at 15-1 with the 1 loss being to oregon in what was a beatdown, but they were down so fast in that game with oregon coming out bombing away from three arizona was never in that game. Arizonas other 2 losses from the non conference schedule were to gonzaga and butler, but star sophomore wing alonzo trier didnt play in those games. Since returning from suspension, trier has led a well rounded wildcats team in scoring at 15 ppg while getting 5 boards and shooting 41% from three. He is also one of the better defenders and one on one creators for the wildcats. Who knows how those 2 single digit loss games to butler and zaga would have gone with him in lineup.

UCLA on other hand didnt have the toughest of non conference schedules. Going to kentucky and winning was their only top 25 challenge (although the michigan win is looking better these days). They then slipped up in conference play to all 3 of their toughest challenges losing to oregon on a buzzer beater, then zona, then a few nights after the zona loss they lost agina to USC. But they have gone 6-0 since winning 5 of those games in landlside fashion including a 41 point beating of washington and avenging the uSC loss by beating them by 32. The only single digit vicotry in that span was a close come from behind win over Oregon to avenge that loss. This leaves arizona as their only other loss to get back for.

Should be a great game with lots at stake.

Some key player stats:

TJ Leaf: 17-9-3…. 63%fg 47%3pt

lonzo ball: 15-6-8….55%fg 42%3pt

bryce alford: 16-2-3….48%fg 46%3pt

Lauri Marrkanen: 16-8-1…50%fg 45%3pt

alonzo trier: 15-5-3…44%fg 41%3pt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[SeattleSuperChronicsParticipant]

 Conference of champions. 

[OhCanada-Participant]

 Bad match up for UCLA.  Arizona has a ton of bodies that can matchup with UCLA and bigs that can defend the perimeter. 

Markannen has been hot as of late. The Wildcats have been focusing on getting him more touches inside the three point line and have asked him to be more agrees I’ve resulting in some big performances. He has also been dominating the glass. He won the last matchup vs. Leaf and Welsch and really showed he was a different level prospect down the stretch of that game.

 

 

 

[llperez]

I’m ready….let’s GO!!!!!!!!

[llperez]

Still early and close, but Lonzo shining so far in the spotlight

[OhCanada-Participant]

 Just my luck. Just got called into work for an emergency. It’s 39-39 and I’m on my way out. LL it’s on you to recap the 2nd half for me. Damn.

[llperez]

Zona got a couple questionable calls to end first half. Holiday called for charge with almost no contact while announcers both claim zona player deserves oscar. Leaf pump fakes zona defender off his feet under basket and then tries to go up only to get landed on and he falls off balance and they call travel due to the collision. Ball gets one of those fouls called on him where he is trailing ball handler at half court and the offensive player jumps in front of him coming to a stop and creating the contact to draw foul on defender, correct call but just one of those crappy I’m just strictly playing the refs plays that we see.

Bruins really fell apart last 5 minutes when ball went to bench.

[llperez]

Markanen with nice pull up jumper and zona attacking rim well

[llperez]

Wow, espn live broadcast stating during game that Lonzo will only play for lakers. As laker fan that makes me smile but we all know damn well father ball runs his mouth and players don’t decide where they are drafted. Go handle your business like pro Lonzo

As for game, this is back and forth all the way

[llperez]

Balls jumper has gone south, but holiday taking over with 8 straight points and ucla actually defending for a change.bruins up 10 with 7 minutes left

[llperez]

Ucla getting multiple offensive rebounds to take control

[OhCanada-Participant]

 Got back just in time hows the Markannen Leaf matchup been.

[OhCanada-Participant]

 Trier still lighting it up. Better prospect than the Duke gaurd imo. I’d also take him over Bacon or Ferguson I’d I’m a team trying to win and add a player that can produce immediately. 

[OhCanada-Participant]

 Wow I’m surprised they didn’t go for a quick 2 and continue fouling they got the ball back with what 15 seconds left?

[llperez]

 Boom!

[llperez]

Trier killed it. Ucla offensive rebounds was probably biggest difference. Ball didn’t have offense going second half but as usual he plays so smart and doesn’t force it. All 3 of ucla, zona and Oregon are legit and can beat each other any given night.

[OhCanada-Participant]

Funnest conference in college basketball. Compared to Big East games is somuch more exciting. 

You probably watch alot of Pacific 12 basketball. What’s the knock on Trier? This guy has killed it on every level he set EYBL scoring records, had a great freshman year is having a great sophomore year on a deep team gets better every game and steps up huge in big games. Why doesn’t anyone have him in the 1st round?

 

[llperez]

Not sure, Aran had him in the late 20’s last year then he gets suspended and he dropped? He has size for a sg, can shoot it and attacks rim hard. I don’t want to diss him at all, but tonight might have been a tiny bit misleading as most his points came off quick drives with ucla defenders out of position and the back line guys not wanting to commit fouls. But I defenitely think he is a first rounder, he was best player on court tonight.

[OhCanada-Participant]

 I missed most of the 2nd but on the plays where UCLA did set thier defence from what I saw he shot over them and hit his shots. It’s one thing to say the points came easy but alot of players would overcomplicate things and he didn’t.  He filled it up. 

Last year Buddy Hield was in the late 1st until the tournament started. With so little gaurd depth in the mid 1st I’d say Trier is a top 20 pick in this draft.

 

[SeattleSuperChronicsParticipant]

 Looks like UCLA has a one seed locked up..could Oregon sneak into a one seed?

[llperez]

Don’t know if anyone could say they have 1 seed locked up but ucla defenitely improved their resume today. Not only did they beat zona on road to wrap up avenging all 3 of their losses, but Michigan beat Purdue, Ohio st beat Wisconsin, and Kentucky beat Florida. That’s 3 of their non conference victims beating top 15 squads these last 2 days. That sos climbing like a rocket.

[OhCanada-Participant]

 Wow that’s a good point. The only loss there that is kind of suspect is Ohio St. but everyone has a down game. I’m pretty sure the committee will give Oregon a 1 seed and I don’t see both Oregon and UCLA getting a 1 seed. They’ve defenitely done thier job though. Tbh though it doesn’t even matter too much being a 1 or 2 seed. 

Michigan has suprised me alot this year. They kind of remind me of Syracuse last year. Started off slow but that’s not a team you want to run into right now.

 

[SeattleSuperChronicsParticipant]

I’d put money on UCLA getting a 1 seed. That PAC 12 tourney down in Vegas is going to be a lot of fun to watch. Even tho I think Oregon is a top 4 team they probably won’t get it.

Havent been this excited for March Madness for a while. 

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