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| UCLA and Texas ready to duke it out http://www.ocregister.com/articles/ucla-317654-game-rose.html?pic=1 |
First look: UCLA vs. Texas
By Peter Yoon | ESPNLosAngeles.com
What: UCLA Bruins (5-3) vs Texas Longhorns (5-3)
When: Saturday, 2:15 p.m. PT
Where: Reliant Stadium, Houston
TV: ESPN
Radio: AM 570
Scouting the Bruins: UCLA hasn't played a game that counted in a week, although they did defeat Cal State San Marcos, 83-60, in an exhibition game Tuesday. After starting the season 3-0, UCLA has alternated wins and losses in each of the last five games. Freshman Shabazz Muhammad has scored in double figures in every game he's played this season, the first UCLA freshman since Kevin Love in 2007 to open his career with five consecutive double-digit scoring games. Point guard Larry Drew II is second in the nation with 8.5 assists per game and is fourth with a 6.2 assists to turnover ration. Defensively, the Bruins are still a work in progress, however, as opponents have shot 57.7 percent or better in the second half of each of UCLA's three losses. Coach Ben Howland has used a zone to some success, but hopes to get back to using his preferred man-to-man soon.
Scouting the Longhorns: Texas has played all season without point guard Myck Kabongo, who is awaiting word on his eligibility from the NCAA. In his absence, the Longhorns have struggled, with a loss to Division III Chaminade in Maui and another to USC the next day. Texas lost to Georgetown, 64-41, on Tuesday in New York and had 17 points at halftime in that game. The Longhorns mix man-to-man and zone defenses and have held opponents to 32 percent shooting this season. Offensively, guards Sheldon McLellan and Julien Lewis lead the way with 16.4 and 11.3 points per game, respectively, but the Longhorns are shooting only 41.3 percent as a team. The Longhorns have plenty of size, with six players at 6-7 or taller in the regular rotation. Cameron Ridley, a 6-9 freshman, is a shot-blocking specialist and Jonathan Holmes, a 6-7 forward, is averaging 8.4 rebounds per game.
The series: Texas leads the all-times series, 3-2, and has won the last three in a row. Last year, Texas won, 69-59, at the L.A. Sports Arena.
Fast facts: The game is part of a double-header featuring the men's and women's teams from both schools and proceeds will benefit the MD Proton Therapy Center, a cancer treatment facility in Houston. ... Reliant Stadium, home of the NFL's Houston Texans, was the site of the 2011 Final Four and will hold the Final Four in 2016.
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UCLA Basketball: Bruins hope trip to Houston not a problem
When: Saturday, 2:15 p.m. PT
Where: Reliant Stadium, Houston
TV: ESPN
Radio: AM 570
Scouting the Bruins: UCLA hasn't played a game that counted in a week, although they did defeat Cal State San Marcos, 83-60, in an exhibition game Tuesday. After starting the season 3-0, UCLA has alternated wins and losses in each of the last five games. Freshman Shabazz Muhammad has scored in double figures in every game he's played this season, the first UCLA freshman since Kevin Love in 2007 to open his career with five consecutive double-digit scoring games. Point guard Larry Drew II is second in the nation with 8.5 assists per game and is fourth with a 6.2 assists to turnover ration. Defensively, the Bruins are still a work in progress, however, as opponents have shot 57.7 percent or better in the second half of each of UCLA's three losses. Coach Ben Howland has used a zone to some success, but hopes to get back to using his preferred man-to-man soon.
Scouting the Longhorns: Texas has played all season without point guard Myck Kabongo, who is awaiting word on his eligibility from the NCAA. In his absence, the Longhorns have struggled, with a loss to Division III Chaminade in Maui and another to USC the next day. Texas lost to Georgetown, 64-41, on Tuesday in New York and had 17 points at halftime in that game. The Longhorns mix man-to-man and zone defenses and have held opponents to 32 percent shooting this season. Offensively, guards Sheldon McLellan and Julien Lewis lead the way with 16.4 and 11.3 points per game, respectively, but the Longhorns are shooting only 41.3 percent as a team. The Longhorns have plenty of size, with six players at 6-7 or taller in the regular rotation. Cameron Ridley, a 6-9 freshman, is a shot-blocking specialist and Jonathan Holmes, a 6-7 forward, is averaging 8.4 rebounds per game.
The series: Texas leads the all-times series, 3-2, and has won the last three in a row. Last year, Texas won, 69-59, at the L.A. Sports Arena.
Fast facts: The game is part of a double-header featuring the men's and women's teams from both schools and proceeds will benefit the MD Proton Therapy Center, a cancer treatment facility in Houston. ... Reliant Stadium, home of the NFL's Houston Texans, was the site of the 2011 Final Four and will hold the Final Four in 2016.
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UCLA Basketball: Bruins hope trip to Houston not a problem
Posted: 12/07/2012 08:49:48 PM PST
Updated: 12/07/2012 08:50:39 PM PST
Ben Howland is preaching patience, but he understands if UCLA fans aren't biting.
"The fans here are always going to have expectations to win every game," the Bruins coach said. "That's UCLA basketball."
This is not the expected trajectory of UCLA basketball: a home upset loss to Cal Poly, a precipitous fall from national polls, an exodus of two transfers in four days. Even measured against the program's own stumbles the past three years - missing two NCAA Tournaments - 2012 has felt like the emotional floor.
Today, the Bruins will meet a team facing similar struggles. UCLA (5-3) and Texas (5-3) tip off on national television at 2:15 p.m. in Reliant Stadium.
The Houston arena, home to the NFL's Texans, seats well over 71,000. Here's guessing many of those seats will be curtained off, or at least dutifully avoided by ESPN cameras.
"It's going to be a tough game," UCLA freshman Kyle Anderson said. "I know they're big and physical inside. I think they're going to play their hardest and I think we'll have to match their intensity. Have a higher level of intensity for here and the rest of the season."
The Longhorns received votes in The Associated Press preseason poll and were ranked No. 24 in the coaches' poll, 11 spots behind the Bruins. Both teams are now absent from the rankings.
And like UCLA, which started the season without star freshman Shabazz Muhammad, Texas has run into trouble with NCAA investigations.
Sophomore point guard Myck Kabongo is being held out while the organization tries to determine whether he received benefits from an NBA agent over the summer.
Without the quick Kabongo to run their offense, the Longhorns look like they might miss March Madness for the first time under 14th-year head coach Rick Barnes.
Texas' offense ranks No. 231 among Division I teams, scoring at a stuttering clip of 64.9 points per game.
The Longhorns' loss last month to Chaminade, a Division II team, was arguably the worst stumble yet by any team this season.
This weekend, in other words, is a must-win for a young Bruins squad that desperately needs some sign of improvement. UCLA has been particularly harried on defense, where its lack of athleticism has left holes in both its zone and man schemes. For now, Howland is still adamant that the team can learn the latter.
"I thought today we played way more as a team," Muhammad said after the team's Tuesday exhibition win over Cal State San Marcos. "As we get going, I think that transfers to our defense."
In their three losses this year - to Georgetown, Cal Poly and San Diego State - UCLA has allowed at least 57.7 percent shooting in the second half.
"The hardest part about it is switching to man, keeping your man in front of the ball," Anderson said.
"You being out there and, not communicating to your team if you need help.
"It doesn't always click until you get better with it as the season goes on."
jack.wang@dailynews.com
twitter.com/thejackwang
This is not the expected trajectory of UCLA basketball: a home upset loss to Cal Poly, a precipitous fall from national polls, an exodus of two transfers in four days. Even measured against the program's own stumbles the past three years - missing two NCAA Tournaments - 2012 has felt like the emotional floor.
Today, the Bruins will meet a team facing similar struggles. UCLA (5-3) and Texas (5-3) tip off on national television at 2:15 p.m. in Reliant Stadium.
The Houston arena, home to the NFL's Texans, seats well over 71,000. Here's guessing many of those seats will be curtained off, or at least dutifully avoided by ESPN cameras.
"It's going to be a tough game," UCLA freshman Kyle Anderson said. "I know they're big and physical inside. I think they're going to play their hardest and I think we'll have to match their intensity. Have a higher level of intensity for here and the rest of the season."
The Longhorns received votes in The Associated Press preseason poll and were ranked No. 24 in the coaches' poll, 11 spots behind the Bruins. Both teams are now absent from the rankings.
And like UCLA, which started the season without star freshman Shabazz Muhammad, Texas has run into trouble with NCAA investigations.
Sophomore point guard Myck Kabongo is being held out while the organization tries to determine whether he received benefits from an NBA agent over the summer.
Without the quick Kabongo to run their offense, the Longhorns look like they might miss March Madness for the first time under 14th-year head coach Rick Barnes.
Texas' offense ranks No. 231 among Division I teams, scoring at a stuttering clip of 64.9 points per game.
The Longhorns' loss last month to Chaminade, a Division II team, was arguably the worst stumble yet by any team this season.
This weekend, in other words, is a must-win for a young Bruins squad that desperately needs some sign of improvement. UCLA has been particularly harried on defense, where its lack of athleticism has left holes in both its zone and man schemes. For now, Howland is still adamant that the team can learn the latter.
"I thought today we played way more as a team," Muhammad said after the team's Tuesday exhibition win over Cal State San Marcos. "As we get going, I think that transfers to our defense."
In their three losses this year - to Georgetown, Cal Poly and San Diego State - UCLA has allowed at least 57.7 percent shooting in the second half.
"The hardest part about it is switching to man, keeping your man in front of the ball," Anderson said.
"You being out there and, not communicating to your team if you need help.
"It doesn't always click until you get better with it as the season goes on."
jack.wang@dailynews.com
twitter.com/thejackwang
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