For more on the game, go to UCLA Men's Basketball (link).
Friday, March 16, 2018
UCLA half-&-done in the tourney. Bows out in the First 4 with a loss to the Bonnies, 65-58
Team high turnovers 20, Aaron Holiday 20 pts. Thank you & good luck, Seniors. See you all in Nov!
For more on the game, go to UCLA Men's Basketball (link).
For more on the game, go to UCLA Men's Basketball (link).
Tuesday, March 13, 2018
More on UCLA vs. St. Bonaventure match-up
OC Register:
UCLA basketball slips into NCAA Tournament, will face St. Bonaventure in First Four
UCLA scrambles to start NCAA Tournament run in Dayton
Los Angeles Times:
UCLA will face St. Bonaventure in an NCAA tournament play-in game on Tuesday
What a long, strange trip it's been for UCLA
Here's how UCLA matches up with St. Bonaventure
Daily Bruin:
Men’s basketball scores No. 11-seed spot in NCAA Tournament
CBS.com:
NCAA Tournament 2018: UCLA vs. St. Bonaventure live stream, TV channel, time, date
247sports.com:
Buffalo News:
UCLA Ready to Face St. Bonaventure in Dayton
DAYTON, Ohio – The Bruins (21-11) secured a No. 11-seed in the 2018 NCAA Tournament and will face No. 11-seed St. Bonaventure (24-7) in a "First Four" matchup on Tuesday evening. Game time at University of Dayton Arena is 6:10 pm PT (9:10 pm ET). UCLA arrived in Dayton on Monday afternoon before heading to UD Arena for an early evening practice.
The winner of Tuesday's "First Four" matchup between the Bruins and Bonnies will travel to Dallas to face No. 6-seed Florida (20-12) in a first-round meeting of the NCAA Tournament this Thursday.
GAME INFORMATION
Venue: UD Arena (13,409)
Game Time: 6:10 p.m. (PT) / 9:10 p.m. ET
Television: truTV
TV Talent: Spero Dedes (play-by-play), Steve Smith (analyst), Len Elmore (analyst), Ros Gold-Onwude (sideline)
Radio (UCLA Sports Network from IMG): AM 1150
Radio Talent: Josh Lewin (play-by-play), Tracy Murray (analyst)
KEY NOTES ABOUT UCLA
- UCLA will make its 49th appearance in the NCAA Tournament and its 11th trip to the national tournament in 14 seasons. The Bruins have compiled a 21-11 overall record after having gone 11-7 in the Pac-12 Conference (tied, third place). Last week, UCLA defeated Stanford before losing to Arizona in overtime in the semifinals of the Pac-12 Tournament.
- The Bruins are entering this season's NCAA Tournament having won eight of their last 12 games. Through games played Sunday, March 11, UCLA ranked No. 31 in the nation in rebounds per game (38.8) and No. 44 in three-point field goal percentage (38.3%). The Bruins continue to lead the Pac-12 Conference in each of those categories.
- Now in his fifth season as UCLA's head coach, Steve Alford guided the Bruins to three Sweet 16 appearances in his first four seasons in Westwood. This will mark Coach Alford's fourth appearance in the NCAA Tournament while at UCLA and his 11th tournament berth at the NCAA Division I level. Alford has led UCLA to at least 21 victories in four of his five seasons.
- Most recently, Aaron Holiday scored a career-high 34 points in back-to-back games – at USC (March 3) in the Bruins' regular-season finale and versus Stanford (March 8) before logging 15 points in a semifinal loss to Arizona (March 9). UCLA lost to top-seeded Arizona in overtime on Friday, 78-67, after tying the game in the final 10 seconds of the second half.
- The Bruins posted a 14-2 mark at home this season, with their only losses in Pauley Pavilion coming against No. 25 Cincinnati (Dec. 16) and to Colorado (Jan. 13). Away from home, UCLA compiled a 7-9 mark with four of those victories coming on a neutral court. UCLA will enter the NCAA Tournament having played its last five games away from home.
- Aaron Holiday (20.3 ppg, 5.8 apg) secured first-team All-Pac-12 honors and All-Defensive Team acclaim and Thomas Welsh (13.0 ppg, 10.7 rpg) was named a second-team All-Pac-12 selection (10-man first team, five-person second team). Kris Wilkes (13.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg) was one of five student-athletes to secure Pac-12 All-Freshman Team acclaim.
HOLIDAY'S HIGHLIGHTS
Aaron Holiday enters the NCAA Tournament as the Pac-12's leading scorer (20.3 ppg) and ranks No. 2 in the league in assists per game (5.8). He led all Pac-12 players in scoring in conference play (21.7 ppg, 18 games). Holiday totaled 30 or more points in four games and reached the 20-point plateau in 18 of the Bruins' 32 games. He had entered his junior season having scored 20 or more points in three previous games (all in 2016-17). He currently ranks sixth among Pac-12 players in 3-point percentage (43.3%), third in most 3-pointers made (84), fourth in free throws made (157) and fourth in free throw attempts (190). Among players in the "Power 6" conferences, only Holiday and Oklahoma guard Trae Young rank among the top two in their league in both scoring and assists (through Saturday, March 10).
20 AND 5
Since the Pac-12 began to regularly record assists (1983-84), five players have registered at least 20 points and five assists per game. Holiday could become the sixth player if his pace continues. No UCLA player has averaged at least 20 points per game through a full season since 1994-95 (Ed O'Bannon, 20.4 ppg as a senior, leading UCLA to the NCAA title).
MOST SINCE
No UCLA guard has registered 19.0 ppg or more in a season since Reggie Miller averaged 22.3 ppg as a senior in 1986-87. Bill Walton (1973-74) is the only previous UCLA player to have logged at least 19.0 ppg and 5.0 apg in one season. As a senior in 1974, Walton registered 19.3 points, 14.7 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game.
MORE ABOUT Aaron Holiday
- Aaron Holiday, a first-team All-Pac-12 selection, not only leads the Pac-12 in scoring (20.3) and minutes per game (37.6), but he has played in all 125 minutes for the Bruins in the last three games. In fact, Holiday has played every minute in five of the Bruins' last six games, sitting out for just 43 seconds (first half) in the team's loss at Colorado on Saturday, Feb. 25. Holiday has not been subbed out of a game in nine contests this season (all versus Pac-12 Conference opponents).
- Holiday has scored a team-best 651 points this season, the most points in any season by a UCLA player since Kevin Love tallied 681 points as a freshman during his lone season in Westwood (2007-08). Love averaged 17.5 points per game that year. In addition, Holiday ranks No. 5 (tied with Jason Kapono) for most three-point field goals made in one season. Kapono also made 84 three-pointers as a junior in 2000-01 (Bryce Alford made a school-record 117 three-pointers last season).
- Holiday has averaged a Pac-12-leading 37.6 minutes per game this season, which ranks No. 12 in the nation (through games played Saturday, March 10). Only Reggie Miller (38.3 mpg in 1985-86) and Pooh Richardson (37.6 mpg in 1988-89) have logged more minutes per game in one season at UCLA (minutes played became a consistently recorded stat at UCLA in 1978-79). Holiday's 1204 total minutes this season currently rank No. 10 on UCLA's single-season minutes list.
- Through the Bruins' last six games, Holiday has played all but 43 seconds and has averaged 26.0 points per game. In addition, in that six-game span, he has registered 6.2 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game while shooting 46.4 percent from the field and 47.3 percent from three-point territory (26-of-55). Holiday made a career-high 12 field goals on a career-high 25 total attempts in the Bruins' 88-77 win over Stanford last Thursday in the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 Tournament.
- Holiday's 12 made field goals in the win versus Stanford (March 8) were the most in a game by any Bruin this season. Last season, TJ Leaf made 14 shots on 18 attempts in a win at Washington State (Feb. 1, 2017). Holiday's 25 shot attempts against Stanford (March 8) were the most by any UCLA player in a game since Trevor Wilson took 27 shots (13 made field goals) against Arizona in a Pac-10 Tournament game (Tempe, Ariz.) on March 11, 1990.
- One of two UCLA players (along with Thomas Welsh) to be selected to the All-Pac-12 Tournament Team, Holiday averaged 24.5 points, 5.5 assists and 4.0 rebounds in the Bruins' two Pac-12 Tournament games. Holiday entered his junior season having averaged 11.4 points in 68 games the previous two years (28.9 minutes per game, prior to this season). Holiday shot 41.4% from three-point territory during his first two seasons (92/222) and has shot 43.3% from three this year (84/194).
MORE ABOUT Thomas Welsh
- Thomas Welsh, a second-team All-Pac-12 selection, enters the NCAA Tournament ranking No. 4 on UCLA's career rebounding list (1020 rebounds, two behind David Greenwood for the No. 3 spot). Welsh has totaled 343 rebounds this season, which ranks No. 11 on the school's single-season list. He has totaled more rebounds in one season than any UCLA player in the last 10 years (previously, Kevin Love had 415 rebounds as a freshman in 2007-08).
- Standing 7-feet tall and hailing from Redondo Beach, Calif., Thomas Welsh is one of just two players in the Pac-12 (along with Arizona's Deandre Ayton) to have averaged at least 10 points and 10 rebounds per game. Welsh has logged 13.0 ppg and 10.7 rpg, while Ayton has tallied 20.3 ppg and 11.5 rpg. Welsh has totaled at least 10 rebounds in 21 of the Bruins' 32 games. He is one of just six players in school history with at least 21 double-figure rebound games in a season.
- Welsh went nearly three full seasons before he ever attempted a three-point shot. In fact, it wasn't until the 31st game of the Bruins' 2016-17 season (Welsh's junior year) in which he attempted a three-pointer. He made his only attempt in that win over Washington State (March 4, 2017) before opening his senior season. Welsh has made at least three 3-pointers in seven games this year, sinking a career-high four 3-pointers in two games (at Cal on Jan. 6, vs. Stanford on March 8).
- A two-time second-team All-Academic Pac-12 selection (2015, 2016), Welsh ranks No. 3 on UCLA's all-time blocked shots list (please note, the blocked shot statistic has only been tracked at UCLA since 1978-79). Welsh will enter the NCAA Tournament having tallied 143 career blocks. The top two spots on UCLA's career blocked shots list are occupied by Jelani McCoy (188) and Dan Gadzuric (184). McCoy played at UCLA from 1995-98, while Gadzuric starred at UCLA from 1999-02.
- Welsh has totaled 29 blocks this season and has recorded at least one block in 87 of 131 games played. He has registered at least two blocked shots in 33 career contests. Welsh logged a career-high five blocks in UCLA's season opener versus Monmouth during his sophomore season (Nov. 13, 2015). As a freshman (2014-15), he finished the year with 39 blocks. Welsh registered 32 blocks as a sophomore and 43 during his junior campaign.
AGAINST THE TOURNAMENT FIELD
UCLA has gone 2-5 this season against teams that advanced to the 2018 NCAA Tournament's 68-team field. The Bruins registered wins against Arizona and Kentucky, and dropped one game each to Arizona State, Arizona, Cincinnati, Michigan and Creighton. UCLA is the only Pac-12 team in the East Region. The Bruins do not have any previous opponents (from this season) in the East Region.
UCLA vs. ST. BONAVENTURE
The Bruins have compiled a 2-0 all-time record against St. Bonaventure. UCLA and St. Bonaventure faced each other in Dec. 1973 and Dec. 1974. The Bruins downed the Bonnies in Pauley Pavilion, 111-59, on Dec. 22, 1973. The following season, UCLA earned a 78-62 win over St. Bonaventure in a neutral-site game played on Dec. 27, 1974, in College Park, Md.
UCLA vs. FLORIDA
The Bruins have gone 0-4 against Florida, with each of those four contests occurring in the NCAA Tournament (within the previous 12 seasons). UCLA lost to Florida in the 2006 NCAA title game, 73-57, in Indianapolis (4/3/06). The Bruins dropped a 76-66 decision in a semifinal of the Final Four the next season (3/31/07). Florida earned a 73-65 win in the Round of 32, four years later (3/19/11). Four seasons ago, the Gators registered a 79-68 win over UCLA in the Sweet 16 in Memphis (3/27/14).
UCLA Secures No. 11 Seed in NCAA Tournament
mar 11, 2018 | UCLA MEN'S BASKETBALL PAGE | POST LINK
LOS ANGELES – The UCLA men's basketball team has earned a No. 11 seed in the 68-team NCAA Tournament field, as announced Sunday afternoon.
UCLA has advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the 49th time in school history and will be making its 11th appearance in the national tournament in the last 14 seasons. The Bruins compiled a 21-11 record and an 11-7 mark in Pac-12 play (tied, third place).
The Bruins are entering this year's NCAA Tournament having won eight of their last 12 games. Most recently, UCLA upended Stanford, 88-77, last Thursday before losing in overtime to top-seed Arizona, 78-67, in the semifinals of the Pac-12 Tournament.
Led by first-team All-Pac-12 selection Aaron Holiday, the Bruins rank second in the conference in scoring (81.9 ppg) and have led all Pac-12 teams in rebounds per game (38.8), three-point field goal percentage (38.3) and defensive rebounds per game (28.5). UCLA's 9.4 three-pointers made per game rank second in the Pac-12.
This season's tournament selection marks the fourth year in five seasons under Steve Alford, The Michael Price Family UCLA Men's Head Basketball Coach, in which the Bruins will compete in the NCAA Tournament. In three prior trips to the NCAA Tournament under Coach Alford (2014, 2015 and 2017), UCLA has advanced to the Sweet 16 (regional semifinals).
Holiday leads all Pac-12 players in scoring (20.3 ppg), while senior Thomas Welsh ranks second in the Pac-12 in rebounds (10.7 rpg). Welsh secured second-team All-Pac-12 honors and is one of five finalists for the 2018 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award.
Monday, March 12, 2018
Pac-12 Tourney: UCLA beats Stanford in the quarterfinals 88-77. Gets Arizona in the semis.
Aaron Holiday goes off for 34 for second game in a row.
For more on the game, check out UCLA Men's Basketball (link).
For more on the game, check out UCLA Men's Basketball (link).
Tuesday, March 6, 2018
UCLA thumps USC again, 83-72. Sweeps the Trojans. Bruins now 20-10, 11-7.
mar 3, 2018 | UCLA MEN'S BASKETBALL PAGE |
POST LINK
LOS ANGELES – Aaron Holiday scored a career-high 34 points and Kris Wilkes added a career-best 22 points as UCLA defeated USC, 83-72, at the Galen Center on Saturday night.
UCLA (20-10, 11-7) secured the No. 4 seed in next week's conference tournament. With the win on Saturday, the Bruins swept the regular-season series against USC (21-10, 12-6) before a crowd of 10,258 in the regular-season finale for both teams.
The Bruins earned a first-round bye in the Pac-12 Tournament and will face either Stanford or California in the quarterfinals on Thursday afternoon (2:30 p.m., PT).
Holiday was electric for the Bruins on Saturday evening, hitting 11 of 16 shots while draining a career-high six three-pointers (on nine attempts). He also registered seven assists, five rebounds and one blocked shot. Holiday scored 20 of his career-best 34 points in the second half.
Holiday and Wilkes were the only two Bruins to score in double figures. Thomas Welsh finished with seven points and nine rebounds, while G.G. Goloman registered five points and a career-best nine boards.
UCLA trailed throughout the first half and entered the locker room at halftime trailing USC by a 43-40 margin.
In the second half, UCLA trailed by as many as eight points – 56-48 – with 15:04 to play and then by six points – 60-54 – with 12:04 remaining. A jump shot from Holiday and a dunk from Chris Smith cut the Trojans' advantage to 60-58 before Holiday cut to the basket for a layup at the 9:06 mark, tying the contest.
After a free throw shot by USC's Derryck Thornton, UCLA used a 7-0 scoring run to secure a 67-61 cushion and never looked back. From that point, the Bruins' cushion never fell to any fewer than four points.
A three-pointer by Holiday with 3:33 to play pushed the Bruins' lead up to seven points (77-70). After a missed jump shot by USC's Elijah Stewart, Holiday had the answer for UCLA with a layup at the 2:56 mark.
UCLA earned its first win at USC's Galen Center since 2015 and improved its record in the Trojans' home arena to 8-4 (since the building opened prior to the 2006-07 season).
USC's Jordan McLaughlin scored a team-leading 19 points and had four assists, while Chimezie Metu finished with 16 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks.
The Pac-12 Tournament will begin with four first-round games on Wednesday, March 7. For the second consecutive season, the Pac-12 Tournament will take place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The complete Pac-12 Tournament bracket is available online by clicking here.
Game Notes: UCLA freshman Jaylen Hands did not play on Saturday night due to a sprained right ankle, sustained in practice on Thursday ... Hands is currently day-to-day ... senior Alec Wulff played a career-high six minutes in the first half, connecting on a three-pointer with 7:05 to play before halftime that reduced USC's lead to 30-26 ... senior Thomas Welsh totaled nine rebounds, moving into a tie for fifth place on UCLA's all-time rebounds list (992, tied with Don MacLean) ... Aaron Holiday will enter the upcoming Pac-12 Tournament as the league's leading scorer, at 20.1 points per game ... no UCLA player has averaged at least 20 points per game during a full season since Ed O'Bannon as a senior in 1994-95 (20.4 ppg).
UCLA (20-10, 11-7) secured the No. 4 seed in next week's conference tournament. With the win on Saturday, the Bruins swept the regular-season series against USC (21-10, 12-6) before a crowd of 10,258 in the regular-season finale for both teams.
The Bruins earned a first-round bye in the Pac-12 Tournament and will face either Stanford or California in the quarterfinals on Thursday afternoon (2:30 p.m., PT).
Holiday was electric for the Bruins on Saturday evening, hitting 11 of 16 shots while draining a career-high six three-pointers (on nine attempts). He also registered seven assists, five rebounds and one blocked shot. Holiday scored 20 of his career-best 34 points in the second half.
Holiday and Wilkes were the only two Bruins to score in double figures. Thomas Welsh finished with seven points and nine rebounds, while G.G. Goloman registered five points and a career-best nine boards.
UCLA trailed throughout the first half and entered the locker room at halftime trailing USC by a 43-40 margin.
In the second half, UCLA trailed by as many as eight points – 56-48 – with 15:04 to play and then by six points – 60-54 – with 12:04 remaining. A jump shot from Holiday and a dunk from Chris Smith cut the Trojans' advantage to 60-58 before Holiday cut to the basket for a layup at the 9:06 mark, tying the contest.
After a free throw shot by USC's Derryck Thornton, UCLA used a 7-0 scoring run to secure a 67-61 cushion and never looked back. From that point, the Bruins' cushion never fell to any fewer than four points.
A three-pointer by Holiday with 3:33 to play pushed the Bruins' lead up to seven points (77-70). After a missed jump shot by USC's Elijah Stewart, Holiday had the answer for UCLA with a layup at the 2:56 mark.
UCLA earned its first win at USC's Galen Center since 2015 and improved its record in the Trojans' home arena to 8-4 (since the building opened prior to the 2006-07 season).
USC's Jordan McLaughlin scored a team-leading 19 points and had four assists, while Chimezie Metu finished with 16 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks.
The Pac-12 Tournament will begin with four first-round games on Wednesday, March 7. For the second consecutive season, the Pac-12 Tournament will take place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The complete Pac-12 Tournament bracket is available online by clicking here.
Game Notes: UCLA freshman Jaylen Hands did not play on Saturday night due to a sprained right ankle, sustained in practice on Thursday ... Hands is currently day-to-day ... senior Alec Wulff played a career-high six minutes in the first half, connecting on a three-pointer with 7:05 to play before halftime that reduced USC's lead to 30-26 ... senior Thomas Welsh totaled nine rebounds, moving into a tie for fifth place on UCLA's all-time rebounds list (992, tied with Don MacLean) ... Aaron Holiday will enter the upcoming Pac-12 Tournament as the league's leading scorer, at 20.1 points per game ... no UCLA player has averaged at least 20 points per game during a full season since Ed O'Bannon as a senior in 1994-95 (20.4 ppg).
The Box
Sunday, March 4, 2018
UCLA also falls at Colorado (dang it!!!) 80-76. Drops to 19-10, 10-7.
This despite 20 points from Kris Wilkes and 21 points from Aaron Holiday.
Highlights
Full game
For more on the game, go to UCLA Men's Basketball website (link).
Highlights
Full game
For more on the game, go to UCLA Men's Basketball website (link).
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