UCLA's 78th ranked Def
- Thread starter SemperFiCat
- Start date
I don't think Alford can beat Calipari 3 in a row.
UCLA's defense has actually improved quite a bit, their defensive efficiency was easily in the 100s earlier this year.
Well they did win in Rupp and that was a game that Monk played well. It's very likely they beat us again. They won't have to defend if we can't stop them.
For us to win, we have to play our best defense of the year, because they have so many shooters. We also have to be hitting. We can't get off to a bad start as has been our wont. We were up double digits when we played them until the wheels came off, so I know we can do it. At least it won't be in a UCLA friendly arena. It is Memphis, right?
They'll basically have to win two away games vs us in one year. I don't see it.
Leaf killed us. Think he really surprised Cal. UK will be ready if the rematch happens.
I don't think they can beat us. We are much improved from our first meeting. Our defense is on another planet from where it was back then.
Nope. It's a toss up if we get there. Not "very likely."
UCLA ahot 53% and we ahot 41%. We were playing AAU ball and lost by 5. Offense was just as bad as our D.
If we play UCLA we will be fine.
If we play UCLA we will be fine.
Don't forget Willis was sick in that UCLA game. He will guard leaf much better.
If we knock them off the three point line and fight for loose balls and rebounds, we will be fine.
Had we done those two things in December, we would have won that game.
If we do that and still lose, time to tip your cap.
I love a shot at them again. We go up on them early Fox made Ball his *****. They had to let someone else bring the ball up. Then boom as usual Fox gets his mystery second foul with 9 min to go I the first half and they got the lead. It was nip and tuck most of the game. It was the first time our youth got tested. We are no where near the same team now. We had guys sneak up and beat us we weren't prepared for. Not gonna happen again. Fox is shooting much better from the outside. If they run like that on us this time we win by 15.
I agree! This UK team is top of the line talented and deeeeeppppp. Now we have figured out the effort part it's on. Bring ucla weak *** on.
I feel our defense has improved A LOT over the last few games. Guarding pick n roll much better - which UCLA does a lot.
At first I was upset with having to play UCLA. After thinking about it, I'm okay with it. More upset about our 2nd round opponent.
If they didn't reside in Cincinnati I think they'd have a real shot. Teams in that city invent ways to lose postseason games. As someone that roots for their pro teams, trust me, I know all too well.
Well, count me as one that would love to see UCLA get picked off prior to the sweet 16.
However, UK no longer plays AAU ball and I think the biggest X factor is BAM. Can they cover him down low? He was completely lost in December, he ain't lost now.
Plus, the emergence of Dom and Willis is huge. Put Dom and Briscoe on Ball and I think we see a different outcome.
I would have rather had Baylor, but we got UCLA.
Game on!
However, UK no longer plays AAU ball and I think the biggest X factor is BAM. Can they cover him down low? He was completely lost in December, he ain't lost now.
Plus, the emergence of Dom and Willis is huge. Put Dom and Briscoe on Ball and I think we see a different outcome.
I would have rather had Baylor, but we got UCLA.
Game on!
everyone knows and hates me for my prediction so I won't say it again but in order to win... we have to dare refs to make calls by being rough defensively and for the love of god no switching bigs on guards or vice versa.
It's hard to improve a lot deep in the season so to shoot up as much as they did says a lot about what they have been doing on defense recently.
Dude, 78th, nationally. Give them all the props you want. But they still have one of the worst defenses in this 68 team field. 78th.
Welch has had two great games against us in the past two years. At 6' 10", he shoots to pick and pop as good as anyone I have seen recently. We need to make sure he is covered for sure
That is why I think we win this time. Last season when we lost to them Ulis was hurt. And Lee goes out with a concussion early and the guys we had to play were not good at pick and Roll defense. This year early when we played them we were still trying to figure defense out and were terrible at pick n roll defense. Well we just played 20 games since then where pretty much everyone tried to pick and roll us so we are much much better as for the rest we match up with them pretty good. Alot of people forget we had a maintained our intensity that we had the first few min we would have smoked em. Fox had a two or three minutes where he showed the world he was better at everything than Ball other than shooting he hounded him so badly they had to let someone else bring the ball up then on offense he broke balls ankles like 3 straight possessions. Cal pulls Fox out to rest him a few I think we were up 8 or 9 and it looked like we could control them. He put Fox back in a few min later and poof with 9 min left in the half Fox gets a phantom second foul and has to sit.
Alford changed his strategy and went to the pic and roll with leaf and holiday and leaf caught us off guard nobody knew he was that good. I feel really good about this game. Willis was sick the first time and Hawkins has really brought it on we can throw some really good peremiter defenders at UCLA. And none of their post guys can guard Bam. He will draw a double team. Mulder didn't play much in the first game either and he and willis's as well as Fox's improved outside shooting will be big this time for us. In fact I kinda hope Alford tries to zone us againm we have seen zone 20 times since then they I think were the first team to zone us
Their defense is "improved" because they are playing more zone which takes away penetration. I think Ailke (sp?) got it right... UK will win because of better defense, limiting turnovers and rebounding the ball.
I think Cincy does beat them. Have that happening on my one and only bracket (I don't fill out multiple versions - I do one and that's the one I go with). I also have all of the 1 seeds dropping to an 8/9 this weekend. I know, not likely, but why not!
