LOS ANGELES — The UCLA men’s basketball team is a team of two stories. On the road, it resembles a team on the outside of the NCAA Tournament. But catch the Bruins inside Pauley Pavilion and one might consider penciling them into the Sweet Sixteen of their bracket.
UCLA’s own head coach admitted he has no semblance of a pulse.
“I haven’t been able to predict it with this team if I’m being honest with you,” Mick Cronin said after the Bruins dominated No. 9 Nebraska on Tuesday at Pauley Pavilion, where the Bruins are 17-1 while 3-9 away from Westwood.
In games like Tuesday, when that deep postseason run seems realistic, UCLA pops the ball around on offense and communicates and hustles to overcome its deficiencies on defense.
For success to continue in the Pacific time zone, with a game against crosstown rival USC on Saturday at the Galen Center and for a postseason run, the Bruins must lean into their three-guard lineup and the attitude they brought to their win over Nebraska and continue improving players like Eric Freeny.
X-Factors are crucial in March and Freeny is certainly becoming that. He does all the dirty work most players don’t, the things Cronin loves. That’s how the coach developed him during his redshirt year and across this season as Freeny’s gradually gained trust and playing time.
“It’s his toughness and I’m a big believer in it,” Cronin said. “That’s why I signed him.”
On Tuesday, Freeny banged for loose balls and rebounds and helped limit Cornhuskers’ guard Pryce Sandfort to nine points on nine field-goal attempts.
Freeny’s grit has been evident, but it comes in spurts – only present when Cronin decides to deploy him. He played 18 minutes in UCLA’s win against Nebraska three days after a DNP in a loss at Minnesota.
“I just have to keep on working,” Freeny said. “No ceiling, just have to keep on going. That’s it. That’s what it’s going to take.”
Freeny’s efforts correlate to winning basketball, but haven’t been rewarded with consistent minutes. That could change with Cronin taking recognition.
“Coach is always looking out for [me], doing what’s best for me, just trying to push me to my max,” Freeny said. “I’ve got to keep on going. He’s going to push me every day, but I have to love it, though. That’s the biggest thing.”
Freeny’s 6-foot-4 length allows him to come off the bench and play in three-guard lineups, which have been more frequent. Those configurations are especially effective with the starting group. UCLA (20-10, 12-7 Big Ten) changed its first five to include Donovan Dent, Trent Perry, Skyy Clark, Eric Dailey Jr. and Tyler Bilodeau on Feb. 21.
In the four games since that alteration, the Bruins have improved their offensive rating to 25th in the KenPom rankings and have recorded a 123.8 offensive rating, which would rank 19th in the nation. Pacing the unit is Dent, posting 46 assists while committing two turnovers over that same span.
“We have the offensive talent and when we share the ball, we are hard to defend,” Cronin said. “Nebraska is the fifth-best team metrically in the country defensively, so we’re hard to defend when we execute and share the ball and have proper space.”
While UCLA’s defensive metrics haven’t seen similar improvements, Cronin is never giving up hope on that side, telling his team in the locker room after its home upset of then-No. 10 Illinois: “Don’t tell me you can’t do it. Don’t tell me we can’t be a better defensive team.”
It just looks different than with past Cronin teams who had defensive stalwarts such as Kobe Johnson, Jaylen Clark and Adem Bona. These Bruins have to do it with heart.
“Give credit to our guys,” Cronin said after Tuesday’s victory, “because they were selfless and we played with toughness.”
Cronin emphasized he believes UCLA would have Nebraska’s 25-5 record if it could take the Cornhuskers’ attitude.
UCLA isn’t talented enough defensively to lose focus. If that crops up, the Bruins could lose to USC (18-12, 7-12) or see their season end early. But each of these advancements are controllable. Each of the facets could lead to a postseason run. It’s just a matter of applying it away from Pauley Pavilion.
UCLA (20-10, 12-7 Big Ten) at USC (18-12, 7-12)
When: 6 p.m. Saturday
Where: Galen Center
TV/Radio: FS1/AM 790
Related Articles
USC men look to snap six-game skid in UCLA rematch UCLA women shake off Washington to advance to Big Ten Tournament semifinal Alexander: Here’s a way to end college sports’ transfer chaos No. 2 UCLA women set to defend Big Ten Tournament title UCLA men find their home rhythm again, rout No. 9 NebraskaHence then, the article about ucla men approach usc rematch hoping to solve their road woes was published today ( ) and is available on Los Angeles Daily News ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( UCLA men approach USC rematch hoping to solve their road woes )
Also on site :