The UCLA Bruins Men’s Basketball team has been sizzling hot in March Madness, but can they get past top-ranked Florida?
The UCLA Bruins have looked extremely sharp in their first two games of the NCAA Tournament. The Bruins (28-8) dominated Tulsa and Stephen F. Austin, beating both teams by 17 points. The Bruins will take on the #1 overall seed in the Sweet 16, the Florida Gators (34-2) – who have won 26 straight games. The Gators have looked as sharp as the Bruins in their first two contests, beating Albany and Pittsburgh.
This is a game that features two teams that do the opposite; the Gators can defend anybody, while the Bruins can score as well as any. The Gators have the third best defense in the country in terms of points allowed, giving up a stingy 57.5 points per game.
The Bruins average 81.8 points (12th in the nation) and 17.2 assists – good for fifth. The game will be a true offense versus defense matchup. Don’t expect the Gators defense to intimidate the Bruins’ high scoring attack. The Bruins have played a stingy defense similar to the Gators, in the Arizona Wildcats (58.3 points allowed per game).
The Bruins scored 75 in both meeting against the Wildcats, splitting the two games. What makes the statistic remarkable is that the Bruins are the only team to score over 70 points against the Wildcats in their last 25 games. The Bruins have more talent than Florida, while the Gators simply have arguably the best chemistry in college basketball.
Scottie Wilbekin (13.1 points and 3.7 assists) and Casey Prather (14.1 points) lead the Gators in scoring, while Patric Young (10.9 points and 6.3 rebounds) is there interior presence. The Bruins who are led by Kyle Anderson (14.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 6.5 assists) and Jordan Adams (17.4 points and 5.4 rebounds), are getting excellent play from Norman Powell.
Powell is averaging 17 points and two steals per game in the last four games. Powell is the x-factor for the Bruins, if he plays like this against the Gators, not only will they have a chance to beat Florida the sky is the limit. Expect the game to be a back and forth contest with whoever commits fewer turnovers will likely win the game. If the game is in the 60’s it will favor the Gators, but for the Bruins to have a legit chance it has to be in the high 70’s or 80’s.
The winner of this contest will be favored in the Elite 8 as they will take on the winner between Stanford and Dayton. It’s an unusual situation for the Bruins and Gators, as the winner will have an easier matchup in the Elite 8. Expect the winner of this contest, to not only advance to the elite 8 but to earn a spot in the final four.
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