(Photo: Josh Orcutt/WCSN)
Following a disappointing loss to USC in their first Pac-12 road game, the Arizona State Sun Devils travel across Los Angeles to take on the UCLA Bruins.
ASU had a tough go against the Trojans as it trailed for most of the game. Down by as many as 17 points in the second half, the Sun Devils mounted a furious comeback and were within two points with just under two minutes to go.
Despite the late effort, USC finished the game on a 10-2 run and handed ASU its second loss in a row.
UCLA, however, is coming off one of its biggest wins of its season, defeating the No. 7 Arizona Wildcats in their last game.
Led by junior guard Bryce Alford, the Bruins have had a rollercoaster season. They’ve suffered losses to teams such as Monmouth and Wake Forest, while defeating tougher competition in the likes of Gonzaga and Kentucky.
The Bruins have the third-most potent offense in the Pac-12, averaging just over 80 points per game. They are a team that knows how to put the ball in the basket and when they lose, it is often due to their effort on the defensive end.
Both teams are looking to avoid a slow start in conference play and a win for either team keeps them afloat to continue fighting for a chance at a Pac-12 championship.
Keys to the Game
Slowing down Alford
UCLA point guard Bryce Alford is easily one of the best players in the conference, averaging 17.4 points per game to go along with 5.2 assists. He is the catalyst for the Bruin offense and a lot of the ball movement they have around the perimeter goes through him.
Not only that, Alford is a great three-point shooter and has the ability to knock down contested shots from almost anywhere on the floor. In UCLA’s upset of Arizona, Alford nailed a tough step back three-pointer with 1.8 seconds left to take down the Wildcats. He has a knack for creating points in many ways.
For ASU to stop Alford, they will have to run him off of the three-point line and make him get rid of the ball. There will still be open looks for Alford in the flow of the game but it will be up to the Sun Devils to contest all shots and make it difficult for him or any of the other Bruins to score.
Take advantage on offense
One glaring weakness in this UCLA team is that it does not defend very well. The Bruins are dead last in the Pac-12 in scoring defense, allowing 77 points per game.
The Sun Devils will need to take advantage of UCLA’s defensive ineptitude by running their offense smoothly. Getting the ball down in the post to junior forward Savon Goodman is a must, along with decent outside shooting.
While ASU is not a particularly excellent perimeter shooting team, it is able to knock down open looks when the opportunities present themselves. Moving the ball on offense will help develop some clean chances for ASU to shoot the ball. If the Sun Devils are able to make these shots, it will give them a much better chance to walk out of Los Angeles with a win.
Rebounding
Outside of a bad shooting night, another reason ASU lost to USC in its last game out was its poor rebounding effort. The Sun Devils were outrebounded 42-34.
In four of ASU’s five losses this season, it lost the rebounding margin. When the Sun Devils lose, it almost directly correlates with their hustle on the boards.
Goodman, senior forward Eric Jacobsen, and junior forward Obinna Oleka will need to crash the boards hard to gain rebounds on both ends of the floor. Even the guards will need to venture into the paint to secure long rebounds. These extra possessions for the Sun Devils could be the difference between a win and a loss.
