Bruins vs Wildcats: UCLA and Arizona Renew Their Rivalry in Tucson

UCLA Bruins at Arizona Wildcats, McKale Center, Tucson, AZ
Thursday, January 27, 2011, 9:00 pm Eastern, TV: ESPN2
Opening Line: Arizona -8
Current Line: Arizona – 7 1/2
Opening Total: 142
Current Total: 141 1/2
Money Line: Arizona -360 / UCLA +280

Reeves Nelson and the UCLA Bruins take on the Arizona Wildcats ina crucial Pac-10 clash in Tuscon. Arizona is an 8 point favorite at home.

The UCLA Bruins are 13-6 and 5-2 in the Pac 10. The Arizona Wildcats are 16-4 and also 5-2 in conference play. The two teams renew their rivalry Thursday night in Tucson. UCLA has been streaky this year. They started off winning their first 3 games then lost 4 in a row, won 6 in a row, lost 2, and now has won four in a row. The Bruins have losses to Villanova, VCU, Kansas, Montana, Washington, and USC on the season. They have wins over BYU, Washington St, Oregon St, Oregon, Cal, and Stanford this year. The Bruins beat Stanford 68-57 Saturday in L.A. Arizona has losses to Kansas, BYU, Oregon St, and Washington on the season. Arizona has wins over Oklahoma, NC State, Oregon, Cal, Stanford, Arizona St, and Washington St. Arizona escaped with a 65-63 victory at Washington St Saturday. UCLA leads the overall series 47-34 against Arizona, but Arizona has won 14 of the last 26 meetings. Arizona is 20-14 in Tucson against UCLA. The teams last met in the Pac-10 tournament last year and UCLA won 75-69. The teams have split their last 6 games and all 6 have gone over the total.

UCLA has no significant injuries and has 4 players averaging double digit scoring. The Bruins are led by forward Reeves Nelson. He is averaging 13.9 points, 8 rebounds, and 1.7 assists a game. He is the leading scorer and rebounder. Forward Tyler Honeycutt averages 13.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and leads the team in blocks with 1.7 a game. Guard Malcolm Lee averages 12.8 points, 3 rebounds, and 1.8 assists. Guard Lazeric Jones averages 11.5 points, 1.7 rebounds, and leads the team in assists with 3.1 a game. UCLA is outscoring opponents 72-67 on the year. The Bruins are shooting 46% from the field and and 34% from 3-point range. Bruin opponents are shooting 42.3% from the field. The Bruins shoot 66.1% from the free throw line. UCLA averages 37.2 rebounds a game and has a rebounding margin of +3.5. The Bruins average 14.5 assists and 14.7 turnovers a game. UCLA forces 12.6 turnovers a game on defense. UCLA averages 5.7 steals and 5 blocks a game.

Arizona is also healthy. They are led by sophomore forward Derrick Williams. He leads the Wildcats in almost every statistical category except assists. He is averaging 19.7 points a game, 8.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 1.1 steals and 0.8 blocks a game. Though he doesn’t shoot a lot of 3-pointers he has hit 19 out of 27 from beyond the arc. Forward Solomon Hill averages 8.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1 steal a game. Guard Lamont Jones averages 7.9 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 2.6 assists a game. Guard Kyle Fogg is averaging 7.5 points, 1.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists to lead the team and 1 steal a game. Arizona is outscoring opponents 77-64 this season. The Wildcats are shooting 47.6% from the field and 39.7% from 3-point range. Arizona holds opponents to 42.5% shooting from the field. The ‘Cats make 74.7% of their free throws. Arizona averages 35.5 rebounds a game and has a rebounding margin of +6.2. Arizona averages 14.7 assists and 13.8 turnovers a game. They force 13.4 turnovers a game on defense. Arizona averages 2.8 blocks and 5.4 steals a game.

UCLA is a slightly better rebounding team than Arizona. UCLA also has more balanced scoring with four players in double digit scoring. Expect these teams to play in the mid to upper 60’s. These teams are inconsistent and are a notch or two below Washington in the Pac-10. Both will probably make the NCAA tournament but Arizona is in better shape right now.