UCLA Bruins at Washington Huskies
Alaska Airlines Center – Seattle, Washington
Thursday, February 2, 2012, 9:00 pm Eastern, TV: ESPN
Opening Line: Washington -3 1/2
Current Line: Washington -3
Opening Total: 142 1/2
Current Total: 141
Opening Money Line: Washington -165 / UCLA +145
Current Money Line: Washington -155 / UCLA +135
The Pac 12 is having a down year this season, as 8 teams are within 3 games of first place, and every team has at least 5 losses overall. The conference will be lucky to get two teams into the NCAA tournament. In fact you could argue that the Pac 12 isn’t even as strong as the Mountain West or West Coast Conferences this year. It does make for some exciting, unpredictable basketball as any team can beat any other team in the league on any given night.
The 14-7 Washington Huskies are 7-2 in conference and tied with Cal for the lead. The Huskies host 12-9 UCLA who are 5-4 in the league. I just wonder if the Bruins miss transfers Mike Moser, Chace Stanback (both UNLV) and Drew Gordon (New Mexico), along with Reeves Nelson who was dismissed from the team earlier this season. That is a lot of talent that left the program. UCLA leads the series 91-39 but the series is tied 31-31 in Seattle. The Huskies have won 3 straight games against the Bruins including both games last season.
UCLA is coached by Ben Howland. The Bruins have losses to Loyola Marymount, Middle Tennessee St, Kansas, Michigan, Texas, Stanford, Cal, Oregon St, and Oregon. The Bruins have won 2 straight games with blowouts at home against Utah 76-49 and Colorado 77-60. UCLA has additional wins over Pepperdine, Penn, UC-Irvine, Richmond, Arizona St, Arizona, and USC.
Washington is coached by Lorenzo Romar. The Huskies have losses to St. Louis, Nevada, Marquette, Duke, South Dakota St, Colorado, and Cal. Washington has wins over Portland, UC-Santa Barbara, CS-Northridge, Oregon St, Oregon, Utah, Washington St, Stanford, Arizona St, and Arizona 69-67 Saturday. The Huskies have won 3 straight games.
UCLA is outscoring opponents 70-64 this season. The Bruins are shooting 47.1% from the field, including 38.2% from 3 point range. UCLA makes 66.3% of their free throws. The Bruins average 34.2 rebounds, and have a rebounding margin of +3.4. UCLA averages 14.8 assists, 11.3 turnovers, 7.4 steals, and 4.7 blocks a game. Bruin opponents are shooting 42.8% from the field including 38.6% from 3 point range. UCLA forces 13.1 turnovers a game.
UCLA guard Lazeric Jones averages 13.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.9 steals a game. He leads the Bruins in scoring, assists, and steals. Jones shoots 36.8% from 3 point range. Forward Travis Wear averages 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks a game to lead the team.David Wear leads the team in rebounding with 6.2 a game and also scores 10 points a game. Joshua Smith averages 9.7 points, and 5 rebounds a game. Jerime Anderson averages 8.5 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1.7 steals a game. Tyler Lamb averages 9.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists a game, and 1.3 steals a game. Guard De’End Parker is out indefinitely with a knee injury. Star forward Reeves Nelson was kicked off the team for violating team rules. Last year, he averaged 13.9 points and 9.1 rebounds a game for the Bruins.
Washington is outscoring opponents 77-71 this season. Washington shoots 45.4% from the field and 36.4% from 3 point range. The Huskies make 61.1% from the free throw line. Washington is 10th nationally in rebounding with 40.3 a game, and have a rebounding margin of +5.2. The Huskies average 13.4 assists, 13.5 turnovers, 6.8 steals, and 4.4 blocks a game. Husky opponents are shooting 41.7% from the field and 34.6% from 3 point range. Washington forces 14.2 turnovers a game.
Washington guard Tony Wroten is averaging 17.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2 steals a game. Wroten leads the Huskies in scoring and steals. Terrence Ross averages 15.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.1 steals a game. Ross makes 38.3% of his 3 point attempts. Guard C.J. Wilcox averages 14.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1 steals a game. Wilcox makes 44% from 3 point range. Wilcox is probable for the UCLA game with a hip injury. Aziz N’Diaye averages 8.4 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks a game to lead the team in the latter two categories. Abdul Gaddy averages 8.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 4.6 assists to lead the team. Darnell Gant averages 7.5 points and 4.9 rebounds a game. Guard Scott Suggs is out for the season with turf toe.
Washington is 10-9 against the spread and the total is also 10-9 this season. UCLA is 10-10 ATS and the total is 12-8 this season. The under is 9-4 in this series recently, including 5-2 in Seattle. Washington has covered 7 of the last 9 against UCLA, including 4-1 at home. The Bruins are 8-2 ATS in Thursday games, 4-1 after a straight up win, 5-2 overall, 10-4 in Pac 12 games, 2-5 in road games, 1-4 as an underdog of 6.5 points or less, 1-5 as a road underdog, 1-6 in road games against teams with winning home records, and 1-7 as a road underdog of 6.5 points or less. The Huskies are 5-0 ATS as a home favorite, 5-1 at home, 5-2 against teams with winning records, 3-7 after a cover, 2-5 in Thursday games, and 2-6 as a favorite of 6.5 points or less.
Washington probably has the most talent in the Pac 12, but The Huskies have some inexplicable losses like getting beat by 19 at home to South Dakota St. If the Huskies play up to their ability then they should win this and cover the 3 point spread rather easily.
