UCLA Bruins at Washington Huskies, Alaska Airlines Arena, Seattle, WA
Thursday, March 3, 2011, 9:00 pm Eastern, TV: ESPN2
Opening Line: Washington -7
Current Line: Washington -8 1/2
Opening Total: 148
Current Total: 150
Money Line: Washington -360 / UCLA +300
This game could have been much more important for Washington had they beaten in-state rival Washington St last Sunday. However, Washington lost at home 80-69 to fall two games behind Arizona and UCLA in the Pac-10 standings. UCLA forced a tie with Arizona last week by beating the Wildcats 71-49 at Pauley Pavilion. Arizona hosts the two Oregon schools this weekend. UCLA is 12-4 in conference and 21-8 overall. Washington is 10-6 in conference and 19-9 overall. What looked to be a pretty safe NCAA bid a couple of weeks has gotten a little shaky for the Huskies. The Huskies beat UCLA at Pauley December 31 74-63, but the Huskies were playing much better at that point in the season. Washington also has wins over Virginia, Texas Tech, USC, Oregon, Oregon St, Cal twice, Arizona, Arizona St twice, and Stanford. The Huskies have losses to Kentucky, Michigan St, Texas A&M, Stanford, Washington St twice, Oregon, Oregon St, and Arizona. UCLA had a 4 game losing streak near the beginning of the season, but has gone 18-4 since then including 8 of the last 9. UCLA has losses to Villanova, VCU, Kansas, Montana, Washington, USC, Arizona and Cal. They have wins over BYU, Washington St, Oregon St twice, Oregon twice, California, Stanford twice, Arizona St twice, USC, St. John’s, and Arizona.
UCLA and Washington usually play each other pretty close. Since 1997, UCLA is 15-13 straight up against Washington. Washington has won the last 6 games in the series played in Seattle. The Huskies are 3-2 straight up in the last 5 meetings and 3-1-1 ATS in those games. Three of those five have gone over the total.
UCLA has no significant injuries right now. UCLA is led by forward Reeves Nelson who is averaging 14 points to lead the team, 9 rebounds to lead the team, and 1.7 assists a game. UCLA Guard Malcolm Lee averages 13.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists. Forward Tyler Honeycutt averages 12.8 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and leads the team in blocks with 2 a game. Center Joshua Smith averages 10.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1 block a game. Guard Lazeric Jones averages 9.9 points, 2.1 rebounds, and leads the team in assists with 3.7 and steals with 1.1 a game. UCLA is outscoring opponents 71-66 on the year. The Bruins are shooting 46.4% from the field and and 33.5% from 3-point range. Bruin opponents are shooting 41.6% from the field. The Bruins shoot 67.4% from the free throw line. UCLA averages 37.2 rebounds a game and has a rebounding margin of +4.6. The Bruins average 15.1 assists and 15 turnovers a game. UCLA forces 12.1 turnovers a game on defense. UCLA averages 5.8 steals and 5.5 blocks a game.
Washington guard Scott Suggs missed the last game for the Huskies with a knee injury but is listed as probable for this game. He averages 7.3 points a game but leads the Pac-10 in 3-point shooting at 45.5%. Washington guard Abdul Gaddy tore his ACL in practice a few weeks ago and is gone for the season. He was averaging 8.5 points a game. Washington is led by guard Isaiah Thomas, a candidate to win Pac-10 player of the year. Thomas is averaging 16.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 1.2 steals a game. He leads the team in points and assists. Forward Matthew Bryan-Amaning is averaging 16.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1 steal and 1.7 blocks a game. He leads the team in rebounds and blocks. Justin Holiday averages 11.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.3 steals a game to lead the team. Washington is outscoring opponents 85-71 on the year. The Huskies are shooting 47.8% from the field and 37.8% from 3-point range. Husky opponents are shooting 41.7% from the field. Washington is shooting 66.1% from the free throw line. The Huskies average 39.7 rebounds a game and have a rebounding margin of +5.2. Washington averages 17.7 assists and 12.7 turnovers a game. They force 15.4 turnovers a game on defense. The Huskies force 6.9 steals and 5.6 blocks a game.
Washington’s strength is their offense, as they are second in the country in points per game. However, UCLA”s strength is their defense . The Bruins are 3rd in the Pac-10 in defensive scoring and opponents field goal percentage. The loss against Washington St was the first at home for the Huskies this season. I think both these teams will make the NCAA tournament just because the bubble is so soft this year. However, a win will help either team improve their resumes.
Our college basketball handicappers are red hot as the regular season winds down and postseason play begins. Don’t miss out on any more winners this month and next.
