Here's the be all and end all of our struggles against UCLA. We have scored 40 points, 56 points, 57 points, and now 52 points the last 4 times we played them. That's 51.3 PPG. Embarrassing. Kudos to Andre Kelly for fighting but everyone else needs a look in the mirror.
Part of this is we play "run the shot clock down" basketball. We rank under 300th in pace, so we're always going to be in low-scoring slogs. Minimizing possessions is technically good underdog strategy. But I'm still uncertain that the looks we're generating on average are the best looks.
The pace is definitely a part of this but we have seen where we maximize those opportunities like against ASU, Santa Clara, and Oregon State. Granted those teams aren't UCLA but its one thing to just not execute but its another to look so utterly inept against a particular team no matter what the strategy is.
it was interesting that at the beginning of the SC game, we ran ... and it was successful ... maybe not sustainable for success as we aren't a good fast break team, but it shows we can be capable in spurts
Bruin fan here, I thought Cal looked much improved (and far better than they looked against SC, where the Bears couldn't do a thing inside) and did a great job of keeping UCLA off of the offensive boards (this is something UCLA has been fantastic at this year). But...just under-talented. I feel like if you hand Fox that Cuonzo Martin team with Jaylen Brown et al they'd be a second weekend team, but he really needs to upgrade the level of player in the program for Cal to really be a player.
Yeah - unfortunately Fox hasn't shown the ability to ever get that level player (I think he has had two standout players in his whole coaching career - Nick Fazikas at Nevada and KCP at Georgia)
"Two games, two losses that were close enough that you walk away without your optimism crushed, but decisive enough that you can’t really pretend that Cal had a good chance to win either."
Couldn't dis agree more - USC, they played great deserbed to win, UCLA played poor, we played worse - if we played them like we played USC, we win going away.
I suppose I’d agree that UCLA played badly on offense, but I think they executed a strong defensive game plan that took everything away from us but Andre.
Here's the be all and end all of our struggles against UCLA. We have scored 40 points, 56 points, 57 points, and now 52 points the last 4 times we played them. That's 51.3 PPG. Embarrassing. Kudos to Andre Kelly for fighting but everyone else needs a look in the mirror.
Part of this is we play "run the shot clock down" basketball. We rank under 300th in pace, so we're always going to be in low-scoring slogs. Minimizing possessions is technically good underdog strategy. But I'm still uncertain that the looks we're generating on average are the best looks.
The pace is definitely a part of this but we have seen where we maximize those opportunities like against ASU, Santa Clara, and Oregon State. Granted those teams aren't UCLA but its one thing to just not execute but its another to look so utterly inept against a particular team no matter what the strategy is.
it was interesting that at the beginning of the SC game, we ran ... and it was successful ... maybe not sustainable for success as we aren't a good fast break team, but it shows we can be capable in spurts
Bruin fan here, I thought Cal looked much improved (and far better than they looked against SC, where the Bears couldn't do a thing inside) and did a great job of keeping UCLA off of the offensive boards (this is something UCLA has been fantastic at this year). But...just under-talented. I feel like if you hand Fox that Cuonzo Martin team with Jaylen Brown et al they'd be a second weekend team, but he really needs to upgrade the level of player in the program for Cal to really be a player.
Yeah - unfortunately Fox hasn't shown the ability to ever get that level player (I think he has had two standout players in his whole coaching career - Nick Fazikas at Nevada and KCP at Georgia)
Nick Kranz, what was the final score, please?
60-52...Bears cover.
"Two games, two losses that were close enough that you walk away without your optimism crushed, but decisive enough that you can’t really pretend that Cal had a good chance to win either."
Couldn't dis agree more - USC, they played great deserbed to win, UCLA played poor, we played worse - if we played them like we played USC, we win going away.
Winnable game.
I suppose I’d agree that UCLA played badly on offense, but I think they executed a strong defensive game plan that took everything away from us but Andre.
not getting embarrassed...victory!
Oh well. I thought we had a chance but the poor shooting in the 2nd half doomed us.