Denver @ UCLA preview
Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom
UCLA bounced back from a rough 1-3 stretch with its most lopsided win of the season. Now, in advance of a pair of ACC matchups, the Bruins are looking to squeeze in another home victory when they host Denver on Sunday.
Coach Mick Cronin’s squad hammered visiting San Jose State 93-64 last Sunday to get back on track following losses to Hofstra, BYU and Michigan State, sandwiched around a victory over Division II Chaminade in the Maui Invitational. In beating the Spartans, the Bruins limited the visitors to 35.2-percent shooting and forced 20 turnovers, but guard Chris Smith said the team’s overall defensive game very much remains a work in progress. “We’re not even playing the defense that (Cronin) is known for at the moment,” Smith said following his 14-point effort off the bench Sunday. “… We just have to get in a groove, get more comfortable and we have to talk more (on defense), and then I think we’ll start progressing toward what he wants.” Facing Denver, of the Summit League, should aid in that endeavor as the Pioneers are averaging only 62.3 points per game and have 28 more turnovers than assists on the season.
TV: 5 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network
ABOUT DENVER (4-5): The Pioneers are coming off a 67-58 home win over Jackson State on Tuesday but have struggled away from the Mile High City with a 1-5 road/neutral-site record and all five losses coming by double digits. Guards Ade Murkey (12.2 points) and Jase Townsend (11.8) are the leading scorers, with the 6-3 Townsend also averaging a team-best 5.3 rebounds per outing. Denver, though, has been beaten on the glass (minus-3.2 rebound margin) and is shooting only 29.2 percent from 3-point range and 64.8 percent at the free-throw stripe.
ABOUT UCLA (6-3): Led by forward Jalen Hill (12.3 points) and Smith (12.2), four players are averaging double figures for the Bruins, who are shooting 46.1 percent overall following their 52.3-percent outing Sunday against San Jose State. The 6-10 Hill is the leading rebounder with 7.8 per game on a team which ranks second in the Pac-12 with a plus-8.3 margin on the glass. Redshirt-freshman point guard Tyger Campbell is averaging a team-leading four assists per game while reserve David Singleton is the Bruins’ top long-range threat, connecting on 10-of-19 3-pointers (52.6 percent).
TIP-INS
1. This actually will be the 12th meeting between the programs, with UCLA owning a 10-1 advantage, but they haven’t met since the 1975-76 season.
2. Denver’s opponents are shooting a combined 45 percent from the field but only 27.3 percent from 3-point range.
3. Smith is tops among Pac-12 players with his 93.3-percentage at the free-throw line, hitting 28 of 30 attempts.
PREDICTION: UCLA 82, Denver 60