California @ UCLA preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 13, 2019 ) UCLA 75, California 67

The honeymoon is over for UCLA first-year coach Mick Cronin, who called out his squad’s lack of toughness after Wednesday’s loss to Stanford. The Bruins look to snap their three-game losing streak on Sunday against visiting California, which is 0-7 away from Haas Pavilion this season.

Guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. scored 15 points in the Bruins’ 74-59 loss to Stanford while forward Jalen Hill recorded 14 points, 12 rebounds, three blocks, two assists and two steals, but Cronin was beyond frustrated after his team was outscored 41-28 in the second half. “As the game goes on, our softness shows up,” Cronin told reporters. “Our selfishness at times is evident and it’s been probably to people who have watched us all year on the offensive end, some of the shots we take and the turnovers because certain guys don’t want to pass the basketball.” UCLA has lost six of its last seven games heading into the matchup against Cal, which was picked to finish last in the Pac-12 preseason poll. The Bears have shown improvement under first-year coach Mark Fox but took a step back in Thursday’s 88-56 loss to USC.

TV: 8 p.m. ET. TV: ESPNU

ABOUT CAL (8-9, 2-2 Pac-12): Reigning Pac-12 player of the week Matt Bradley averages 17.4 points and 5.2 rebounds but was held to 13 points on 5-of-13 shooting against USC as the Bears saw their two-game winning streak come to an end. Forward Grant Anticevich entered the contest averaging 13.3 points and six rebounds over his previous four games but was 0-of-7 from the field and had five rebounds in 30 minutes against the Trojans. Freshman forward D.J. Thorpe played a season-high 15 minutes in the loss and responded with nine points on 3-of-3 shooting.

ABOUT UCLA (8-9, 1-3): One bright spot has been the play of junior guard Chris Smith, who averages 12.1 points and 5.4 rebounds but recorded six points, six rebounds and four turnovers in 25 minutes against Stanford. Cronin replaced struggling redshirt senior guard Prince Ali in the starting lineup Wednesday with sophomore guard David Singleton, who may have earned another start after finishing with 11 points, two assists and no turnovers in 32 minutes. Freshman point guard Tyger Campbell is averaging 7.4 points and 4.3 assists but exited Wednesday’s game in the second half with a leg injury and is listed as day-to-day.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. UCLA has won its last five meetings against Cal, including a pair of regular-season wins last season.

2. Cal is averaging just 54.4 points in games outside of Berkeley this season.

3. UCLA is 8-0 this season when limiting opponents to 73 points or fewer.

PREDICTION: UCLA 63, Cal 57