Colorado @ UCLA preview
Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom
Last Meeting ( Feb 25, 2018 ) UCLA 76, Colorado 80
Following a 3-0 start, UCLA has dropped four of its last six Pac-12 games and finds itself in the middle of the pack at the midpoint of the conference season. The Bruins, though, are in position to bounce back with four of their next six games at home, beginning with Wednesday night’s date with Colorado.
Three of UCLA’s four Pac-12 losses have come on the road with the latest being a 69-55 decision Saturday at first-place Washington. The Bruins’ 55 points were a season low while connecting on only 4-of-15 3-point attempts and also committing 23 turnovers. Colorado, meanwhile, also has dropped four of its last six and, at 3-6 in the conference, is sitting above only Washington State (1-8) and California (0-9) in the standings. The Buffaloes, though, are coming off a win – a surprisingly lopsided 73-51 victory over visiting Oregon last Saturday – and now look to take that momentum out on the road with four of their next six away from home.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network
ABOUT COLORADO (12-9, 3-6 Pac-12): The Buffs dominated Oregon on the glass (45-32) and at the free-throw line, draining 24-of-28 attempts while the Ducks were 11-of-18. Sophomore swingman Tyler Bey led the way with a career-high 27 points on 9-of-9 shooting while pulling down 10 rebounds. Bey bounced back from a four-point showing in Thursday night’s home loss to Oregon State and bumped his season scoring average up to 12.3 points per game to join guard McKinley Wright (12.8) and forward Lucas Siewert (11.5) in double figures.
ABOUT UCLA (12-10, 5-4): Guard Kris Wilkes scored 20 of the Bruins’ 55 points and at 17.8 points per game joins guard Jaylen Hands (11.7), center Moses Brown (11.2) and guard Prince Ali (10.7) in double figures. Wilkes has scored in double figures in 24 straight contests dating back to last season and is averaging 23.3 points over his last three contests while shooting 56.3 percent during that span. Taking care of the ball, though, continues to be an issue for UCLA which has committed 20 or more turnovers in six games his season and easily leads the Pac-12 with an average of 17.3 in conference play.
TIP-INS
1. UCLA has won seven of the 10 matchups since Colorado joined the Pac-12 in 2011, but the Buffaloes swept last season’s series, including a 68-59 road win – CU’s first-ever victory at Pauley Pavilion.
2. Even after the 55-point effort versus Washington, the Bruins are averaging a conference-most 79.4 points in Pac-12 play while the Buffaloes are 10th at 69.4.
3. The battle on the glass is one to watch as UCLA (6.1) and Colorado (5.5) rank second and third, respectively, in the Pac-12 in season rebounding margin.
PREDICTION: UCLA 75, Colorado 71