LOS ANGELES — The UCLA men’s basketball team might be one of those squads that plays to the level of its opponents. There’s a significant enough sample size to suggest so. The Bruins have hung with two top-10 teams, while playing multiple mid-majors frighteningly close.
On opening night, UCLA edged Eastern Washington. Two games later, the Bruins allowed West Georgia to make a baker’s dozen of 3-point shots. On Friday, they essentially slept through the first 20 minutes, trailing Cal Poly at halftime.
Yes, you read that right.
UCLA (10-3) faced a two-point deficit at the break before rallying for a 108-87 victory over the Mustangs (5-8). Two days after their strongest showing of the season, in a 13-point win against Arizona State, the Bruins regressed. Like they have on countless occasions this season, they underestimated an opponent because of the name on their chest.
Senior guard Skyy Clark continued to prove he’s leveled up as a scorer, leading the way with a season-high 30 points. His performance was suppressed because of UCLA’s ineptitude.
Cal Poly came out scorching as Peter Bandelj and Victor Guzman dribbled into 3-point shots. UCLA was late to adjust, repeatedly giving the Mustangs space. It was as if the Bruins didn’t respect the Mustangs’ capability despite them justifying it time and again. Bandelj knocked down two more 3-pointers as Cal Poly kept pace. Hamad Mousa and Kieran Elliott took advantage of lazy close outs to put the Mustangs ahead.
Cal Poly made nine 3-point shots in the first half, but no matter the productivity, the Bruins wouldn’t dare respect the visitors’ shots. Their lazy defensive tendencies found them trailing shooters, leading to flailing contests as Trent Perry unnecessarily fouled Mousa twice on 3-point attempts.
After the first, UCLA coach Mick Cronin audibly bellowed: “Get over here!” before berating the sophomore guard.
The message didn’t convey to Perry’s teammates as Jamar Brown fouled Mousa on a late-shot clock 3-point attempt, this one he knocked down to put Cal Poly ahead.
The Mustangs led by as many as six in the first half after constructing a 9-0 run. That surge came when Cronin experimented with a new small-ball lineup with Perry, Brown, Donovan Dent, Eric Dailey Jr. and Tyler Bilodeau.
While the Bruins’ small-ball lineup lost the lead in the first half, it was effective in the second half. Brown joined the starting group after the break, replacing Xavier Booker – who didn’t play after the 16:43 mark of the first half – moving Bilodeau to center.
The Bruins forced turnovers with peskiness and gang-rebounded to cover for the lack of size. It led to transition opportunities as Clark’s steal sparked a fast-break dunk for Dailey and Brown turned an outlet pass into a layup to give UCLA a 13-point lead.
Playing without a traditional center improved the spacing and allowed the Bruins to create shots from the perimeter. Dent drove the lane and kicked to Brown for a corner 3-pointer. Bilodeau took advantage of mismatches, using his speed to draw fouls.
Clark erupted from all three levels. He drove and hung in the air for a double-clutch layup. He hit a 3-pointer off a dish from Dent. He pulled-up for another, giving him six 3-pointers for the third game this season.
Perry rebounded from a mistake-filled first half to score 10 points late in the game. His and-one layup pushed UCLA over 100 points.
Bilodeau scores 24 points on 7-for-9 shooting, while Dent finished with 16 points, 11 assists and five steals (with zero turnovers).
The Bruins set a season-high scoring mark for the second consecutive game. Yet they leave with more questions than answers regarding their defense.
The normal center rotation of Booker and Steven Jamerson II played a combined five minutes. Cronin showed little trust in either to protect the rim or glass.
Opting for gimmicky lineups in a contest against a lesser opponent is a nerve-wracking sight 12 games into the season. Let alone one game away from the resumption of Big Ten play – a conference where teams thrive on physicality and size.
More to come on this story.