UC challenges potent UCLA for Sweet 16 berth
Tom Groeschen , tgroeschen@enquirer.com Published 4:20 p.m. ET March 18, 2017 | Updated 15 hours ago
The matchup between the Cincinnati Bearcats and UCLA Bruins here Sunday will feature starkly contrasting styles.
Kyle Washington had 16 points in the University of Cincinnati's 75-61 win over Kansas State on Friday. UC next faces UCLA on Sunday in Sacramento.
(Photo: The Enquirer/Kareem Elgazzar)
SACRAMENTO – The second-round NCAA Tournament matchup between the Cincinnati Bearcats and UCLA Bruins here Sunday (9:40 p.m. ET) will feature starkly contrasting styles, with UC usually playing a deliberate pace and UCLA a fast tempo.
No. 6 South Regional seed UC (30-5) will be the underdog to No. 3 seed UCLA (30-4), after both teams won their first-round games Friday. UC beat No. 11 seed Kansas State 75-61, and UCLA defeated No. 14 Kent State 97-80. Sunday's winner advances to the Sweet 16 next weekend.
The Bearcats rank only 327th nationally in the Kenpom.com metric for AdjT (adjusted tempo), with 63.6 possessions per a 40-minute game. UCLA ranks No. 13 in that category at 73.1.
"They're faster than us," UC coach Mick Cronin said Saturday, at the off-day press conferences here at Golden 1 Center. "I think Kentucky found out, they're faster than everybody. Obviously they can convert to offense faster than other people."
Cronin said UCLA is the most potent offensive force his team will have faced this season. UCLA ranks No. 1 nationally in scoring at 90.6 points per game, but UC is No. 5 in defensive scoring average at 60.8 per game.
On the other side, UC ranks No. 145 in scoring offense at 74.5 per game, but UCLA is only 255th in scoring defense at 75.5 per game. The Bruins just let it fly offensively, and they also allow plenty of points since the opponent thus gets more possessions.
"Our offense is going to be imperative in this game, that we're successful offensively in getting second shots, in scoring the basketball or getting fouled," Cronin said. "Because if you don't, that gives them more opportunities to run downhill on you as quick as they can."
In the Kenpom.com ratings, UCLA is No. 2 nationally in AdjO (adjusted offensive efficiency), at 123.3 points per 100 possessions. The Bearcats are No. 33 in AdjO at 115.2.
Defensively, UCLA ranks 83rd in AdjD (adjusted defensive efficiency) at 100.3 points allowed per 100 possessions. The Bearcats are No. 11 in AdjD, at 92.3.
What does it all mean? Potentially, a close game. UC is a 4-point underdog, according to Las Vegas lines.
"They've got a guy that's going to be an NBA All-Star on their team," Cronin said. "They're the most talented team without question, and definitely the most explosive."
The future NBA All-Star would be UCLA 6-foot-6 freshman guard Lonzo Ball, named first-team All-America by USA Today and The Sporting News. Ball averages 14.6 points, 7.6 assists and 6.1 rebounds per game, and is rated a surefire 2017 NBA lottery draftee.
"They have probably the best passer since Jason Kidd or Magic Johnson playing with the ball in his hands," Cronin said of Ball. "They throw 40-foot outlet passes. If you play transition defense against this UCLA team, you're going to lose."
UC players have seen all kinds of styles. UCLA is a different animal.
"I caught a couple of their games, being up late and watching on ESPN," Bearcats senior point guard Troy Caupain said. "I'm leaving it up to the coaches, just follow the scouting report and just how to keep the game from getting out of hand. They've got a lot of weapons."
UCLA coach Steve Alford praised Cronin and the Bearcats as most opposing coaches do, noting UC's toughness and defensive prowess.
“I have an awful lot of respect for Mick and how they go about things,” Alford said. “You’ve got two teams with contrasting styles, teams that have been used to winning all year long. Obviously something’s got to give on Sunday. It’s got all the makings of a great game, a fight to see who can get to the Sweet 16. We've been rebounding the ball well, and I think that's going to be a big key to the game."
UNDERDOG MENTALITY: UC players know that many expect UCLA to win, which is fine by the Bearcats.
"Since I've been here, most of the games where the other team is pretty good, we've always been labeled the underdog," junior forward Gary Clark said. "As a Bearcat you go in prepared, follow the scout report and get prepared to get the 'W.' Everyone has their own opinion about who's supposed to win throughout the tournament, but it's all about who comes prepared to play that night."
RECAPPING FRIDAY: UC was in command most of the night in beating Kansas State on Friday. Caupain led the Bearcats with a season-high 23 points, and he also had seven rebounds and two assists. Junior forward Kyle Washington had 16 points, Clark had 15 points and seven rebounds, sophomore wing Jacob Evans had nine points and five assists, and freshman guard Jarron Cumberland (Wilmington High School) came off the bench for nine points.
“I think coach (Cronin) kept reasserting the message of we worked too hard to play here in one game and pack up and go home, get ready for spring break,” Washington said. “We don’t want to do that. We want to keep on moving forward and putting Cincinnati out there.”
SCOUTING UCLA: The Bruins were led Friday by 6-10 freshman forward TJ Leaf, who had 23 points Junior 7-foot center Thomas Welsh had 16 points, Ball scored 15 points, 6-1 sophomore guard Aaron Holiday came off the bench for 15, and 6-5 senior guard Isaac Hamilton scored 14 points. Senior 6-3 guard Bryce Alford, the coach’s son who averages 15.6 points, was held to six points.
Ball took a hard fall in the first half, landing on his right hip. He stayed in the game.
“I’m fine,” Ball said. “Finished the game. I’m good.”
BRUINS LOADED: UCLA’s Ball is projected by ESPN as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. Leaf is projected No. 17 overall, and freshman center Ike Anigbogu is listed No. 29. Anigbogu is a work in progress, averaging 4.9 points per game this season. Currently, Anigbogu is day-to-day with a sprained foot.
SERIES RECORD: UC leads the Bruins 2-1 in their all-time series. The last meeting was March 17, 2002 in the NCAA Tournament second round, when UCLA won 105-101 in double overtime.
PROJECTED STARTERS
UCLA: TJ Leaf (6-10 freshman F, 16.4 ppg, 8.3 rpg), Thomas Welsh (7-0 junior C, 10.8 ppg, 8.8 rpg), Bryce Alford (6-3 senior G, 15.6 ppg, 2.6 apg), Isaac Hamilton (6-5 senior G, 14.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg), Lonzo Ball (6-6 freshman G, 14.6 ppg, 7.6 apg, 6.1 rpg)
Cincinnati: Troy Caupain (6-4 senior G, 10.5 ppg, 4.5 apg, 4.6 rpg), Kevin Johnson (6-3 senior G, 7.8 ppg, 1.3 spg), Jacob Evans (6-6 sophomore G-F, 13.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg), Gary Clark (6-8 junior F, 10.8 ppg, 7.9 rpg), Kyle Washington (13.1 ppg, 6.8 rpg)
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NCAA SOUTH REGIONAL
No. 6 seed Cincinnati vs. No. 3 UCLA
Tipoff: 9:40 p.m. (ET) Sunday at Golden 1 Center (15,745), Sacramento, Calif.
TV/Radio: TBS/WLW-AM (700)
Records: UC 30-5, UCLA 30-4
http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/c.../99352846/