Pac-12: Five Conference Games to Watch

Mar 13, 2014; Las Vegas, NV, USA; UCLA Bruins guard/forward Kyle Anderson (5) shoots against Oregon Ducks forward Ben Carter (32) during the second half in the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 Conference college basketball tournament at MGM Grand Garden Arena. The Bruins defeated the Ducks 82-63. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Oregon Ducks at UCLA Bruins, February 14, 2015

Defense? We don’t need no stinkin’ defense. This matchup gives Pac-12 fans a guaranteed shootout that will have the scorekeeper busy all night. UCLA and Oregon are the top-two teams in the Pac-12 Conference in terms of pace, logging an estimated 72 and 71 possessions per 40 minutes respectively. Both of this teams love to get out in transition and put up the ball as quickly as possible.

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Go Joe Bruin

UCLA and Oregon are also atop the Pac-12 Conference in terms of field goal attempts, which is a result of the frenetic pace in which both schools play. Oregon has put up 840 field goal attempts, 52 shots more than UCLA who currently sit at 788 shot attempts. Both teams are near the bottom of the nation in terms of field goals attempted against so there will be plenty of opportunities to hoist the ball in this game. No one will feed off that more than Oregon guard Joseph Young.

Young’s scoring was an absolute nightmare for Pac-12 opponents last year and his surprise return this year has resulted in much of the same. Young leads the Pac-12 with 19.6 points per game and 200 field goal attempts in 13 games. It is safe to say that when Young has any level of daylight between him and his defender, he has the green light to pull the trigger. Watching him and Bryce Alford battle will be a pleasure to watch, but do not forget out the guys doing the little things to secure more possessions and more shots.

Though UCLA may not be the offensive machine they were last season, they have determined forwards who have a knack for cleaning the offensive glass. UCLA leads to the Pac-12 with 13.7 offensive rebounds per game, mostly on the effort of five-star freshman Kevon Looney who grabs 4.3 offensive boards per game. The Oregon Ducks are not slouches in that category either.

The big criticism about Oregon from the beginning of the season was that their size was going to hinder their rebounding ability. Aside from Michael Chandler, who has only been used in four games so far this season, Oregon does not have a player listed above 6’7. However, they are right behind UCLA in terms of offensive rebounds per game at 13.3 and lead the Pac-12 in total rebounds at 43 per game.

This game is going to be a track meet from start to finish with both teams shooting first and asking questions later.

Next: Arizona vs. Utah