UCLA Bruins: Three Thoughts on dominating win against USC

1. Norman Powell and Bryce Alford may be the best perimeter duo in the Pac-12 Conference.

In a conference with talented perimeter players like Delon Wright and Joseph Young, the UCLA Bruins may have the best perimeter combination with Powell and Alford. The Bruin guards combined to score 43 of the team’s 83 points and had six of the teams 14 assists. However, their scoring was not the only thing that they contributed to the UCLA win.

They also shot efficiently, shooting a combined 17-31 from the field; five of those field goals were Alford three-pointers. They were also able to solve the USC Trojan full court press and eventually bringing pressure themselves. Powell was able to strip the ball three times with a couple of those steals coming from ripping the inbounding pass.

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UCLA is currently 2-2 in conference play, but if Powell and Alford continue to play at a high level, the Bruins can find themselves in a good position for a higher seed in the Pac-12 tournament.

2. For every missed shot, there were at least two UCLA Bruins players in the area to go for the rebound.

At the beginning of the season, it was pointed out that in order for the UCLA Bruins to be successful, they needed to rebound the ball since they will not have the same kind of scoring punch they had last year. Rebounding was a huge reason that the Bruins were victorious tonight.

UCLA outrebounded USC 39-19, doubling up the Trojans and dominating the glass on both ends of the floor. The margin on the offensive glass was even starker in the favor of the Bruins with UCLA grabbing 11 offensive boards to the Trojans four. More offensive rebounds meant more offensive possessions for the Bruins and also took the ball out of USC’s possession where volume is king for them.

The UCLA Bruins will face larger for active frontcourts in the Pac-12, but their effort against the Trojans is great sign that they are at least willing to battle for those balls on missed shots.

3. Kevon Looney needs to be more aggressive and impact the game offensively.

By all accounts, Kevon Looney had a good game for the UCLA Bruins. UCLA’s five-star freshman had 12 points on 6-11 shooting from the field, 10 rebounds, and 2 steals against the Trojans and was generally active in the game. However, his aggressiveness needs to improve.