Pac-12 Basketball: UCLA vs Washington preview, prediction, and TV schedule
By Connor Hope
Lonzo Ball takes on the Markelle Fultz in the second Pac-12 basketball match-up between the top two projected picks of the NBA Draft.
TV Schedule: Wednesday, March 1, 11:00 p.m. ET, FS1
Arena: Pauley Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA
Prediction: UCLA 93 Washington 71
The road to the top line in the NCAA Tournament is set for the UCLA Bruins, ranked 3rd in the AP Poll. Winning their remaining two games and the Pac-12 tournament should secure a 1-seed. Any loss will leave coach Steve Alford’s team hovering around a two or three seed.
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The Washington Huskies are the first test remaining on the Bruins’ schedule. Led by freshman guard Markelle Fultz, the projected first overall pick in the NBA Draft, the Huskies are looking to avenge the 107-66 loss in the first meeting. The Huskies are a poor 9-19, which causes many people to overlook the talent of Fultz.
For the Bruins, freshman guard Lonzo Ball has been one of the most outstanding players in the country. He has the third most points, third most rebounds and the most assists on the nation’s top offense. Ball’s defense is a bit underrated as well, hidden by the Bruins’ otherwise poor team defense.
This game is one of the last opportunities we have to watch Fultz in action before the draft. His production, however, will not be enough to overcome the six-headed offense that has powered the Bruins to a 26-3 record. In fact, look for the Bruins to isolate Fultz, forcing the Husky star into poor shots or hasty passes.
Next: Is Gonzaga still a number one seed?
The point guard matchup will be fun to watch, but the game will never be in doubt. UCLA will beat Washington by a large margin; although, not quite as large as their prior 41-point victory. After this game, the Bruins will find themselves four wins away from a potential 1-seed.