Cincinnati vs. UCLA: College basketball game preview, TV schedule
The stakes were high when UCLA basketball played Cincinnati for a Sweet Sixteen spot on the line. Will the Bearcats exact revenge?
TV schedule: Saturday, Dec. 16, 3:30 p.m. ET. CBS
Arena: Pauley Pavillion in Los Angeles, California
Last season, UCLA (7-2) was just too much for No. 25 Cincinnati (8-2) when they met in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Bruins, led by Lonzo Ball and TJ Leaf, were an offensive juggernaut that overpowered most teams. There was supposed to be another Ball in LiAngelo, but he withdrew from the school after the China shoplifting incident. The other two players, freshmen Cody Riley and Jalen Hill, are still indefinitely suspended.
That leaves the Bruins shorthanded for this season in terms of depth, with upperclassmen Aaron Holiday and Thomas Welsh the majority on offense. In the last game played, an overtime loss at Michigan, the duo combined for 49 of the team’s 69 total points. UCLA as a whole scored just four points in the extra period.
This team still looks like most of Steve Alford’s teams, ranking in the top 50 on offense but playing in the 200s on defense. If the Bruins go on droughts, they’re in trouble.
Cincinnati under Mick Cronin is usually on the opposite end of the spectrum, a top-tier defense with sometimes a stagnant offense. The defense once again is great, ranked in the top-10. That showed in their most recent game, a 65-50 win over previously undefeated Mississippi State. Before then, the Bearcats lost the two previous games. This game on Saturday is the end of a tough four-game stretch in non-conference play.
One issue has been the play at the point position with it being unclear as to whether Justin Jenifer of Cane Broome should be the lead ball handler. Broome is the more offensive threat while Jenifer is better on defense. Until that question is answered, the Bearcats will struggle on offense.
Next: Utah vs. BYU by the positions
What this game comes down to is whether UCLA will be able to score on the Bearcats. If they can get the game into the 70s-80s, they’ll be in good shape. But if those shots don’t fall, Cincinnati will have no problem traveling across the country for a big road win.
Prediction: Cincinnati 83 – UCLA 73