UCLA Basketball: 3 keys to turning around the Bruins’ 2017-18 season

2. Emphasize depth over star talent in terms of scoring

Five Bruins average more than 10 points per game, so there’s plenty of talent in Westwood. The offense generally flows through two people, though: Holiday and center Thomas Welsh.

That wasn’t a significant problem until Saturday. Holiday scored just five points in the first half while Welsh was held without a single point. They combine to average 30.2 points per game.

On Saturday, they scored 21 points in a combined 72 minutes.

Freshman Jaylen Hands came off the bench to score 14 points, which was two more points than his season average. His role should likely remain as a bench energizer, giving the second unit some life.

However, the team needs more scoring from their starters. Hungarian forward Gyorgy Goloman is in his fourth year with the program but is still averaging just seven points per game. Outside of Hands, the bench only provided five points against Cincinnati. The bench also dished just one assist while turning the ball over six times.

When Welsh and Holiday are operating at the levels expected of them, the Bruins can stay in any game. They were shut down against Cincy, though, leaving UCLA grasping for straws.

It’s time for the scoring depth to emerge at UCLA. Speaking of which…