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UCLA vs. Pepperdine: 5 biggest storylines for 2020-21 matchup

By Benjamin Zacher

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 27: Chris Smith #5 of the UCLA Bruins while playing the Arizona State Sun Devils at Pauley Pavilion on February 27, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. UCLA won 75-72. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 27: Chris Smith #5 of the UCLA Bruins while playing the Arizona State Sun Devils at Pauley Pavilion on February 27, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. UCLA won 75-72. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) /
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UCLA Bruins (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
UCLA Bruins (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

2. UCLA begins the 2020-21 season with unfinished business

Arguably, no one suffered as much of a tumultuous, up-and-down season as UCLA did last year.  Without a single McDonald’s All-American for the first time since the honor’s inception in 1977, Mick Cronin struggled to begin his first season at the helm of the Bruins.

After starting the season 4-0, the Bruins suffered disappointment after disappointment.  Back-to-back losses to Hofstra and BYU would be the first red flags for UCLA, followed by a 3-4 finish to the non-conference schedule – capped off by an embarrassing home loss to a Cal State Fullerton team that had lost seven in a row up to that point.

It was not any better at the start of the Pac-12 regular season.  An opening win against Washington was followed by three straight losses – in all, the Bruins went 5-5 in their first ten Pac-12 games, with a solid win over Colorado but an 18-point blowout loss to Arizona State.

The Bruins turned on the gas after their defeat to the Sun Devils, however, ripping off seven-straight victories over some of the best competition in the Pac-12 – namely, Arizona twice, a road win at Colorado, and revenge against Arizona State.  That streak ended with a last-second shot in the regular-season finale against USC, but UCLA’s turnaround was enough to – almost assuredly – land them a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

Heartbreakingly, the Bruins never got a chance to continue their red-hot streak into the NCAA Tournament.  For many, they were a sleeper pick, and there was genuine optimism that UCLA could advance fairly far into the tourney – something they have not done since the Lonzo Ball squad in 2017.

Assuming the 2020-21 season remains on, this is the perfect opportunity for UCLA to resume their unfinished business. They have already been picked to win the Pac-12 and were ranked 22nd nationally in the AP preseason poll. There is a genuine reason to believe that they can continue from last season without missing a beat – they return 86.4% of the minutes played and 88.8% of their scoring from last year’s roster.

If the Bruins hope to be taken legitimately this season, they cannot afford the missteps against mid-major foes that they endured last year.  Their season-opening loss to San Diego State, albeit eye-opening and disappointing, is understandable.  Their performance left much to be desired, but a win over Pepperdine would do well in righting the ship.

According to KenPom, Pepperdine (106) will be the best mid-major foe that UCLA faces this season after San Diego State.  They can afford the loss to San Diego State – but a loss to Pepperdine would be deadly to their reputation nationally, and would not bode well for the Bruins after last year.

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