UCLA Basketball: 3 keys to knock off No. 20 Ohio State Buckeyes

UCLA Basketball: 3 keys for Bruins to knock off No. 20 Ohio State Buckeyes

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 09: Chris Smith #5 of the UCLA Bruins goes up for a basket over Frankie Hughes #3 of the San Diego Toreros in the second half of the game at Pauley Pavilion on December 9, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

2 of 4

Jaime Jaquez Jr. UCLA Basketball (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) /

1. One of Ohio State’s biggest strengths is getting to the FT line – while one of UCLA’s is preventing that

The Buckeyes are among the nation’s best in getting to the charity stripe – and scoring with the clock stopped. For context, they get to the line 24.7 times (38th-best) and knockdown 19.2 freebies (20th-best), good for 77.7% (32nd-best). 24.9% of their point distribution comes from the free-throw line – the 28th-highest mark in Div. I.

They struggled to get there against Purdue – they got there 13 times, the same as the Boilermakers. But – aside from that game – they have gotten to the line at insane clips, including 26 times against Cleveland State and a season-high 36 times against Illinois State.

They are solid at preventing teams from getting to the line, as well. Teams take just 15 free throws against the Buckeyes, the 64th-best mark in Div. I – and teams drain 11.3 freebies. They have yet to allow a team to take 20 free-throws in a game.

That mark will be put to the test against the Bruins, and it is an area that UCLA desperately needs to outperform them in. Like Ohio State, the Bruins rely heavily on scoring from the line, where 21.2% (91st) of their points come from. They do not shoot the ball particularly well from the line – just 69.9% – but the amount they make and take should concern Ohio State.

The Bruins get to the charity stripe 23.8 times a game – the 57th-highest mark – and drain 16.7 free throws – the 56th-best mark. They have had just one game – their 20-point win over California – where they did not take 20 free-throws. Freebies have been instrumental to their success, especially when they took 37 in their triple-overtime win over Pepperdine.

UCLA cannot afford to send Ohio State to the free-throw line, either – but they are also among the best in preventing that. They allow teams just 14.8 attempts from the stripe, which ranks 61st in college basketball – and teams make just 11.2 per game. If the Bruins can keep the Buckeyes in that range while getting to the line close to – if not 20 times – then UCLA should be in a position to come away with a win.

Home/UCLA Bruins