UCLA vs Arizona State: 2020-21 basketball game preview, TV schedule

Arizona State and UCLA will face off in a major Pac-12 Basketball matchup.

TV schedule: Thursday, January 7, 10:30 pm ET. ESPN

Arena: Desert Financial Arena in Tempe, Arizona

The UCLA Bruins (7-2) travel to face Arizona State Sun Devils (4-3). The Bruins are coming off a (65-62) win against Colorado where UCLA was led by Jaime Jaquez with 14 points the Bruins had 4 other players in double figures.

Before the Colorado game, the Bruins received word that their best player Chris Smith will be out for the year after suffering a torn ACL. Smith, who figures to be an NBA Draft pick in the upcoming 2021 NBA draft. Is averaging 12.6 points and 6.4 rebounds.

Other key contributors for UCLA are Johnny Juzang (11.0) points per game a transfer from Kentucky, who is also known as a good defender. Tyger Campell (10.9 points per game) and (7.2) assist per game does a very good job distributing. Jules Bearnard is also averaging (10.2) points and (5.1) rebounds.

Arizona State has had their last two games against the Washington schools postponed due to Covid-19 issues but have had been disappointing this season.

The Sun Devils have lost 2 out of 3 and it will be interesting to see the level of how they play coming off this long layoff. Another thing that will be key if Marcus Bagley returns from injury. Bagley has missed the last few games with a calf injury.

Other key contributors are Remy Martin and Josh Christopher scoring (16.9) points per game and also Alonzo Verge with (15.4) points per game. They’re one of the best backcourts in the country but a lack of a true frontcourt has been their undoing in the three losses on the season. With UCLA having Cody Hill and Jalen Riley inside, that may be a potential advantage.

This is an interesting matchup, you have a shorthanded UCLA team facing against an Arizona State team that needs to start playing better. I think ASU wins in a close one

Prediction: Arizona State 73, UCLA 69