UCLA Basketball: 3 takeaways from Bruins last-second loss to USC

3. The lack of a consistent post presence may be one of UCLA’s biggest weaknesses moving forward

Just like with free-throws and late-game runs, the Bruins have been suspect to another ailing trend: a lack of a defensive identity inside the perimeter.

Across UCLA’s four-game winning streak, the Bruins held their opposition to just 42.3% on two-pointers, translating to a 63-149 clip.  During their three-game losing streak, however, the Bruins have allowed Colorado, Oregon, and USC to shoot a combined 64-110 – a 58.2% mark on two-pointers.

An overwhelming majority of those two-point baskets have come inside the paint, where teams have thrived against UCLA’s weak interior defense.  Among them is a 42-40 struggle against Oregon where the Bruins actually maintained the slight edge – but UCLA was dismantled against Colorado, 38-24, and most recently USC, 34-26.  In all, the Bruins are being outscored in their last three tilts in points in the paint, 112-92.

Most of those woes can be traced to UCLA’s lack of depth inside, which greatly became an issue with the injury to Jalen Hill.  In the wake of Hill’s absence, Cody Riley has been forced to play substantial time at the center, with the slightly less physical freshman Mac Etienne backing him up.

Neither post has been bad, by any means – but the lack of Hill, who saw between 18-20 minutes on several occasions this season prior to his injury at the end of January – has greatly ailed much of UCLA’s defense inside.  That much has been proven in UCLA’s woeful deficit in points in the paint – and it could be something that plagues them moving forward into the Pac-12 Tournament and the NCAA Tournament.

Mick Cronin’s crew will have a few days off from action before they attempt to end their losing streak, but – if the Bruins hope to not fall deep into the bubble conversation – they will desperately need to pull off a win over Oregon State in the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 Tournament on Thursday, March 11th.