UCLA Basketball will look to pull off all-time upset over Gonzaga

3. UCLA’s frontcourt must repeat their defensive showing – and more

To say UCLA’s defense against Michigan was stellar is an understatement.  Just one player – Hunter Dickinson – reached double-digits, and Michigan’s guards were limited to woeful offensive performances, with Mike Smith scoring just three points and Eli Brooks logging eight.

While those were obviously necessary defensive showings for UCLA, the most pivotal may have been the job that the Bruins’ frontcourt did on Dickinson, keeping him to just 11 points on 5-10 shooting – and his worst offensive rating since the beginning of March.  While the Bruins’ posts were not as effective offensively, as evidenced by Cody Riley‘s four-point showing, their defense was crucial to their victory.

To state the obvious: UCLA desperately needs the frontcourt to come through again.  Given the backcourt’s solid offensive contributions – including Johnny Juzang’s 28 and Tyger Campbell’s 11 – they are not nearly as much of a worry, and should be able to counteract Gonzaga’s Jalen Suggs, Andrew Nembhard, and Joel Ayayi.

But the frontcourt’s offensive woes may create issues, considering they will be lining up again two dynamic scorers in Corey Kispert and Drew Timme.  It is no secret just how offensively terrifying both are, considering both have had just one single-digit performance all season – and both are coming off double-digit offensive showcases against USC.

Replicating what they did to Michigan’s posts will be difficult against Kispert and Timme, and Riley will, understandably, have his hands full.  The big man fouled out in just 18 minutes against Michigan, meaning backups Kenneth Nwuba and Mac Etienne – as well as starter Jaime Jaquez Jr., who has seen time at the five – must be disciplined defensively.

If Riley is able to produce on the offensive end – which he has shown in this tournament, considering he has logged double-digits in three of UCLA’s five games – then this should be an even offensive fight.  But containing Gonzaga on the defensive end is the most crucial key to UCLA’s victory – and that begins inside with the big men.