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NCAA Basketball: 3 takeaways from No. 1 Gonzaga’s win over No. 2 UCLA

By Tristan Freeman

Nov 23, 2021; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs players celebrate with the Good Sam Empire Classic championship trophy after defeating the UCLA Bruins 83-63 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 23, 2021; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs players celebrate with the Good Sam Empire Classic championship trophy after defeating the UCLA Bruins 83-63 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /
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UCLA Bruins Johnny Juzang Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
UCLA Bruins Johnny Juzang Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

2. UCLA’s offense needs some improvement

The 63 points scored against Gonzaga was easily the lowest for the Bruins this season. Offense has been their strength, dating back to the March run, led by versatile players, Jaime Jaquez and Johnny Juzang, along with shooters, Jules Bernard and David Singleton. Point guard Tyger Campbell was definitely outplayed by Nembhard in this one but he’s been solid overall otherwise.

It’s definitely a point to make that Riley’s absence hurt them in this one, as he would’ve at least made Timme and Holmgren honest on the interior. Myles Johnson has no offense to speak of, neither does backup big Kenneth Nwuba. That gave Gonzaga the gameplan to simply prevent penetration from the guards and force UCLA to beat them on the perimeter.

And while that may seem like a risky strategy since Juzang and the Bruins have been so hot, it’s also the most inefficient way to score overall. The team went a dismal 2/12 from deep, with Juzang himself going 1/3. His 11 shot attempts were noticeable as well as Gonzaga made sure that he got the ball in uncomfortable spots and was forced to just long two-pointers. Against the No. 1 team in the country, that’s a recipe for disaster and will be as well next March, unless they go on fire once again.

Having Riley back will give UCLA needed offensive balance going forward but this should be a lesson that relying on jumpshots can only take you so far. They got away with it against the smaller Villanova but versus Gonzaga, time ran out.

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