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NCAA Basketball: Gonzaga, Arizona and UCLA rise on latest top 25 power ranking

By Joey Loose

Dec 17, 2022; Charlottesville, Virginia, USA; Virginia Cavaliers guard Kihei Clark (0) dribbles the ball around Virginia Cavaliers guard Kihei Clark (0) during the second half at John Paul Jones Arena. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 17, 2022; Charlottesville, Virginia, USA; Virginia Cavaliers guard Kihei Clark (0) dribbles the ball around Virginia Cavaliers guard Kihei Clark (0) during the second half at John Paul Jones Arena. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports /
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NCAA Basketball Tyger Campbell #10 of the UCLA Bruins (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

7. UCLA (10-2)

One month ago, UCLA struggled in Las Vegas and picked up their first two losses of the season to tough Illinois and Baylor squads. Since then, it’s been much smoother sailing for the Bruins, who’ve looked better on both sides of the ball in the weeks that have passed. What transpired this past week was nothing short of UCLA’s best week of the season.

For starters, the Bruins ran their winning streak to six with an immaculate performance on Wednesday night, pounding #20 Maryland 87-60 on the road. Jaylen Clark led the way with 19 points as the Bruins forced 16 turnovers and hit nearly 56% of their field goals in an all-around impressive performance, grabbing a 29-point halftime lead. The weekend brought another big opportunity and another big win, as UCLA knocked off #13 Kentucky 63-53 at Madison Square Garden. This time it was Jaime Jaquez Jr. leading the charge with his 19 points and 12 rebounds.

These last two wins suddenly make it a seven-game winning streak with some serious luster. The Bruins are trending in a fantastic direction, especially with how their defense played this week, severely limiting two talented offense teams. Moving forward, UCLA is certainly one of the heavy favorites in the Pac-12, but still have UC Davis on the schedule next week before Pac-12 play really gets going around New Year’s. Will the Bruins who showed up this week keep being the outfit in Los Angeles?

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