UCLA Basketball vs. CSUN: Preview - TV, Radio, Odds, Live Stream
The UCLA Basketball team prepares for their second game of the season (and second in three days) as they take on the Cal State Northridge Matadors.
The UCLA Basketball team is the talk of the town after Friday night’s mauling of Pacific. Behind freshman point guard Lonzo Ball, the Bruins were able to put up 119 on their victim.
The downside is that they allowed Pacific to score 80 in the contest. While the offense is on fire, the defense needs to step up.
That could be the issue today as the Bruins take on a CSUN team that has a few good weapons and will test the Bruins’ defense. But can the Matadors slow the UCLA offense?
#16 UCLA Men’s Basketball vs.CSUN Matadors
Records: CSUN Matadors 1-0, UCLA Bruins 1-0
Location: Pauley Pavilion (Cap.: 12,829)
Tipoff: 6:00 p.m. PT
Tickets: uclabruins.com
TV: Pac-12 Network
Radio: AM 570 Los Angeles
On-line Radio: Tune-In
Live Stream: Pac-12 Network
Betting Line: UCLA -19.0, O/U: 170
This Matadors team likes to get up and down the court, kind of like UCLA. In their season opener on Friday, behind Washington transfer Darin Johnson, who scored 20 points with 4-of-5 from three point country, Northridge was able to score from all over the court.
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CSUN defeated Pomona-Pitzer 96-72 and did it in a variety of ways. They had 20 points on fast break, they had 50 in the paint, four players had 15 or more points and they collectively shot 53.1% from the floor.
Like UCLA, they are looking to push the tempo and make the Bruins move up and down the court. If not for the individual players, these two teams could be clones of each other.
But they are not and the talent UCLA has will be able to hold off the Matadors. On offense, the Bruins should have no problem scoring. As long as they keep their foot on the gas and limit mistakes, they should be fine.
On defense, UCLA needs to tighten the screws. In their opener against Pacific, the Bruins gave up way too many uncontested outside shots and let the Tigers into the key too easily. CSUN is going to score, but how much depends on the Bruins.
UCLA has proved to have some proper defenders like Ball, Aaron Holiday and Isaac Hamilton, so if they can get these players to step up and get in the face of CSUN, this game should be a piece of cake.
Prediction: UCLA 98 – CSUN 77