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UCLA, Kentucky battle in Sweet 16 Friday
By: Sam Chase - StatFox
Published: 3/24/2017  at  5:23:00 PM
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UCLA BRUINS (31-4)

vs. KENTUCKY WILDCATS (31-5)

NCAA Tournament
South Regional Semifinals – FedEx Forum - Memphis, TN
Tip-off: Friday, 9:35 pm ET
Line: UCLA -1, Total: 165.0

Round 2 of UCLA vs. Kentucky will have much bigger consequences than the first meeting, as the season will be over for one of these teams on Friday.

UCLA and Kentucky met in Lexington during the regular season and the Bruins won that game 97-92. It was a victory that announced UCLA’s return to the upper echelon of college basketball teams. The Bruins shot 53.0% in that game and outrebounded the Wildcats 41-38. Look for the battle on the glass to be equally as important this time around. This meeting between the teams could not possibly come at a better time, though. Both teams are playing extremely well right now, as UCLA is coming off of a 79-67 win over Cincinnati and Kentucky just beat local rival Wichita State 65-62. The Bruins have had the upper hand in this head-to-head series as of late, as they are 2-1 both SU and ATS when facing the Wildcats over the past three seasons. The Bruins will also have some confidence heading into this one, as they are 11-4 ATS in non-conference games this season and are also facing a Kentucky team that is just 3-10 ATS when playing away from home for only its second game in a week on the year. The Bruins are, however, a miserable 2-14 ATS after having won two of their past three games over the past two seasons. Kentucky, meanwhile, is 31-13 ATS versus teams that average 16 or more assists per game (after 15 or more games) under head coach John Calipari.

If UCLA is going to beat Kentucky on Friday then G Lonzo Ball (14.7 PPG, 7.6 APG, 6.1 RPG, 1.9 SPG) is going to need to play a flawless game for the Bruins. Ball was great against Cincinnati last game, finishing with 18 points, nine assists, seven rebounds and two steals in 38 minutes of action. He did everything the team needed in that one, as he was finding his teammates in transition and also knocking down shots when called upon. Ball did, however, struggle with his shot in December’s win over Kentucky, going just 2-for-8 from the outside. If he can be a bit more accurate from deep then the Bruins would be in pretty good shape. F T.J. Leaf (16.2 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 1.1 BPG) is one guy that really showed out in that win over the Wildcats. He was 7-for-12 from the floor and finished the game with 17 points, 13 rebounds and five assists in 32 minutes of action. If he can play like that again then it would really take pressure off his teammates. The Bruins will also need some solid play from guys like Gs Isaac Hamilton (14.0 PPG), Aaron Holiday (12.5 PPG, 4.4 APG, 1.1 SPG) and Bryce Alford (15.6 PPG). All three guys are capable of getting hot on any given night, and they’ll need to show up in this one. Alford especially is a guy to keep an eye on. He is playing out his senior season and will do everything he can to avoid elimination.

Kentucky is coming off of an impressive win over Wichita State, and the Wildcats really had to grind that one out. They now face a much different team on Friday, and this game should feature a lot more scoring. The style of play in this one should really benefit Gs De’Aaron Fox (16.1 PPG, 4.6 APG, 4.0 RPG, 1.4 SPG) and Malik Monk (20.0 PPG, 1.0 SPG). Fox is one of the fastest players in college basketball and he’ll need to use that speed here. If he can find a way to outplay Lonzo Ball in this one then he will have done his part in helping the Wildcats win this one. He was good in the first meeting between the teams, finishing the game with 20 points and nine assists in 34 minutes of action. He only turned the ball over twice in that game, and it’d be big if he can limit his mistakes once again here. Monk, meanwhile, will need to get hot for the Wildcats in this one. He is one of the best scorers in the nation, and he had 24 points the last time he faced UCLA. It’d be big if he can reach a number like that again, as he has scored 20 or more points in only one of the past five contests. On the inside, C Edrice Adebayo (13.3 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 1.5 BPG) should really be able to impact this game. He is a monster around the basket and had 18 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks the last time he faced the Bruins.


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