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Having to scroll down through eight teams in the Pac-12 standings before coming across UCLA and Stanford is highly unusual. Seeing the Bruins closer to last place than first place is even stranger. It’ll take a miraculous run through the conference tournament for either team to go dancing.
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HOW THE UCLA BRUINS CAN COVER THE SPREAD
UCLA’s at-large NCAA Tournament hopes were pushed aside by Cal on Thursday. For the Bruins it’s all about pride now. And when those young men put the jersey with the four letters printed across the front, there is plenty of pride involved.
It will take a run through the Pac-12 tournament for the Bruins to get a NCAA bid, and while the likelihood of that happening is slim, UCLA has the talent to pull it off. They need to start ramping up for it and facing the Cardinal could be a start.
Six games ago coach Steve Alford decided to change his team’s on-court identity, going from a big-big lineup to one that features a stretch power forward by inserting Jonah Bolden into the starting lineup. The results have been mixed, but Bolden gives the Bruins an athletic presence and is a better defender than Tony Parker.
With the lineup change came some inconsistent play. Parker going to the bench resulted in fewer minutes and less production. The team suffered. Parker was put back in the starting lineup to try and get him going. Finding a rotation and sticking with it might be what the Bruins need to find their stride down the stretch.
HOW THE STANFORD CARDINAL CAN COVER THE SPREAD
Stanford’s late season surge may save coach Johnny Dawkins’ job, but it won’t get the Cardinal into the NCAA Tournament. In a game that hit the board as a toss-up, Stanford routed USC by 20 on Thursday at Maples Pavilion.
Two of Stanford’s three wins in the past two weeks have come over league heavyweights. The Cardinal beat Oregon two weeks ago and battered the Trojans for their third win in four games.
Stanford is shooting the basketball well during their successful run and that needs to continue against the Bruins. The loss of Reid Travis, the only dependable post player, virtually eliminates any inside game against UCLA’s strong frontcourt.
The Cardinal will look at other options to win the game and that includes swingman Rosco Allen, who scored 17 against USC, and Dorian Pickens. Pickens notched a career-high 25 points Thursday night hitting 8 of 10 shots, including 5 of 7 from three-point range. The second-year player has blossomed with an increased workload
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
UCLA had an outside chance of earning a NCAA Tournament bid, needing wins in its last four to get in the discussion. But with hope still out there, the Bruins underwhelmed Thursday in a lackluster performance against Cal, losing 75-63 in a game they never really were in. With plenty at stake, the Bruins folded. It makes us wonder if they already cashed it in, and based on their performance, that’s a good assessment. The Cardinal, on the other hand, have shown signs of life lately, winning three of four and knocking off first place Oregon in the process. Pickens has been a revelation averaging better than 14 points in 10 games off the bench. He gives the second unit some energy and his scoring touch is deflating to opponents. As long as the Cardinal stay hot from the perimeter, they have a good chance of sweeping their in-state rivals from the south.
Stanford 73, UCLA 68
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