Denver (8-2) at No. 19 UCLA (7-2)
When: Saturday, noon
Where: Pauley Pavilion
Tv/Radio: Pac-12 Network/570 AM
UCLA’s latest result: UCLA isn’t coming off one good result, it’s coming off a pair of good results. The Bruins won 80-66 at Stanford last Thursday, thanks to relentless defense and Jaime Jaquez Jr.’s 27 points. They then topped Oregon at home 65-56 on Sunday afternoon on ESPN, anchored by a 44-point second half. Starting Pac-12 play 2-0 is certainly good, and so was Amari Bailey being named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Week for a second consecutive time. The left-handed guard averaged 16.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists in the Pac-12 wins. In addition, he shot 66.7% from the field (14 for 21).
Denver’s latest result: Denver fell to Sacramento State for the second time this season 87-85 on Wednesday night. Sacramento State is a team UCLA defeated 76-50 at Pauley Pavilion on Nov. 7. Saturday’s game will be the Pioneers’ toughest game this season as the Bruins are the only ranked opponent on their schedule. Denver has six players who average in double figures, led by 6-foot-1 junior guard Tommy Bruner at 15.6 points per game. Bruner has taken a team-high 117 shots, 49 of which were 3-pointers. Bruner has made 35% of those attempts from beyond the arc. He also shoots 88% from the free-throw line (45 for 51), which means he can shoot and slash.
UCLA trend watch: Bailey has shown more consistency in almost every facet the past four games, except with turnovers – committing 10 in the past two games, including seven against Stanford. It’s a result of him starting to get more comfortable to the college game, being more aggressive and trying to make more plays. Maybe a bit too comfortable for Mick Cronin’s liking.
With Bailey seemingly making more plays with the ball in his hands, it’s adjusted the role of senior point guard Tyger Campbell a bit. He’s looking to thread the needle of still being a playmaker, but shooting the ball more, too. The playmaking is up and so are the assists at 4.9 per game. The shooting is up, too, but not the making. Campbell has attempted the most shots on the team (123) and is shooting 39% from the field. Against Oregon, he was 4 of 15 from the floor.
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“I’d say it’s just staying confident,” Campbell said of the misses. “The shots haven’t been falling at the highest level right now, but every shot I take feels good, I’m still in the gym working and so the transition is just, I’m taking all those shots, it’s just seeing them go in.”
Worth noting: Saturday’s game is the last game before UCLA takes a trip to the East Coast to face Maryland in College Park on Dec. 14 on Fox Sports 1. The Bruins will then travel further east to take on Kentucky on Dec. 17 in Madison Square Garden on CBS.