When you look back on how UCLA got here, it’s quite extraordinary.
The Bruins started the year without Mac Etienne and Will McClendon due to season-ending injuries. They had a frightening trip to Milwaukee interrupted by their plane making an emergency landing in Denver. The team dealt with a COVID-19 outbreak that kept them from playing games for almost a month, and the recent stride to the regular-season finish line has been riddled with nagging injuries.
Somehow UCLA (23-6) still earned the No. 2 seed for the Pac-12 Tournament, which earned the Bruins a first-round bye and a quarterfinal date with No. 7 Washington State (19-13) on Thursday at 6 p.m. at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
UCLA faced the Cougars just once this season and won, 76-56, on Feb. 17 at Pauley Pavilion.
When Mick Cronin spoke to reporters on Tuesday morning, the third-year UCLA head coach wasn’t too concerned about not knowing his next opponent, which could have been 10th-seeded Cal, but Washington State prevailed, 66-59, on Wednesday night.
“It’s easier than you think,” Cronin said. “We’ve played them all already, and through scouting other games, you’ve watched everyone in your conference so much by now. If you don’t know your conference opponents by now, you’re in trouble.”
This deep into a season that has carried the expectations of another Final Four run from the outset, Cronin’s focus is on his 13th-ranked Bruins.
“We’re 0-0 now. I want us to get our minds and legs fresh, that’s my goal for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,” he said. “Being fresh. I’m more worried about that than our opponent.”
UCLA’s success will be predicated on its health. It’s been a storyline all season – good and bad.
When Jaylen Clark was finally clear of his frequent head injuries and concussion protocol, there seemed to be little he couldn’t do during a trio of UCLA home games late last month. Jaime Jaquez Jr., who has been battling bad ankles, is back to his old self. The Pac-12 Player of the Week averaged 28.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists in the Bruins’ two wins last week.
Johnny Juzang, however, is still working through his ankle injury, which he sustained after dealing with a hip injury he suffered after falling off a scooter.
“It’s throwing his rhythm off,” Cronin said of Juzang, whose availability has been spotty as he heals through injury, although he did play 32 minutes off the bench in the win against USC on Saturday. “I was worried he would get out there, he wouldn’t feel good and only play two minutes.”
Juzang scored eight points in those 32 minutes and was 4 for 13 from the field.
“I was just trying to get his rhythm back,” Cronin said.
ALL-PAC 12 CONFERENCE HONORS
Juniors Tyger Campbell, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Johnny Juzang were all named to the All-Pac-12 first team, which was announced Tuesday.
Campbell is the first UCLA player since Aaron Afflalo in 2006 and 2007 to secure first-team all-league honors in consecutive seasons.
Jaquez Jr. was also named to the All-Pac-12 Defensive team, along with teammates Myles Johnson and Jaylen Clark.
Peyton Watson earned honorable mention Pac-12 All-Freshmen Team honors.
Arizona’s Bennedict Mathurin was named the Pac-12 Player of the Year, and Arizona’s Christian Koloko was honored as the league’s Defensive Player of the Year and the Most Improved Player. Stanford’s Harrison Ingram was named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year. Arizona’s Pelle Larsson was recognized as the Pac-12 Sixth Man of the Year. Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd was named the John R. Wooden Coach of the Year.
NO. 2 UCLA (23-6) VS. NO. 7 WASHINGTON STATE (19-13)
What: Pac-12 Tournament quarterfinals
When: Thursday, 6 p.m. PT
Where: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas
TV/radio: Pac-12 Networks / 570 AM