ESPN GameDay is coming to Tucson on Saturday when the No. 5 Bruins come to town to take on our No. 4 Wildcats, and we have questions!
Zona Zealot and Go Joe Bruin are sister sites under Sports Illustrated’s FanSided network, and when our teams play each other, we ask each other questions, usually five of them. This game is hugely important. Not only will it be played on national television on ESPN GameDay, but it may also determine the seeding in the NCAA tournament and the Pac-12 tournament.
So as not to break tradition, Expert Mike Regalado of Go Joe Bruin (UCLA) and Expert Shereen Rayan of Zona Zealots (UofA) got together to get more insight for our fans on our upcoming ESPN GameDay.
All you ever needed to know logistically for the long day on Saturday you can find here:
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Without further ado, here are our five questions and Mike’s five answers:
1. How have the Bruins improved since their last meeting with Arizona?
Mike:
After Arizona, The Bruins got waxed by USC. Those were two bad losses that had absolutely no defense in them. Since those two games, there has been a focus on playing D. The Bruins are currently on a six-game win streak which has included holding their opponents to a lower field-goal percentage and fewer points allowed than their season average. The defense is good right now and mixed with their uptempo offense; the Bruins are better than they were against Arizona the first time around.
2. Who is the true leader on the Bruins and why?
Mike:
There are several leaders. Sorry for the vague response but it’s true. Bryce Alford brings experience and senior leadership, which the younger guys need. Lonzo Ball is clearly the floor general, but I would also say Aaron Holiday leads by example with his tenacity and grit. Thomas Welsh is the leader of the Big Men, while Isaac Hamilton is also a model for leadership.
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3. Is Lonzo’s dad getting on everybody’s nerves in Westwood? Do you believe Lonzo is better than Steph Curry?
Mike:
Not to plug my own stuff, but I answered that in a GJB article you should check out. Basically, LaVar is LaVar, and he’s going to say what he is going to say. I question how that affects Lonzo because the son is going to have to back up his father’s words, which isn’t particularly fair to Lonzo. Bottom line, Lonzo is NOT better than Steph Curry… yet. MUAHAHAHAHA!
4. Who is the most improved player on the Bruins and why?
Mike:
Honestly, after last season, there are several players that surprise me. Obviously, the freshmen are top notch, but to see Bryce Alford, Thomas Welsh and Aaron Holiday make improvements is very promising for the development of the team going forward.
5. Which player on the Arizona Wildcats do you think the Bruins have to plan the most for?
Mike:
Markkanen is definitely a player the Bruins Bigs have to keep an eye on. Though the Bruins have a lot of offense, their interior defense is still a bit weak. UCLA needs to get Ike Anigbogu in there and disrupt everything.
Campus Insiders, our sister site under the Time Inc. umbrella chose a winner…..
Prediction: Arizona is very difficult to beat at home, only Oregon has been able to do it as of late. This sentiment was corroborated by Jay Bilas last night as he was interviewed during the USC game, “It’s impossible to win here,” he emphatically explained to the Pac-12 Network.
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This will be the third most difficult game Arizona is had to win against a Pac-12 No. 5 team. It will be a very close game, and has had happened in the past, will come down to the final minutes. We predict Arizona finds it in their DNA to bring their A-Game and they will rise to the occasion in the face of adversity proving they are indeed a possible Final Four team. Arizona 85 UCLA 83.