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UCLA Game Breakdown & Viewing Info:
"UCLA game preview, key details, analysis."
Here's how to catch the game and place your bets:
Date: Tuesday, January 24, 2025
Start Time: 8:00 PM PT
Watch on: FS1
Stream it: Foxsportsgo.com
Listen in: Huskies Gameday App, Sports Radio KJR
Venue: Seattle, WA
Betting Odds: Washington Huskies +5
UCLA Bruins 2024-25 Overview: Record: 13-6
Points Scored per Game: 76.2 (Ranked 106th)
Points Allowed per Game: 64.7 (Ranked 24th)
Adjusted Offensive Efficiency: 113.8 (Ranked 60th)
Adjusted Defensive Efficiency: 94.8 (Ranked 18th)
Strength of Schedule: 35th
Key Players for UCLA:
G- Dylan Andrews, Jr. 6’2, 180 lbs: 7.2 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 2.7 apg, 42.9% FG, 32.1% 3pt, 50.0% FT
Andrews has a more talented team around him, which has led to fewer minutes and points, but he’s become a better passer and more efficient shooter. There are some questions about his toughness, though, as he’s only taken 7 free throws in 17 games, which is pretty low for someone who shoots more 2-pointers than 3-pointers. Plus, he struggles with rebounding.
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Last game against UW: 12 points (5/12 FG), 1 rebound, 2 assists
G- Skyy Clark, Jr. 6’3, 210 lbs: 7.0 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 2.7 apg, 43.9% FG, 35.2% 3pt, 74.1% FT
Clark is on his third school in three years, moving from Illinois to Louisville and now to UCLA. His role has diminished on this stacked roster, which has affected his overall stats. However, his efficiency numbers are similar to last year, except for a spike in his steal rate, which has since returned to his career averages in Big Ten play.
1. Last matchup against UW: 6 points (2/7 FG), 3 rebounds, 2 assists
G- Kobe Johnson, Senior, 6’6, 200 lbs: 7.8 points per game, 5.7 rebounds per game, 3.2 assists per game, 44.6% field goal percentage, 33.9% three-point percentage, 68.2% free throw percentage
Every coach would want a player like Johnson on their team. After transferring from rival USC, he’s currently 4th in points, 1st in rebounds, 1st in assists, and 1st in steals on a per-game basis. He excels at the little things and effectively neutralizes the top wing player from the opposing team. After a rough start shooting this season, he’s found his rhythm from deep, hitting 38% of his three-pointers in conference play.
Last matchup against UW: 3 points (1/7 FG), 3 rebounds, 2 assists
F- Eric Dailey, Sophomore, 6’8, 230 lbs: 11.8 points per game, 4.2 rebounds per game, 1.8 assists per game, 52.3% field goal percentage, 34.7% three-point percentage, 73.6% free throw percentage
Dailey has made a seamless transition after moving from Oklahoma State, and his numbers have improved across the board, even with similar playing time. He’s shooting better from two, three, and the free-throw line while also averaging more assists, blocks, and steals. He can hit a three-pointer but usually only takes a couple of attempts per game, focusing more on scoring in the paint.
Last matchup against UW: 6 points (3/7 FG), 4 rebounds, 4 assists
C- Tyler Bilodeau Jr., 6’9, 230 lbs: 14.6 points per game, 4.8 rebounds per game, 0.5 blocks per game, 51.0% field goal percentage, 39.6% three-point percentage, 71.7% free throw percentage
The Huskies really put in the effort to snag the Kennewick, WA native when he entered the portal, but UCLA ended up winning him over after he left Oregon State. Now, he’s mostly playing as a small ball 5 in the starting lineup for UCLA and is leading the Bruins in scoring. While he might not be the best defensive rebounder or shot blocker for a center, his shooting skills let UCLA run a 5-out offense that spreads the floor and puts pressure on the other teams' defenses. Plus, UCLA still boasts one of the top defenses in the nation, so it’s all working out.
"UCLA game highlights, analysis, key moments."
In the last game against UW, he scored 16 points (6/8 FG), grabbed 9 rebounds, dished out 2 assists, and had 2 steals.
Looking Ahead :
When these two teams last met, UCLA had one of the easiest schedules in the country and held a 6-1 record, backed by one of the best defenses around. Thankfully, their city wasn’t dealing with wildfires at that time (sending good vibes for a quick recovery to everyone affected, including my sister-in-law whose school was just a few blocks from the flames).
Things have definitely shifted since then. UCLA managed to beat their west coast rivals like UW, Oregon, Arizona, and Gonzaga, but they also went through a rough patch, losing 5 out of 6 games. Mick Cronin had a memorable outburst during that time, calling out several players and labeling them as “delusional” and “soft.” While that didn’t immediately stop the losing streak, the Bruins seem to have turned things around recently, sweeping a 2-game homestand against Iowa and Wisconsin.
Defense remains the hallmark of this Bruins team. They rank 2nd in the nation for defensive turnover rate, forcing a turnover on a quarter of their opponents' possessions. This has been a challenge for Washington at times this season, but the Dawgs only had 9 turnovers against Oregon, so they’ll need to keep that number low to stay competitive (they had 12 turnovers last game against UCLA, with 8 coming from Osobor).
UCLA's defense has seen a significant shift lately, becoming more vulnerable to three-point shots. In their last five games, opponents have hit 43% from beyond the arc, with teams like Michigan and Wisconsin each sinking 15 threes at over 50% accuracy (though UCLA managed to pull off a win against Wisconsin). However, the Huskies shouldn't be a major concern for UCLA in this regard, as Washington hasn't hit more than 10 threes in any game this season.
Depth has been crucial for UCLA, as they have a solid roster of 13 scholarship players. However, Coach Cronin has been narrowing down the rotation, now typically using an 8-man lineup, with only 7 players logging at least 9 minutes in their last outing. Aday Mara, the 7'3" sophomore from Spain, had a standout game against Wisconsin, scoring 22 points in just 21 minutes on a perfect 7-for-7 shooting. He also went 2-for-2 against the Huskies, and if he gets similar playing time, he could pose a real challenge for Washington, who lacks anyone capable of matching his height.
Washington has just wrapped up what many consider the toughest five-game stretch in their history, facing all top-20 ranked teams. If you include Maryland at the start, that's six consecutive games against teams ranked in the top-26 according to KenPom. UCLA sits at #30, just below that threshold. Playing at home gives Washington a fighting chance for an upset, especially as they enter a stretch of four games that are actually winnable (with win probabilities ranging from 34-42% for each, per KenPom). To have any hope of making it to the Big Ten tournament, the Huskies need to aim for at least a 2-2 or even a 3-1 record in these upcoming games.
Washington might get a boost towards the end of that stretch. The Huskies have a full week off after this, with their next game set for Saturday, February 1st. That extra time could mean we might finally see Franck Kepnang and/or Dominique Diomande hit the court. Right now, though, this Husky team struggles to keep up high-level play long enough to compete with teams that are tournament-ready. They had a solid final 30 minutes against Illinois, a strong first half against Purdue, and a decent first 35 minutes at Oregon. But eventually, UCLA will likely go on a run, taking advantage of UW's turnovers and poor shooting, and that could create a gap that's tough to overcome.
"UCLA game breakdown, insights, key moments revealed."
Matt Eberflus, the ex-head coach comeback in Dallas
Prediction :
Washington Huskies - 64, UCLA Bruins - 73.
