UCLA Basketball: 5 Takeaways From Bruins' Come-From-Behind Victory Over Lafayette
It wasn't pretty, but your UCLA Bruins got the job done at home in a 68-50 slog of a victory over Lafayette. Down 9 in the second half, the Bruins went on a massive run 24-4 run buoyed by a phenomenal period of defense en route to the come-from-behind victory.
There's only so much we can learn from a game like this. Clearly, with eight new faces -- seven of which are freshmen -- this UCLA team will likely look a whole lot different in January.
With that said, there were some interesting observations to glean from this contest. At the very least, UCLA having the ability to pull out the victory after such a horrid start shooting the ball has to be encouraging for fifth-year head coach Mick Cronin.
1. This Team Is A Work In Progress
Patience has to be utilized when analyzing this team in the non-conference portion of the season. UCLA is breaking in essentially a brand new roster. Dylan Andrews is running the team as the starter for the first time in his career. Next to him is a true freshman guard Sebastian Mack. Next to those two at the three is transfer wing Lazar Stefanovic. Formerly at Utah, Stefanovic is now playing for a program with considerably higher expectations.
Dynamic big man Adem Bona returned to be more of a focal point on the offense end of the floor. Can he become a double-double threat on a weekly basis? From there, Cronin has a bench chock-full of baby Bruins -- all of which are acclimating to the collegiate game. The four European freshmen -- Aday Mara, Berke Buyuktuncel, Jan Vide, and Ilane Fibleuil -- are more acclimating to life across the pond in the United States.
You will see lulls where the offense isn't clicking. Defensively, there's enough depth and size on this team to be rather special (more on that later). With so many inexperienced players, growing pains are to be expected. You'll most likely see this when UCLA steps up and plays the likes of Villanova, Marquette, Ohio State, Maryland, and others. With that said, they'll be better for it down the line.
2. The Andrews/Mack Backcourt Combo Has A Chance To Be Special
Although returning guard Will McClendon started in the backcourt alongside Andrews, it was pretty clear early on that Mack was going to absorb the majority of the minutes as Andrews' running mate.
Mack scored 18 points in the win to go along with five rebounds in 32 minutes. While he didn't shoot well from the field (4-of-11), he did get to the line 12 times (converting nine of the attempts). Andrews was far more efficient -- going 7-of-9 from the floor (3-of-5 from three) for 18 points. He also had four assists in the win.
Both of these guys impact the game in different ways. Though he's a first-year player, Mack is unquestionably the team's best slasher. He wants to attack the rim every single time down the floor. With some excellent first-step quickness, he got to the rim at will in this game (evidenced by his double-digit free-throw attempts). Andrews was more methodical -- taking what the defense gave him.
With Lafayette going underneath screens, Andrews was knocking down threes and mid-range jumpers with confidence. As teams presumably adjust to him making those shots, it'll open up opportunities for him to attack the basket. Both Mack and Andrews are above-average athletes, and offer some real chops on the defensive end. This could be the most athletic two-way backcourt UCLA has started since the Darren Collison-Jrue Holiday duo in 2008.
3. Cronin Should Forget The Two-Post System
UCLA has a lot of playable depth at the 4 and 5 spots. Bona is one of the conference's best-returning players. He's the defensive anchor for the Bruins in the paint and appears to be taking on the role of an offensive fixture this year. From there, UCLA returned experienced big Kenny Nwuba. Rounding out the group includes highly-touted Spanish center Aday Mara and California native Devin Williams.
Nwuba is a great guy to have on your team. He's extremely well-liked from a chemistry standpoint, and he brings Final Four experience. With that said, he's not overly skilled -- and brings zero as a floor spacer. Mara is supremely skilled and visibly massive. With that said, Mara is still working on his conditioning. Williams has terrific upside but is still woefully thin for the college game.
In theory, it makes sense as to why Cronin would want to play both Mara and Bona together. Both are future NBA players and with Bona's ability to hedge and move on defense, he could -- theoretically -- defend smaller players on the perimeter. With that said, do you really want your top shot blocker standing 40 feet from the rim?
Now, Lafayette was a funky matchup for a number of reasons. They played a five-out system which included their 7-foot center launching threes. Very rarely will the Bruins play a team like this moving forward. When Cronin downsized and reverted back to his usual defensive alignment (with a smaller, quicker player at the 4), Lafayette's offensive scheme was rendered useless. UCLA switched on everything and effectively took the game over.
We'll see what Cronin opts to do once Buyuktuncel enters the fray. Pegged by many as a bigger Jaime Jaquez Jr., he might be a cleaner fit starting next to Bona, with Mara acting primarily as Bona's backup.
4. The Defense Is Already Showing Signs Of Being Elite
Specifically in the second half, the Bruins ratcheted up the pressure. it ended up holding the Leopards to 32.7 percent from the field and 26.7 percent from three.
Down nine with 15 minutes left in the game, Cronin put Fibleuil into the game alongside Andrews, Stefanovic, and Bona. This proved to be a wise decision for the Bruins' head coach.
At that point in the game, Lafayette had 43 points. It finished the game with 50 points. For 3/4ths of the second half, the Bruins held a D1 team to seven points -- and that's with two freshmen on the floor. Fibleuil had a reputation as an active defender dating back to his prep days in France. He was electric on that end of the floor - utilizing length and athleticism.
Fibleuil shut off driving lanes and was nearly impossible to get around with his lengthy wingspan. It's no surprise to see that he played the majority of the second half when UCLA made its run.
Two games into the season, this has to be something Cronin is excited about. This is the most athletic team he's had in Westwood to date, and it's also the deepest/most versatile from a personnel standpoint. Imagine what this team will look like on that end of the floor with some experience under its collective belt.
5. UCLA Needs Berke Buyuktuncel
It's still a guessing game as to when the Turkish freshman will see the court. Yet to be cleared by the NCAA, he's been practicing with the team, and sitting on the bench during games. The hope is that he'll become eligible ASAP, and certainly before UCLA travels to Hawaii for the Maui Invitational.
An older freshman at 19 years of age, Buyuktuncel's reputation is that of a physical, aggressive player with strong versatility. At 6'9", the lefty should slot in at the four-spot once eligible. Assuming he can spread the floor, Buyuktuncel looks like a perfect fit at the vacant spot next to Bona which had been assumed by Jaquez Jr. for years.
Once he's eligible, we'll get a better idea as to what the ceiling of this team will be.
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