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UCLA Basketball: 4 Takeaways From Heartbreaking Loss To Marquette

The Bruins' comeback effort came up just short...

Jason Fray

UCLA Basketball: 4 Takeaways From Heartbreaking Loss To Marquette
UCLA Basketball: 4 Takeaways From Heartbreaking Loss To Marquette /
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Heading into this contest, few people gave UCLA even a remote chance against Marquette. 

The Golden Eagles are on the shortlist of favorites to win the National Title this year. They returned essentially the bulk of a team that terrorized the Big East last year. On the other hand, UCLA lost five of its top six players from a year ago. Three of those guys are now on NBA rosters. 

Mick Cronin "reloaded" with seven true freshmen, a transfer, and a team with essentially no experience competing at the highest level. Well, after tonight's tough 71-69 loss to the No. 4 team in the country, we've learned plenty about the Baby Bruins. 

Here are a few takeaways from this thrilling contest featuring two very well-coached squads: 

Sebastian Mack Has Arrived

The freshman out of Las Vegas by way of Chicago wasn't the most ballyhooed recruit in his class. However, the reputation he had was that of a scorer. Based upon the early portion of this season, we're seeing him blossom before our eyes. 

He led UCLA with 25 points on 6-of-14 from the field and a sparkling 13-of-13 from the line. Speaking of which, his ability to get into the lane and draw contact is truly special for such a young player. While he does tend to get sped up at times, Cronin had complete confidence in him. 

Towards the end of the game, Cronin was dialing up plays to get Mack in iso situations. Even against a Big East team chock-full of vets, Mack was virtually unstoppable getting into the paint. 

Berke Buyuktuncel Makes a Difference

The Turkish forward made his UCLA debut tonight. You might look at the box score and think that he played poorly. Buyuktuncel went 0-of-7 from the floor. With that said, you can just tell he's a very talented player. 

There was one stretch where he missed a shot in the paint (where it looked like it got fouled). After being knocked to the ground, he ran back and made a spectacular deflection on a fast-break opportunity for Marquette. 

The feel for the game is also very apparent. He demonstrated a ridiculous drop pass to Adem Bona for a thunderous dunk. With the ability to play both inside and out, it makes the Bruins far more versatile. Defensively, he blocked a dribble-drive attempt and did a very good job of keeping himself between the offensive player and the basket. 

Remember -- Buyuktuncel hasn't played organized basketball in months. Also, remember -- he's one of Turkey's best prospects and one which many NBA scouts believe could end up as a first-round pick. As he gets more comfortable, Buyuktuncel and Bona could make a truly devastating duo in the frontcourt. 

Dylan Andrews is a Calming Influence

The sophomore guard was quite efficient tonight -- going 4-of-5 from the floor for 8 points. He also had two steals and four assists. For one large chunk of the second half, Andrews was on the bench with what was reported as cramps. 

Unsurprisingly, this is when Marquette made its massive 17-2 run. Andrews demonstrated patience when on the floor. He rarely looked for his own shot -- but when doing so was confident. 

He knew when to defer to Mack, but also knew when to push the tempo in transition. If Andrews can continue to grow with his ability to lead this team, the sky is truly the limit. He has athletic gifts Tyger Campbell could've only dreamed of having. 

There's Plenty of Room For Growth

This is the most exciting takeaway. While UCLA has a long way to go in order to realize its potential, we're already seeing signs of a team with an exceptionally high ceiling. 

Despite having a team full of freshmen, it took Marquette toe-to-toe for the entire game -- and even looked like the better team for much of it. 

If you're Cronin, you've got to be elated at how competitive UCLA was in this ballgame. Defensively, the team was supremely active. You know they'll only continue to get better as the season progresses in that category. Plus, you've only seen glimpses of Buyuktuncel, Aday Mara, and Jan Vide. 

Imagine what this team will look like when all three of those talented players figure out their roles within the team. You're looking at a group loaded with size, athleticism, and length. 

When throwing Cronin's defensive pedigree on top of the eventually seasoned group, you're looking at a team that nobody will want to play in March. 

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Jason Fray
JASON FRAY

Jason Fray is a proud native of Los Angeles. After graduating from UCLA in 2011, he's written for a number of publications -- including Bleacher Report, FOX Sports, Saturday Down South, and New Arena. In his downtime, he enjoys writing scripts, going to shows, weekly pub trivia with the boys, trying the best hole-in-the-wall food spots around town, and traveling (22 countries & counting).