UCLA Basketball: Troubling Numbers Reveal Bruins' Weakness This Season

UCLA has struggled in close games.

One area UCLA basketball has struggled this season is winning close games. In fact, the Bruins have played in 20 games this season decided by less than 10 points. In those games, UCLA is just 8-12 in those contests, including their last two losses.

UCLA had recently won more games and close games over the last month until they faced Utah and USC over the last week and a half. Against Utah, the Bruins lost 70-69 on a buzzer-beater. They followed that loss up with a 62-56 loss to USC.

Prior to this loss, UCLA had won five straight games decided by single digits, including a close 61-60 battle versus Cal. However, they could no longer hold on to every win in these tight contests.

This two-game stretch has instead broken their win streak and streak in these close games. Though winning close games is important, it also becomes more manageable to win consistently when a team can put the other away earlier in the game, rather than allowing them to stay in it. 

UCLA has certainly struggled in other games this season as well that weren't as close, but the close ones stand out because another win seemed within reach.

Now, the Bruins will have just four more opportunities for wins in the regular season, as they get set to face Washington, Washington, Arizona State, and Arizona in the final weeks of the regular season. If they can win all or most of these, it will help boost their status again after the back-to-back losses dropped them down to just 14-13 overall.