ASU Basketball: 2019 Pac-12 Week 16 Power Rankings
By Trevor Booth
10. UCLA Bruins (13-13, 6-7 Pac-12) LW: T-11
When Murry Bartow assumed UCLA’s interim duties on Dec. 31, he inherited an abundance of talent from estranged coach Steve Alford. But much like the rationale for Alford’s termination, Bartow hasn’t found a method to maximize this roster’s capability.
The Bruins did snap a three-game losing streak last week, but it came by a razor-thin margin Wednesday against Cal, who may not win a Pac-12 game this season. Three nights later, UCLA got smoked by Stanford at Maples Pavilion 104-80, its first time surrendering over 100 points in a Pac-12 game since 2004.
Sophomore guard Kris Wilkes has often kept the Bruins afloat, and the win against Cal was no exception. He scored 16 of his 27 points in the second half, including a go-ahead 3-pointer to hold momentum with 46 seconds remaining.
On Saturday, however, Wilkes was nowhere to be found. His seven points on 2-of-11 shooting were a season-low, and despite a 29-point effort from Jaylen Hands, the Bruins didn’t have enough offense to survive the Cardinal beyond the first half.
At 6-7 in conference play, UCLA still has a chance to crack into the league’s top four. Remember – the Bruins did start 3-0 in Pac-12 play, including arguably the conference’s greatest showing of resiliency in a 17-point comeback against Oregon.
However, if they are going to fight back, it needs to be now. The Bruins’ next three games are all at Pauley Pavilion, first hosting the Oregon schools before a crosstown battle with USC.
It’s expected that Wilkes and Hands will stay consistent for the home stretch, but UCLA’s X-factor could be freshman guard David Singleton, who rallied the bench unit with 12 points in the Cal victory.
– Booth