In Reply to: The Bruins are rounding into shape. posted by ej on December 20, 2025 at 09:29:13
CP is CP. A total outlier in Div 1 hoops.
A 5-8 mid-major team that scores in bunches becuz of their uber pace/tempo that is an integral part of their O game plan. Despite their throwaway record, they are in the Top Quarter of the 361 Div 1 teams in Scoring Offense becuz it's what they dictate.
So, what's the problem?
THEY ARE #354 IN SCORING DEFENSE OF THE 361 DIV I TEAMS! A TOTAL HORROR SHOW!
They're a clown car team on D, wherein UCLA got more open looks and transition points than in any of their 1st 12 gms this yr.
No question that UCLA's O is improving, as it couldn't not (for fans of double negatives). Dent is a difference-maker and he's notably elevating his game particularly in our last 2 match-ups as our field general playing the most impt position in college hoops.
I specifically propped Skyy's shooting in my 1H Game Notes, pointing out how consistent his shooting motion is and the confidence he has behind it..................in 2 words:
*muscle memory*.............from his forearms to his wrists to the ball's rotation off his fingertips. Bilo is also an O force, despite that, no question, he's a liability on D.
And, lastly, CMC is an undisputed solid D coach. For those of us who followed him at Cincy, together with the inputs from our late poster, Cincinnati Fan, he built a reputation at that school for his D schemes and his recruiting of bruisers on the D end (he couldn't recruit the higher-tier scorers there, that he gained access to at UCLA, and thus never advanced past the S16 (one S16 in 16 yrs pre-UCLA).
I'm far less worried about CMC's D (despite our squishy low-blocks D), than I am as regards the sustainability of his recently resurgent O, especially our last game against a CP handicapped parking "D". We'll find out soon enuf, after our home walkover over UC Riverside on Tuesday, when we then start our Conference challenge of 18 straight gms against B10 opponents.