No. 9 Nebraska will try to pull off a rare feat when it visits UCLA for a Big Ten game on Tuesday night in Los Angeles.
The Cornhuskers (25-4, 14-4) are trying to become the only Big Ten team this season to sweep the LA schools on the road. Non-West Coast teams are 5-8 on the California swing this season, but Nebraska put itself in position for the sweep with an 82-67 win on Saturday at Southern California.
The Huskers trailed by five points at the half, but they limited the Trojans to 10-of-26 shooting (38.5%) in the second half that included an 0-for-9 showing from 3-point range. They also forced six turnovers and owned the boards by a 22-10 count.
“I thought defensively we were terrific in those last 20 minutes,” Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg said. “More than anything, we just slowed down and got back to who we are. When we’re actively defensively, we’re a really good basketball team.”
It was defense that let down UCLA (19-10, 11-7) in a 78-73 loss on Saturday at Minnesota, which dropped the Bruins to 3-6 in conference road games — with two of the victories coming at Oregon and Washington. The Bruins are 3-11 in Big Ten games played outside the Pacific Time Zone since joining the league.
“Plus-10 on the glass, shoot 51%, make 10 threes — you should win, but not with this team,” UCLA coach Mick Cronin said. “We’ve struggled defensively all year. It’s been a grind, something I haven’t experienced in 30 years in college, 23 as a head coach, seven as an assistant. I have never experienced anything like this.”
Nebraska’s Pryce Sandfort, who had a game-high 32 points at USC, continues to blow away the school single-season record for 3-pointers. He also leads the Big Ten with his 106 3-pointers as he shoots 40.8% from long range. In league play, the Cornhuskers lead everyone in perimeter shooting at 37.4%.
UCLA is not far behind at 37.3% in Big Ten games. Among players who’ve tried at least 20 3-point attempts this year, senior guard Skyy Clark leads everyone at 48.4% — which includes a 4-for-7 showing at Minnesota. The Bruins also defend the 3-point line well, allowing Big Ten opponents to shoot only 32.2%. They’re 14-1 this season when the opposing team shoots below 44% overall.
Six-foot-9 forward Tyler Bilodeau leads UCLA in scoring (18.4 ppg) and rebounding (5.8 rpg) and Clark is the only Big Ten player who exceeds Bilodeau’s 45.5% marksmanship on threes. He’ll likely be guarded by a similarly skilled player from Nebraska, 6-foot-9 forward Rienk Mast.
Turnovers could determine how this game goes. Nebraska has had some issues taking care of the ball, with three of its four losses including at least 11 giveaways. UCLA forces a turnover on 18.3% of opposing possessions, but recorded only three takeaways at Minnesota.
“Execution is what it is all about, and I’m talking about defensive execution,” Cronin said. “We have weaknesses.”
Nebraska shares second place with Michigan State in the Big Ten race. Not only would a win over UCLA lock up a top-four finish and a triple bye in next week’s conference tournament, it would also match the school record of 26 victories set in the 1990-91 season. The Cornhuskers already have won the most conference games in school history.
UCLA needs the victory to help get away from the NCAA Tournament bubble. According to BracketMatrix.com, which takes into account 131 published brackets from across the internet, the Bruins are projected to be a No. 10 seed with little room for error.
