The 3-0 Portland Pilots are coming off a strong performance against Lewis & Clark College. They did what they were supposed to do in the 98-52 rout, as the team shot 57.8-percent and had six guys score in double digits. Defensively, they held the Pioneers to 24.6-percent shooting and kept them out of the paint, making them attempt nine more threes than twos.
The previous pair of wins are similar, with both being blowouts and feature the Pilots shooting well from the field. They now have an average winning margin of 25 points and a team field goal percentage of 51.9 percent.
As good as those numbers are, one will simply have to look at who the opponents are and know that those are a bit inflated (the other two are UC Riverside and San Jose State).
Thursday night, they will face a Bruins team that’s a thousand times better on offense and defense. It will take a lot from their top two scoring leaders to carry the team to a W. Point guard Alec Wintering (19 ppg, 4.7 rpg, and 8.1 apg) is sure to have an intense matchup with UCLA’s group of guards, while stretch four Gabe Taylor (17.3 ppg, eight rpg) will look to take the big men out of the paint. Taylor has been splashing 2.7 triples per contest.
Portland is 3-7 SU (5-4-1 ATS) in their last 10 road games.
The Bruins’ Showtime Lakers-like flow on offense has led to arguably their most exciting start to a season in over a decade. Their 105.9 ppg is leading the nation and their 57.1 shooting percent percentage ranks them second overall.
Their trio of guards – Bryce Alford, Isaac Hamilton, and freshman Lonzo Ball – seem to be gelling together really well. All are scoring above 16 points and making more than 50 percent of their shots. Alford and Hamilton have the most goods when it comes to lighting up the scoreboard, and Ball has the assist machine going. The five-star recruit has twice dished for 11 dimes in the young season, which is just one shy from setting a new freshman record for UCLA.
Down the shaded lane, the Bruins also have a formidable group. TJ Leaf (20.3 ppg and 10 rpg) should have another easy day operating in the paint, while his partner Thomas Welsh (10 ppg, 9.3 ppg, 3.5 bpg) will handle the hustling and defensive duties.
Everyone on the Pilots’ side will be in for a long night on offense and defense. Wintering will be pestered by an array of quick guards, while Taylor will likely be contained by the bigs, especially Welsh, who has three or more blocks in the Bruins’ first four games.
