UCLA Bruins – March Madness Team Predictions, Odds and Preview 2017

UCLA Bruins (Overall: 29-4, Conf: 15-3)

College Basketball News and Previews

2017 NCAA March Madness Final Four Preview

Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. South Carolina Gamecocks Preview

North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Oregon Ducks Preview

Team Strengths:

Lavar Ball has been endorsing his son as if Lonzo Ball is the second coming of Michael Jordan. But can you blame him for being so proud of the UCLA guard that he’s manufacturing ridiculous quotes lately? What’s more insane, however, is the Bruins’ offense that averages 91.3 points per game—the most in Division I ball.

Lonzo Ball is as good as advertised coming out of high school, as he’s fingerprints are all over the team’s offense. Ball is averaging 14.9 PPG and is the top catalyst of the Bruins’ ultra-finesse ball movement that registers 21.7 APG. The Bruins are a threat from everywhere on the floor. They shoot 10.1 threes on 41.5% rate and carry an effective field goal percentage of 60.4% all the way into the conference championship.

KenPom has the Bruins’ offense positioned second overall in adjusted offensive efficiency. Few opponents could handle an offense like that of the Bruins’, which is a big reason why the team is pegged at +1,200 to win the national title.

Team Weaknesses:

As scary good as the Bruins’ offense looks on paper, the team could struggle duplicating their scoring brilliance in the tournament, where they will meet the real deals of college basketball. The Bruins’ strength of schedule is just 139th in the nation. They only have five wins with three losses against top 50 RPI squads this season.  UCLA’s bad defense also deserves to be put on blast. The Bruins allow 75.0 PPG and let opponents take more shot attempts on average than they do with opposing teams averaging 66.5 shots per game against UCLA’s 65.1.

Team Stats:

Category | Stat | NCAA Rank
Points Per Game | 91.3 | 1
Rebounds Per Game | 39.3 | 22
Blocks Per Game | 5.4 | 17
3-Point Percentage | 41.5 | 2
Free Throw Percentage | 73.6 | 71

Starting Lineup:

Position | Name | PPG
F | TJ Leaf | 16.3
F | Thomas Welsh | 10.6
G | Bryce Alford | 16.5
G | Isaac Hamilton | 13.7
G | Lonzo Ball | 14.9

Writer’s Prediction:

UCLA (+1,200) makes the Sweet 16.

Create a betting account now and cash in on all the NCAAB action.

2,172 total views