Scouting Report: UCLA Bruins
Kentucky Basketball Scouting Report
Opponent: UCLA Date: 12/20/14
General- Balanced scoring attack; all 5 starters average double-figures.
- Talented guards who can score and really shoot it from beyond the arc.
- Like to play pretty fast, will look to go in transition.
Bryce Alford is a dynamic scorer averaging 18 ppg and 6.7 assists.[/caption]
Bryce is a very aggressive, scoring point guard who can really shoot. He is pretty quick with the ball and does a good job of getting himself, and others, good shots. He is a very good 3-point shooter, shooting 37.5% on year from beyond the arc. Bryce leads the Bruins in scoring with 18 points per game. Outstanding free throw shooter.
#4 G Norman Powell: 6’4’’ 215 SR.
Powell is a strong, athletic guard with good size on the perimeter. He is shooting 46.7% from 3-point range but is also a great finisher inside as well. He is a versatile scorer and is good in transition. Averaging 17.4 points per game.
#10 G Isaac Hamilton: 6’4’’ 185 SO.
Hamilton is a great athlete and shoots it well from 3-point range. He is a very good offensive rebound so we have to box him out. Really likes the pull-up jumper when he doesn’t have a rhythm 3. Averaging 11.6 points per game.
#5 F Kevon Looney: 6’9’’ 220 FR.
[caption id="attachment_170510" align="alignright" width="300"]
Looney is the only freshman in the country averaging a double-double.[/caption]
Looney has had a great start to his freshman season for the Bruins. He is a big, strong forward with a lot of skill. He is averaging a double-double through their first 11 games with 13.9 points and 10.9 rebounds. Looney is one of the leading offensive rebounders in the country too, pulling down nearly 5 per game.
#23 F/C Tony Parker: 6’9’’ 260 JR.
He is a really good finisher around the hoop and uses his strength well down low. Parker is averaging 10.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. He gets a lot of points off of either dump off passes or offensive rebounds, but he does have some back to the basket skill.
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#22 G/F Noah Allen: 6’6’’ 215 SO.
Allen is an athletic, bigger guard who can swing between the guard and forward spots on the perimeter. He isn’t a very aggressive offensive player, but 14 of the 25 shots he has taken have come from beyond the arc. Versatile player on both ends of the court.
#40 C Thomas Welsh: 7’0’’ 245 FR.
Welsh is a skilled big man who has played a solid role off the bench for the Bruins so far. He obviously provides some added size and also gives a little scoring punch. We need to be physical with him in the post.
Keys to the Game
- Win the Battle of the Boards. UCLA has some strength and size down low, featuring one of the best freshman in the country in Kevon Looney. They are a good rebounding team, especially on the offensive glass, so we will need to ramp up our rebounding effort to keep them from getting second chances.
- Keep their guards off the 3-point line. All 3 of the starting Bruin guards are very good 3-point shooters capable of getting hot. They are an aggressive offensive team so it will be important to guard the ball well so we don’t create help situations that lead to open, rhythm 3’s.
- Be ready to play from the opening tip. Kentucky has started slow a number of times this season already, and this is the type of game where a good start is crucial. UCLA is a good team coming off of a tough loss so they will be very amped up and ready to get some revenge. Also, neutral site games can create a different sort of atmosphere for the players as well.
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