In Reply to: New Mexico upsets UCLA posted by pekelo on November 09, 2024 at 22:09:28
NM has a solid team, well balanced and their inside game and PG play was much better than the Bruins. My first impression of this edition of the Bruins was that I didn't care for the way they ran their offense. Too much one on one dribbling and not enough movement, cutting, screening etc. The high post pick and roll seemed to be their primary starting point with not a lot of weakside or strongside player or ball movement. Just seemed out of sync much of the time with no continuity of movement. Of course, sometimes the D can dictate the pace and what you can and can't do on offense. Somehow, they just didn't seem ready (or maybe surprised) by the skill and intense effort on both O and D that NM came at them with.
But it's still very early in the season and I expect as the season progresses, the offense will be a lot more efficient as these new players get totally in sync with each other.
Having watched a lot of BIG conference ball last year and this year, I believe the Bruins soft spot will be defending down low in the paint. There are a lot of big, physical and skilled guys they will face, most as good or better than the NM big man. They just don't have that defensive force down low that they need--at least not at this point. Kyle has some potential and Bilodeau can be a physical presence, but even he isn't big/quick/strong enough to go up against guys like Indiana's and Michigan's 7 footers plus some of the others they will face.
UCLA is forecast by most to be in that top 5 in the conference but my first impression tells me that they are going to have to improve a lot, IMO, to get there. Again, I realize this is just one game and I expect the Bruins to improve significantly as the season progresses. There are some very good athletes on the Bruin squad and I expect they will find a way to be competitive with other top teams in the conference. But it won't be easy as there are some very good teams in the BIG plus road games there are always tough to win, regardless of opponent.