You are here
Sweet Sixteen Preview: No. 12 Western Kentucky at No. 1 UCLA
Kevin Love and the Bruins need to play better in the first half to make it to the Final Four. (AP Images)
The dust has settled on the first two rounds in the West region and No. 1 UCLA is still alive and face No. 12 Western Kentucky. But judging by their performance versus Texas A&M, a Bruins blowout isn't likely despite the fact that they're 12.5-point favorites.
"That was reminiscent of a lot of games we seem to be in lately, where we're having to make dramatic comebacks in the last few minutes," UCLA coach Ben Howland said after their 51-49 comeback win over Texas A&M in the second round. "But the one thing that I love about our team is that they know in their heart they're always going to win the game. They're going to find a way."
The Bruins had to come back from a first half deficit to beat Texas A&M, and with Western Kentucky being a good first-half squad, it could be another uphill climb for the Bruins.
The Hilltoppers will try to up the tempo early to keep UCLA from using their lock-down D in the half court. If the Bruins don't respond, they could dig themselves a hole they might not be able to get out of. Western Kentucky is 7-0 in their last seven games against the spread while UCLA is 3-4.