College basketball is back, and the Bruins are ready to make a statement on their home court against the Hornets.
WHO: UCLA vs. Sacramento State
DATE: Monday, November 7
WEATHER: 8:40 p.m. (Pacific Time)
LOCATION: Pauley Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA
TV: Pac-12 Networks: Ted Robinson (play-by-play), Bill Walton (analyst)
TRANSMISSION: fuboTV (Start your free trial)
RADIO: AM 1150, Sirius ch. 84, SXM 84 App: Josh Lewin (play-by-play), Tracy Murray (analyst)
SPREAD: UCLA -24 (-110), Sacramento State +1331 (-110)*
MONEY LINE: UCLA -2745, Sacramento State +310*
BELOW: O135 (-110), U135 (-110)*
UCLA enters the season ranked No. 8 in the AP Poll, No. 7 in the USA Today Coaches Poll and No. 11 in the KenPom rankings. Sacramento State did not receive a vote in any of the preseason polls and begins the year ranked 276th in the KenPom.
The Bruins are the heavy favorites to win the Pac-12 this season, earning the No. 1 spot in the preseason media poll. The Hornets, on the other hand, were picked to finish
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UCLA is led by coach Mick Cronin, who is heading into his fourth season with the program. Cronin has a 68-30 record since he came to Westwood and a 433-201 record as a head coach overall.
In 2022, UCLA finished 27-8, earning second place in the Pac-12 regular season and conference tournament standings before reaching the Sweet 16 and losing to eventual national runner-up North Carolina. The Bruins finished 11th in KenPom’s rankings, with #12 tight offense and #16 tight defense.
UCLA averaged 75.4 points per game last season, which ranked 59th in the country and 2nd in the Pac-12. The defense allowed 64.2 points per game, which ranked 42nd in the country and 1st in the Pac-12.
Seniors Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Tyger Campbell are the most prominent returning players on the list, with both veterans vying for All-American spots. Five-star freshmen Amari Bailey and Adem Bona also join the lineup, with sharpshooter David Singleton, do-it-all defensive ace Jaylen Clark, transplanted Italian Abramo Canka and a handful of returning injured make up the lineup. supporting cast.
Sacramento State is led by coach David Patrick, who is heading into his first season with the program. Patrick went 27-38 in two seasons as head coach at UC Riverside, then spent the last two years as associate head coach at Arkansas and Oklahoma.
In 2022, Sacramento State finished 11–18, placed eighth in the Big Sky regular season standings, and missed the NCAA tournament. The Hornets finished 317th in the KenPom rankings, with 313th adjusted offense and 284th adjusted defense.
Sacramento State averaged 65.4 points per game last season, which ranked 310th in the country and 10th in the Big Sky. The defense allowed 70.2 points per game, which ranked 207th in the country and 3rd in the Big Sky.
Leading scorer Bryce Fowler and his 19.0 points per game left the program upon graduation, as did starting point guard 3-point specialist William FitzPatrick. Senior guards Zach Chappel and Kevin Wilbon return to the lineup, averaging 20.7 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.4 steals per game between the two last season.
The Hornets have yet to make it to an NCAA tournament and have finished above .500 just twice in their 31 seasons in Division I.
UCLA is 2-0 against Sacramento State all-time, winning the last meeting between the two teams 86-50 in 2013. The first meeting between the Bruins and Hornets was in 2005, which the Blue and Gold won 86-56.
* Odds via Odds Shark
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PHOTO COURTESY OF JAN KIM LIM/UCLA ATHLETICS
