Thursday NCAA: Washington State vs. UCLA
Washington State is squarely on the NCAA bubble and probably not going to get an NCAA bid, although a win over UCLA in the Pac-10 quarterfinals on Thursday in Los Angeles would be a huge step toward an at-large selection.
However, the Bruins are 8.5-point WagerWeb.com favorites for the game at Staples Center.
Interestingly, both teams enter off routs of Oregon. UCLA did it Saturday, while Wazzu beat the Ducks 62-40 on Wednesday behind Aron Baynes’ 20 points. The Cougars never trailed in winning for the fourth time in five games.
There is one injury to be aware of for this one, as Bruins All-American point guard Darren Collison took a hard foul in the second half of the Oregon game and landed awkwardly on his tailbone. X-rays were negative and he is probable for this one. Collison’s free-throw percentage of 92.3 percent (96-for-104) this season leads the team, the Pac-10 and the nation and is second on UCLA’s single-season charts. He was named MVP of this tournament last year.
Washington State and UCLA had two very close games this season. The Bruins won 61-59 in January and the Cougars 82-81 last month.
The Bruins’ offense is averaging 77.1 points per game, which is the most since the 2000-01 squad averaged 79.5 ppg. UCLA is shooting 52.3 percent and averaging 80.3 points in their last four games, all wins. The defense, however, is allowing 63.5 points per game, which is the most since the 2004-05 team allowed 71.7 points per game. The Bruins are 74-3 all-time under coach Ben Howland when holding the opposition under 60 points. One of those losses came this year to Michigan.
Washington State leads the nation in allowing 54.7 points.
UCLA, the defending tournament champion, is 13-8 all-time in this tournament, with Howland going 6-3 with two tournament titles. These two schools have met just once in this tournament, a Wazzu win.
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