UCLA
Kentucky
No. 16 Bruins Set to Face No. 13 Kentucky on Saturday
December 15, 2022 | Men's Basketball
NEW YORK – No. 16 UCLA (9-2) will take on No. 13 Kentucky (7-2) on Saturday, Dec. 17, at Madison Square Garden in New York. Game time is approximately 2:15 pm PT (5:15 p.m. ET, in New York). The Bruins' contest against the Wildcats will be nationally televised on CBS, as part of the annual CBS Sports Classic. The Bruins' radio broadcast in the Los Angeles area will be available on AM 1150.
The Bruins have gone 7-8 in the all-time series against Kentucky. UCLA has compiled a 3-2 record against Kentucky in the past 10 years, having won three of the last four all-time meetings.
UCLA's game against Kentucky this Saturday at Madison Square Garden will take place after Ohio State faces North Carolina in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader (CBS Sports Classic). The Ohio State versus North Carolina contest will begin at 12 p.m. PT (3 p.m. ET).
GAME INFORMATION
Venue: Madison Square Garden (New York, N.Y.)
Game Time: 2:15 p.m. (PT) / 5:15 p.m. (ET)
Television: CBS
Saturday's Live Stream: paramountplus.com | via CBS Sports
TV Talent: Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Bill Raftery (analyst), Jenny Dell (sideline)
Radio Broadcast (UCLA Sports Network): AM 1150
Radio Talent: Josh Lewin (play-by-play), Tracy Murray (analyst)
SIRIUS XM, SIRIUS XM App Channels: Ch. 83, Ch. 83
HOW TO WATCH
UCLA's game on Saturday will begin at approximately 2:15 p.m. PT (5:15 p.m. ET), upon the conclusion of the afternoon's first game (featuring Ohio State and North Carolina, at 12 p.m. PT). Fans can watch the game on television on CBS. In addition, CBS Sports will be providing a live stream (click here). The CBS Sports live stream will also be available on mobile devices by downloading the CBS Sports Mobile App (and also by visiting CBSSports.com). UCLA's radio broadcast, featuring Josh Lewin and Tracy Murray, will be available in the Los Angeles region on AM 1150.
CBS SPORTS CLASSIC
– The Bruins return to action at the CBS Sports Classic on Saturday against Kentucky. UCLA has gone 7-8 in the all-time series versus Kentucky. This will mark UCLA's eighth season in the CBS Sports Classic, the third time facing Kentucky in this format. Previous UCLA-Kentucky meetings (CBS Sports Classic) took place in Chicago (in 2014) and New Orleans (in 2017).
– Within the past 10 seasons, UCLA has gone 3-2 against Kentucky. Those five games include two meetings in the CBS Sports Classic (Dec. 2014, Dec. 2017), one home-and-home series (Dec. 2015, Dec. 2016) and one meeting in the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16 (Kentucky won, 86-75, at FedEx Forum in Memphis on March 27, 2017).
UCLA IN NEW YORK CITY
– UCLA has compiled a 16-15 all-time record in games played in New York City (and a 14-12 mark at MSG). Most recently, the Bruins lost to North Carolina in the CBS Sports Classic (89-76) at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Dec. 19, 2015. UCLA last played at Madison Square Garden during the 2013-14 season, falling to Duke (80-63) in the Carquest Auto Parts Classic on Dec. 19, 2013. UCLA played in New York City in four consecutive seasons from 2010-11 through 2013-14.
– The Bruins have played Kentucky once before at Madison Square Garden. UCLA secured a 97-92 win on Nov. 10, 2000, in a consolation game of the Coaches vs. Cancer Tournament (which opened the 2000-01 season). That game marked UCLA's only previous contest with Kentucky in New York City. Jason Kapono (21 points), Earl Watson (20 points), Ray Young (20 points), Dan Gadzuric (16 points) and Matt Barnes (10 points) scored in double figures for UCLA.
KEY NOTES ABOUT UCLA
– UCLA has won six consecutive games after having dropped back-to-back games in Las Vegas against No. 19 Illinois and No. 5 Baylor on Nov. 18 and Nov. 20. Most recently, Jaylen Clark scored 19 points and David Singleton had 18 points (4-of-5 from 3-point range) as UCLA defeated No. 20 Maryland, 87-60, on Wednesday night at the XFINITY Center.
– Through games played Wednesday, Dec. 14, UCLA ranks No. 2 in the Pac-12 in scoring (81.8 ppg) and No. 3 in scoring defense (63.0 ppg allowed). The Bruins rank first in the Pac-12 in scoring margin (18.8 ppg, ranks No. 11 in the nation) and turnover margin (+7.8 per game, ranks No. 4 in the nation). UCLA also leads the Pac-12 in steals (8.8 spg).
– UCLA has limited the opposition to 63.0 points per game, which ranked No. 51 nationally, through Wednesday, Dec. 14. In four seasons under coach Mick Cronin, the Bruins have gone 56-2 when limiting the opposition to 65 points or fewer. This season, UCLA has posted a 7-0 mark when holding the opponent to 65 points or fewer.
– Five UCLA players have averaged at least 10 points per game, through the Bruins' first 11 contests. Jaime Jaquez Jr. (17.1 ppg) currently ranks No. 6 in the Pac-12 in scoring. In addition, five of the Bruins' rotation players have shot at least 50 percent from the field this season. Adem Bona leads that group, having shot 68.9 percent (31-for-45) in 10 games.
– The Bruins ranked No. 4, nationally, in the Pomeroy College Basketball Ratings (KenPom.com), through games played Wednesday, Dec. 14. UCLA has compiled the No. 3-ranked offensive efficiency and are No. 18 in the defensive efficiency category (one of six teams among the top 20 in both categories). Ranked No. 16 in the AP poll, and No. 14 in the USA Today Sports Coaches poll, the Bruins have been ranked in each of the last 25 AP polls (since the start of the 2021-22 season).
WHO IS BACK FOR THE BRUINS?
UCLA's program has returned five of the main 11 contributors from last year. UCLA went 27-8 overall last season, advancing to the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16. Key players back include seniors Tyger Campbell, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kenneth Nwuba and David Singleton and junior Jaylen Clark. Each of those student-athletes played in at least 20 games in 2021-22. All five competed in the 2021 NCAA Tournament (the "First Four" to the Final Four). UCLA also has returned one pair of redshirt freshmen in Mac Etienne and Will McClendon, who both missed last season with knee injuries (torn ACL).
– Seven Bruins have scored at least 10 points in a game this season. Jaime Jaquez Jr. has scored at least 10 points in every game. Jaquez Jr., Campbell and Clark have scored at least 20 points in a game this season.
– Senior David Singleton ranks second on UCLA's all-time 3-point percentage list (44.7%) in 138 career contests. Through Wednesday's games, he ranked No. 1 in the league in 3-point shooting percentage (50.0%).
– UCLA's assist-turnover ratio (1.71) ranks No. 4, nationally, and leads all Pac-12 teams. Tyger Campbell has totaled 49 assists and 20 turnovers (2.45 ratio), while Dylan Andrews has 17 assists and three turnovers.
– The Bruins have committed fewer turnovers than the opposition in all 11 games this season (going 9-2 overall). Last season, UCLA committed fewer turnovers than the opponent in 28 of 35 games.
ROAD WARRIORS
In addition to UCLA's 87-60 victory at Maryland on Wednesday, the Bruins have also assembled substantial road victory margins in the past 12 months at Marquette (last December, led at halftime 35-21 and won, 67-56) and at Oregon State (last February, led at halftime 43-28 and won, 94-55). Earlier this month, the Bruins raced to a 17-0 lead in a Pac-12 game against Stanford (UCLA won, 80-66). Against Maryland on Wednesday, UCLA led 39-11 with 3:30 to play before halftime.
– AWAY FROM HOME: Last season, UCLA went 13-7 in road/neutral site games. In 2020-21, the Bruins went 11-9 in contests played away from home. This season, UCLA has gone 2-2 in four road/neutral site contests.
JAQUEZ JR. AND CAMPBELL
Seniors Tyger Campbell and Jaime Jaquez Jr. have been named to the 50-person watch list for this season's John R. Wooden Award, which annually honors the nation's top men's and women's college basketball players. The UCLA men's basketball program has seen past standout players Marques Johnson (1977) and Ed O'Bannon (1995) win the Wooden Award. In fact, Marques Johnson won the Wooden Award in 1977, in the award's first-ever season.
– Last season, Campbell secured first-team All-Pac-12 acclaim for the second consecutive year. He became the first UCLA player to earn first-team all-conference honors in back-to-back years since Arron Afflalo (2006 and 2007). This season, he has averaged 12.8 points, 2.3 rebounds and a team-best 4.5 assists in 11 games.
– Jaquez Jr. was inserted into UCLA's starting lineup during the Maui Invitational (freshman year, in Nov. 2019) and has been a mainstay in the lineup since that week. He has played in 108 career games at UCLA, having averaged 30.7 minutes per contest. He has logged career averages of 12.3 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.
– Jaquez Jr. (1,331 points) and Campbell (1,123 points) have both crossed the 1,000-career point threshold. Jaquez Jr. accomplished that historic feat last season, and Campbell reached that milestone in the second game of this season. Jaquez Jr. currently ranks No. 35 on the all-time list and Campbell ranks No. 52.
– Campbell has become one of eight UCLA players to have logged at least 1,000 career points and 500 assists in the Bruins' uniform (of note, the assist stat has been tracked at UCLA since the start of the 1973-74 season). Campbell currently ranks No. 8 on the Bruins' career assists list (518 total assists).
HIGH-LEVEL FRESHMAN
Freshman guard Amari Bailey has averaged 10.3 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists through his first 11 college games. Over UCLA's last six games, Bailey has registered 12.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists while shooting 51.7 percent from the field (and 38.5 percent from 3-point range). He scored 19 points three weeks ago in a win over Pepperdine (Nov. 23) and tied his season-high with a 19-point and six-rebound effort at Stanford on Thursday, Dec. 1. Bailey scored 15 of his 19 points against Stanford in the first half, helping the Bruins secure a 50-29 cushion at halftime at Maples Pavilion.
– Amari Bailey was honored as the Pac-12 Freshman of the Week in back-to-back weeks (Nov. 28 and Dec. 5). The 6-foot-5 guard from Chicago has scored at least 10 points in seven games this season.
WELCOME TO WESTWOOD
UCLA has added six freshmen to the roster with guards Dylan Andrews, Amari Bailey, Abramo Canka and Jack Seidler and forwards Adem Bona and Evan Manjikian. Bailey (6-foot-5 guard) and Bona (6-foot-10 forward) were both honored as McDonald's All-America selections in the spring of 2022. Bailey was recently listed as a preseason honorable mention All-Pac-12 Conference selection (along with junior Jaylen Clark). Andrews (6-foot-2 guard) spent his first three years of high school at nearby Windward School (Los Angeles) before excelling as a senior at Compass Prep in Arizona. Bona averaged 15.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game last season as a senior at Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.).
– Including redshirt freshmen Mac Etienne (6-foot-10, forward) and Will McClendon (6-foot-3, guard), the Bruins have eight total freshmen on this season's roster (six true freshmen, two redshirt freshmen).
THREE-POINT STREAK
UCLA has made at least one 3-pointer played in its last 764 games. That 3-point streak began after the Bruins went 0-for-14 from 3-point territory in a 78-63 loss at No. 2-ranked Stanford on Feb. 3, 2000 (Maples Pavilion). UCLA has made at least three 3-pointers in 308 of 316 games since the start of the 2013-14 season. The Bruins made a school single-game-record 19 three-pointers, on 31 attempts, in a 104-89 win at Colorado on Jan. 12, 2017. UCLA's previous 3-point record was set earlier that season, as the Bruins made 18 of 30 attempts in the regular-season opener against Pacific (Nov. 11, 2016). UCLA has made 17 or more 3-point field goals in four games (19 once, 18 once and 17 twice).
JAYLEN, UCLA'S SPARK PLUG
Junior Jaylen Clark has been a key contributor for the Bruins this season. He has averaged 15.5 points and a team-best 6.1 rebounds per game (10 contests). Clark has also tallied a Pac-12-leading 25 steals, along with 19 assists. This isn't the first time Clark has filled up the stat sheet, both on offense and defense. He had a five-game stretch as a sophomore (Feb. 2022), averaging 14.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 2.4 steals (UCLA went 4-1 in those five contests).
HISTORY & TRADITION
The 2022-23 school year marks the 104th season in which UCLA has fielded a men's basketball team (first season was 1919-20). In addition, this is the 57th season in which the Bruins have called Pauley Pavilion their home. The arena opened at the start of the 1965-66 season, and UCLA spent the next 46 seasons playing home games in Pauley Pavilion. The arena was closed for an 18-month renovation during the 2011-12 school year, re-opening in Nov. 2012. In all, the Bruins have won a nation-leading 11 NCAA Championships and have advanced to the NCAA Final Four 19 times.
HOME GAMES, PAC-12 CONTESTS
– The Bruins went 14-1 at home last season, winning their final eight games in Pauley Pavilion. UCLA will enter next weeks' game versus UC Davis having won their last 15 home contests. Last season, the Bruins' only loss at home was an 84-81 overtime setback against Oregon (the night of Thursday, Jan. 13). Since taking over as UCLA's head coach (fall of 2019), Mick Cronin has led the Bruins to a 45-6 record in all games played in Pauley Pavilion.
– With the COVID-19 pandemic prompting teams to close their arenas to fans, none of UCLA's home games in 2020-21 were played in front of a crowd. Likewise, three of UCLA's games in January of 2022 were played before no fans (arena was limited to players' family members only). Including a seven-game home win streak to close the 2019-20 home schedule, UCLA has won its last 26 home contests with fans in Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom.
– Since the start of the 2020-21 season, UCLA has compiled a 30-11 mark in the Pac-12 (13-6 in 2020-21, and 15-5 last season). The Bruins have won 25 of their last 27 home games in Pac-12 action (the Bruins lost to USC in March of 2021 and to Oregon in overtime last season on Jan. 13, 2022). The Bruins won their final seven home Pac-12 games in 2019-20, during Coach Cronin's first season as UCLA's head coach.
