UCLA
Oregon
Men's Basketball Returns to Action at Oregon on Saturday
December 29, 2023 | Men's Basketball
EUGENE, Ore. – UCLA will return to action at Oregon on Saturday afternoon. Game time at Oregon's Matthew Knight Arena is 1 p.m., with Saturday's game to be televised on CBS. The Bruins recorded a 69-62 win at Oregon State on Thursday evening in the Pac-12 opener for both programs at Gill Coliseum in Corvallis, Ore.
Looking back at last season, the Bruins went 3-0 against Oregon with wins in Pauley Pavilion (Dec. 2022), at Matthew Knight Arena (Feb. 2023), and at T-Mobile Arena in the Pac-12 Tournament (March 2023). Prior to last year's win at Oregon, the Bruins had lost three consecutive contests to the Ducks at Matthew Knight Arena.
GAME INFORMATION
Venue: Matthew Knight Arena
Capacity: 12,364
Tipoff Time: 1:10 p.m. (PT)
Television: CBS
TV Talent: Rich Waltz (play-by-play), Clark Kellogg (analyst)
Radio Broadcast (UCLA Sports Network): AM 570
Radio Talent: Josh Lewin (play-by-play), Tracy Murray (analyst)
SIRIUS XM: SiriusXM 387 and on the SXM App
UP NEXT FOR UCLA
The Bruins continue their Pac-12 schedule with a nationally-televised contest at Oregon this Saturday (TV: CBS). Last season, UCLA went 3-0 against Oregon, including a 75-56 win over the Ducks in the semifinals of the Pac-12 Tournament at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The Bruins snapped a three-game losing streak at Matthew Knight Arena by defeating Oregon, 70-63, on Feb. 11, 2023. Jaime Jaquez Jr. totaled 25 points, 12 rebounds and three assists in UCLA's seven-point win last February at Matthew Knight Arena.
THE ALL-TIME SERIES
The Bruins have compiled an all-time record of 93-40 against Oregon, in a series that first began in 1937. Over the previous three seasons (2020-21 through 2022-23), UCLA has recorded a 3-3 record against Oregon. UCLA has played at Oregon in each of the past 10 seasons (the Bruins did not play at Oregon in 2012-13).
RECENT STREAKS
UCLA's recent four-game losing streak marked the program's longest streak since dropping four games in a row, late in the 2020-21 season. The Bruins lost four straight, heading into the 2021 NCAA Tournament (No. 11 seed, First Four matchup), before winning five consecutive games to advance to the 2021 NCAA Final Four.
BRUINS VERSUS OREGON
UCLA has registered an all-time record of 93-40 against Oregon and won all three matchups last season. The Bruins won in Pauley Pavilion (65-56, on Dec. 4, 2022) and at Matthew Knight Arena (70-63 on Feb. 11, 2023) before securing a 75-56 win against the Ducks in the semifinals of the Pac-12 Tournament in Las Vegas (March 10, 2023). Prior to last season's three UCLA wins, Oregon had won four consecutive contests against the Bruins (once in 2020, once in 2021, and two games in 2022). The Bruins have won two of their last five games against Oregon at Matthew Knight Arena.
LOOKING AT NEXT WEEK
Next week, UCLA returns home to face Stanford (Wednesday, Jan. 3) and California (Saturday, Jan. 6). UCLA's Pac-12 schedule opens with six of the first nine league games away from home (including this week's games at Oregon State and Oregon). UCLA has won four straight contests against Stanford and has registered an 11-game winning streak against California. The Bruins' most recent loss to California took place on Feb. 25, 2016, as the Golden Bears secured a 75-63 win at Haas Pavilion (Berkeley, Calif.). UCLA is scheduled to play at Stanford and at California on Feb. 7 and 10, respectively.
THE LAST TIME OUT
The Bruins snapped a four-game losing skid with a 69-62 win at Oregon State on Thursday night in the Pac-12 opener for both programs. UCLA had five players who scored in double figures, with Adem Bona (13 points) and Dylan Andrews (13 points) leading the way. The Bruins trailed by nine points in the first half and by a 28-24 margin at halftime. UCLA used a 27-8 scoring run over a nine-minute stretch in the second half and pulled away with a 69-62 victory. Bona finished Thursday's game in Corvallis, Ore., with 13 points, eight rebounds, three blocks and three steals.
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Bruins' freshman guard Sebastian Mack was honored as the Pac-12 Freshman of the Week for the second time this season. Previously (Monday, Nov. 27), Mack had been named the league's freshman of the week after a strong showing in three consecutive games at the Allstate Maui Invitational in Honolulu. In two home contests last week, Mack averaged 22.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game. He shot 45.8 percent from the field (11-for-24) and 42.9 percent from beyond the 3-point arc (3-for-7). In addition, Mack was 19-for-23 at the free throw line in two home games (82.6 percent).
BRUINS' YOUTH MOVEMENT
UCLA's 15-man roster includes seven true freshmen, one redshirt freshman (Jack Seidler), three true sophomores and one redshirt sophomore (Will McClendon). In all, the Bruins have 12 players in their first or second seasons on the court. In addition, the Bruins have four true freshmen who will not turn 19 years old until 2024 (Jan Vide, Aday Mara, Ilane Fibleuil and Brandon Williams). The Bruins' program added eight new faces in the summer – seven true freshmen and one transfer, junior Lazar Stefanovic (from Belgrade, Serbia, transferring from the University of Utah).
– The Bruins are believed to have one of the top-10-youngest teams in Division I basketball this season (by age). UCLA's average age at the start of the season was approximately 20 years and one month. UCLA freshman Brandon Williams is believed to be the third-youngest Division I player this season.
SCORING DEFENSE
Through games played on Thursday, Dec. 28, the Bruins ranked No. 14 in the country and first in the Pac-12 in fewest points allowed per game (62.0 ppg, through 12 games). UCLA's field goal percentage defense ranked No. 34, nationally, and No. 2 in the Pac-12 (39.1%, 247-for-731). Under fifth-year UCLA head coach Mick Cronin, the Bruins' scoring defense ranked No. 41 in the nation in 2021-22 (at 64.5 ppg) and No. 7 in the country last season (at 60.7 ppg). UCLA has allowed fewer than 70 points in 41 of their last 49 games, going 35-6 in those 41 contests (since the start of the 2022-23 season).
FROM LONG DISTANCE
Sophomore Will McClendon ranked No. 7 among Pac-12 players in 3-point field goal percentage (42.4%), through games played on Thursday, Dec. 28. McClendon, who missed the 2021-22 season recovering from a torn ACL in his right knee, has made 14 of 33 attempts from 3-point distance, through all 12 games. He has made 9 of 18 attempts from 3-point range in UCLA's last five games (since a win over UC Riverside on Thursday, Nov. 30). McClendon scored 10 points in the Bruins' win at Oregon State on Thursday and has averaged 4.9 points and 3.2 rebounds per game.
BLOCKED SHOTS LEADERBOARD
Sophomore Adem Bona (12.2 ppg, 6.6 rpg) has totaled 75 blocks in 45 career games. He stands 19 blocks shy of entering the Bruins' career top-10 leaderboard in that category. Tony Parker (2013-16) registered 94 blocks in his four-year career (10th place), and Ed O'Bannon (1992-95) finished with 95 blocks en route to leading UCLA to the 1995 NCAA Championship (ninth place on that list). Jelani McCoy (1996-98) set the program's career record with 188 blocks during his three-year collegiate career. Bona tallied a season-high four blocks in the season opener against Saint Francis (Nov. 6).
DYLAN IN YEAR TWO
Sophomore Dylan Andrews (11.6 ppg, 3.7 apg) has established himself as one of UCLA's top playmakers, midway into his sophomore season. Andrews played a backup role as a freshman last year, primarily behind then-starting guard Tyger Campbell on the team's depth chart. Through 11 games this season, Andrews has eclipsed most of his offensive totals from last year while playing more than three times as many minutes per game (he's averaging 33.2 minutes per game).
MORE ON SEBASTIAN MACK
Freshman Sebastian Mack has averaged 14.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.9 steals in all 12 games. The 6-foot-3 guard from Chicago has twice secured Pac-12 Freshman of the Week honors this season. He continues to lead all Pac-12 players in most free throws made (64-for-81) and has twice made at least 13 free throws in a game. He was 13-for-13 in a loss to No. 4 Marquette (totaled 25 points on Nov. 20). Mack's 13-for-13 effort marked UCLA's first perfect free throw display by a freshman (with at least 10 attempts), since Jordan Adams (16/16) in an 80-79 win over UC Irvine on Nov. 13, 2012.
– Sebastian Mack has made 13 free throws in two different games this season. He has become UCLA's first player since Arron Afflalo (in 2005-06) to have made at least 12 free throws in two or more games. Afflalo was 12-for-12 against Arizona State (1/7/2006) and went 13-for-16 against Arizona (2/4/2006).
NOTES ON PAULEY PAVILION
– This marks the 58th basketball season in which UCLA has played in Pauley Pavilion. The Bruins' arena opened in time for the 1965-66 basketball season. The first game in Pauley Pavilion took place on Dec. 3, 1965, as No. 1 UCLA took down Ohio State, 92-66. The Bruins spent 47 consecutive seasons in Pauley Pavilion before the venue was closed for an 18-month renovation. UCLA hosted 18 home games during the 2011-12 season at two venues in Southern California (14 games at the Los Angeles Sports Arena and four games at the Honda Center in Anaheim).
– UCLA's home game winning streak was snapped at 29 games by CSUN on Tuesday, Dec. 19 (CSUN defeated UCLA, 76-72). Prior to the game versus CSUN, UCLA had not lost at home since Jan. 13, 2022 (an 84-81 overtime loss to Oregon). The Bruins' 29-game streak at home had been the longest active streak in the nation. Since taking over as the Bruins' head coach in April of 2019, Mick Cronin has led UCLA to a 59-8 record in 67 home games.
– Last season, the Bruins went 17-0 at home. Two seasons ago (2021-22), the Bruins compiled a 14-1 record in 15 home games. UCLA won its final eight home games in 2021-22, all 17 last year, and their first four of the 2022-23 home schedule. Before last season, UCLA's program had not gone undefeated at home since the 2006-07 campaign (going 16-0 in Pauley Pavilion). UCLA's 1995 NCAA title-winning team compiled a 15-0 home record.
– The Bruins' 29-game home winning streak had marked the longest such streak at UCLA since registering a program-record 98-game home winning streak in the 1970s. The Bruins won 98 straight home games from Dec. 4, 1970, through Feb. 19, 1976. UCLA had a 25-game winning streak in 2006 and 2007 and won 23 consecutive games from Feb. 1994 through Jan. 1996 (includes one game that California later forfeited).
– With the COVID-19 pandemic prompting teams to close arenas to fans, none of UCLA's home games in 2020-21 were played in front of a crowd. Likewise, three home games in January of 2022 were played before no fans (arena was limited to players' family members only). Prior to the loss to CSUN, UCLA had won its previous 40 home contests with fans present in Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom. UCLA had lost to Stanford on Jan. 15, 2020, by a 74-59 tally.
RECENT HISTORY
– UCLA has advanced to the NCAA Tournament in each of the past three seasons. The Bruins earned their 19th NCAA Final Four appearance in 2021, securing a No. 11-seed in the 68-team field and advancing from the "First Four" to the Final Four. In 2022 and 2023, UCLA won its first and second-round matchups before losing in the Sweet 16. In all, UCLA's program has advanced to the NCAA Tournament 52 times and has won a nation-leading 11 NCAA championships.
– Mick Cronin is midway through his fifth year as the Bruins' head coach (The Michael Price Family UCLA Men's Head Basketball Coach). Now in his 21st season as a college head coach, Coach Cronin has guided UCLA's program to an 105-42 overall record. He has led the Bruins to a combined 59-19 record in Pac-12 play (now in his fifth season). UCLA's 31 victories last season were the most by any Bruins' squad since UCLA went 31-5 during the 2016-17 season.
LEADING THE WAY
– Bruins' head coach Mick Cronin has guided the program to an 105-42 overall record (now in his fifth season at UCLA).
– This marks the 21st season as a college head coach for Coach Cronin (also at Murray State and Cincinnati).
– Coach Cronin was named as one of 10 semifinalists for last season's Naismith Men's College Coach of the Year Award.
– Coach Cronin has led his teams to at least 20 wins in 14 of his 20 previous seasons as a college head coach.
– Coach Cronin's teams have averaged 25.7 victories per season over the last 13 years (2010-11 through 2022-23).
– Coach Cronin has twice led his teams to 31 victories (last season at UCLA, and in 2017-18 at Cincinnati).
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES ON UCLA
– The Bruins have played games along the East Coast in three consecutive seasons (at Philadelphia, to face Villanova earlier this year) ... at Maryland and in New York City last season, and in Philadelphia for the NCAA Tournament in March 2022.
– UCLA's bench has outscored the opposition's bench in nine of 12 games this season (UCLA has gone 5-4 in those nine contests) ... most recently, UCLA's bench combined for 21 points in a 69-62 victory at Oregon State (Thursday, Dec. 28).
– The Bruins have outrebounded the opposition in nine of 12 games (5-4 record in those nine contests) ... UCLA recorded a season-high 55 rebounds (including 17 offensive boards) in a win over Chaminade in Honolulu on Tuesday, Nov. 21.
– Prior to this season, UCLA had registered a 46-13 record in Pac-12 play the previous three years ... last year, UCLA went 18-2 in Pac-12 play, seucring its first regular-season conference title since 2013 (under then-head coach Ben Howland).
– The Bruins have won 34 of their last 36 home Pac-12 contests, with the two losses taking place against USC in March of 2021 (no fans in Pauley) and versus Oregon in overtime in January of 2022 (also, no fans in Pauley).
– Maryland's Jahmir Young registered 37 points against UCLA on Dec. 22, becoming the first player to score at least 37 points in a game against UCLA since De'Aaron Fox totaled 39 for Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament (March 24, 2017).
STANDING TALL
UCLA's 15-man roster this season includes five players who stand at least 6-foot-9-inches tall. Freshman center Aday Mara, from Zaragoza, Spain, stands at 7 feet and 3 inches. During the Bruins' 2018-19 season, then-freshman Moses Brown measured at 7-foot-1 (Brown now plays for the Portland Trail Blazers). Mara becomes the Bruins' tallest player since the late Mike Lanier (7-foot-7, 310 pounds) competed as a reserve center for the Bruins in 1991-92 and 1992-93. Adem Bona, Kenneth Nwuba and Devin Williams are all 6-foot-10, while Berke Buyuktuncel is 6-foot-9.
THREE-POINT STREAK SNAPPED
The Bruins went 0-for-6 from beyond the 3-point arc in a 78-58 win versus Long Island University on Wednesday, Nov. 15. That ended UCLA's streak of 792 consecutive games with at least one made 3-point field goal. The Bruins' 3-point streak began after going 0-for-14 from 3-point distance in a home loss to No. 2-ranked Stanford (78-63) on Feb. 3, 2000. The Bruins' single-game 3-point record stands at 19 made 3-pointers (going 19-for-31) in an 104-89 win at Colorado on Jan. 12, 2017. Last season, UCLA made a team-high 11 triples in a home win against Norfolk State (Nov. 14, 2022).
