Gonzaga Bulldogs (#1) vs. UCLA Bruins (#2) – injuries, tv, odds, and more
Ed Stein
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PNWS presents what you need to know for Tuesday’s top-five matchup between the Gonzaga Bulldogs and UCLA Bruins.
Gonzaga basketball fans didn’t have to wait long to watch their team face another quality opponent. Tuesday’s contest against number two UCLA is the Zags’ second game against a top-five team in 2021-22.
Who: UCLA Bruins (5-0) vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs (5-0)
Where: T-Mobile Arena – Las Vegas, Nev.
When: Tuesday, November 23, 2021 – 7:00 PM PST.
TV: ESPN2. Announcers: Dave, O’Brien, Dick Vitale, and Sean Farnham.
Line: Gonzaga -7. Over/Under: 156 (Odds Shark).
Injuries: Gonzaga – Out: Dominick Harris (foot). UCLA: Out – Mac Etienne (knee), Kenneth Nwuba (knee).
Interesting Trends:
Since 2016, the Gonzaga Bulldogs are 168-14, including 65-3 over since 2019. They have won 11 straight games against Pac-12 teams, including last year’s Final Four matchup against UCLA.
The Bruins are 10-1 in their last 11 games, which includes three top-five teams. UCLA are winners of 6 of 7 against the WCC. That loss was to the Zags. One last thing, UCLA has covered eight in a row as the underdog.
Outlook
Number one vs. Number two in Las Vegas. Believe it or not, this game will come down to defense. Drew Timme has been unstoppable inside, and if he wasn’t tough enough to handle, Gonzaga also has 7-foot freshman phenom, Chet Holmgren. With Etienne and Nwuba out of action, the Bruins have just two players 6-9 and taller on their roster.
If they collapse down to stop Timme and Holmgren, Gonzaga’s wings, Rasir Bolton, Andrew Nembhard, and Julian Strawther can score from outside. Bolton, the senior transfer from Iowa State, has been on fire this year from three-point range, connecting on 47.6 percent of his shots. The Bruins also can’t forget about Holmgren stepping outside for a three.
Wow, UCLA likes to shoot the ball. They are third in the country in both shots attempted and shots made. That translates to 90.8 points per game which is eighth among D1 schools. Last year’s NCAA Tournament was a coming-out party for Johnny Juzang and Jaime Jaquez. Both guards can score from anywhere on the floor.
Between them and fellow wing players Jules Bernard, Tyger Campbell, and David Singleton, it will be raining three’s in Las Vegas Tuesday night. Four out of the five shoot better than 41 percent from behind the arc. Defending the perimeter will be challenging for Gonzaga. Fortunately, the Zags are big enough and agile enough that there won’t be many mismatches against UCLA’s tall wings.
This matchup will be a fascinating chess match between head coaches Mark Few and Mick Cronin. The last time they met, it came down to an overtime three-point buzzer-beater from Jalen Suggs. Enjoy the game.
Related Story: Zags 360 – Let’s talk about Week 3
We’ll have our take on the game with Zags 360 next Monday.