First look: UCLA

Sun., March 19, 2006

The Spokesman-Review

Matchup: No. 3 Gonzaga (29-3) vs. No. 2 UCLA (29-6)

Site: Oakland Arena, Oakland, Calif.

Game time: To be announced

Common opponents: Both teams lost to Memphis on the road, Gonzaga by a score of 83-72 and UCLA by a score of 88-80. GU lost at Washington 99-95, while the Bruins dropped both regular-season games to the Pacific-10 Conference rival Huskies: 70-67 in Seattle and 69-65 at home.

The Bulldogs stopped Stanford 80-76 at home, and UCLA beat the Cardinal twice by scores of 71-54 at home and 75-54 on the road. And the two teams swept their three games against Washington State, with GU beating the Cougars 67-53 at home and the Bruins handling them 63-61 at home and 50-30 on the road.

UCLA players to watch: G Arron Afflalo (16.4 ppg, 4.4 rpb); G Jordan Farmar (13.5 ppg, 5.3 apg); F Josh Shipp (11.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg); G Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (9.0 ppg, 8.1 rpg).

What to watch for: The Bruins’ backcourt of Afflalo and Farmar get most of the publicity, but Gonzaga coach Mark Few said he thinks it’s coach Ben Howland’s front line, which is led by Shipp and Mbah a Moute, that has been the key to the UCLA’s late-season run. The Bruins are quick at every spot and have defended better this year than in past seasons.

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First look: UCLA

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

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