The UCLA men’s basketball team has wrapped up its first Pac-12 Conference regular-season title since 2013 with two games to play.
The fourth-ranked Bruins (24-5, 16-2 Pac-12) are a shoo-in for the NCAA Tournament and could possibly receive a No. 1 seed in the tournament, so there is more to play for.
“These guys want to finish strong at home, so that’s on our side,” coach Mick Cronin said. “We got high-character guys – seniors – obviously this week means a lot to them.”
But you know Cronin. He lets paranoia creep in.
“But (the team) knows we’ve won the Pac-12, so in a way, I wish we needed both wins to win the Pac-12,” Cronin said, chuckling. “You don’t want to lose your edge.”
The last two games are against the Arizona schools. The Bruins will host Arizona State (20-9, 11-7) on Thursday at 6 p.m. at Pauley Pavilion before taking on No. 8 Arizona (24-5, 13-5) on Saturday at 8 p.m. in the regular-season finale. Both games will be on ESPN.
Seniors Jaime Jaquez Jr., Tyger Campbell and David Singleton seem to be making sure Cronin doesn’t need to worry. There’s certainly enough on the line to help them maintain that competitive edge.
“We want the No. 1 seed, to be in the best position possible to win a national championship,” Jaquez said.
Singleton believes the team has the recipe to be special this postseason.
“I remind the players we have more to play for,” he said. “I feel like this team can do great things with our combination of youth and experience.”
Singleton will play his final two home games of his college career this week. It’s likely Jaquez will, too, as signs point to him turning professional. But, Campbell, the savvy, veteran point guard, can return for another year at UCLA due to COVID-19. These last two games might not be his last.
“I’m just focused on Arizona State Thursday,” said Campbell when asked about his future. “I haven’t thought about anything past that to be honest.”
CLARK IS AWARD SEMIFINALIST
UCLA junior Jaylen Clark has been selected as one of 10 semifinalists for this season’s Naismith Men’s Defensive Player of the Year Award. The Etiwanda High product is the only player representing the Pac-12.
Clark has been the anchor to UCLA’s defensive efforts, averaging 13.0 points, 6.1 rebounds and a conference-leading 2.57 steals per game. He’s tallied three steals in 16 games this season.
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UCLA has had three players win the national defensive award: Marques Johnson in 1977, Bill Walton in 1972, 1973 and 1974, and Lew Alcindor (now Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) in 1969. Alcindor was the first recipient of the award during his senior year at UCLA (1968-69).
Arizona State (20-9, 11-7) at UCLA (25-4, 16-2)
When: Thursday, 6 p.m.
Where: Pauley Pavilion
TV/Radio: ESPN/1150 AM