The start may have been sluggish Friday night, but UCLA’s season-opening 113-78 win over Montana State at Pauley Pavilion was simply a matter of when things would start to click. Boy, did the Bruins roll once they found that rhythm. UCLA senior guard Norman Powell led all scorers with 25 points and point guard Bryce Alford notched his first career double-double with 18 points and 12 assists. In all, six Bruins scored in double figures. Keeping in mind it was just one game against an opponent that came in as a 23.5-point underdog, here is what stood out:
Norman Powell Led All Scorers With 25 Points in UCLA’s 113-78 Win Over Montana State. (Associated Press)
Guards of same feather flock together: Coming into the season, the question was how UCLA would perform at the point guard position with a backcourt that makes you think of its scoring first. Powell, Alford and now-eligible Isaac Hamilton combined for 26 of the contest’s first 35 points and finished with 58 while converting 19-of-31 shots — including 8-of-14 3-pointers. Look for more on the backcourt in a separate post, but there was plenty to like as the game went on with the trio’s ability to pick their spots and not make it look like they were just taking turns. Head coach Steve Alford “loved how the ball moved,” and it started with his son’s play.
Quotable: “We had 25 assists in the game. We shot 57, almost 58 percent, and the points, to get over 50 in both halves in an opener — I just thought we did a lot of good things.” – Steve Alford on the team’s offense, ignited by the guard play
Quietly efficient: With all of the action on the perimeter in the first half, it was a bit shocking to look down and see that freshman forward Kevon Looney was second only to Powell’s 14 points at the break. That’s because a bulk of the damage was done at the free throw line, where Looney was just 11 of 17, but he finished a rebound shy of a double-double with 20 points (on just seven official field goal attempts) and nine boards (five on the offensive glass). At 6’9” and 220 pounds, Looney was able to assert himself down low with a few post moves. Even in the up-and-down flow, Looney showcased his versatility with a good-looking three from the wing in the first half. How UCLA balances its production on the perimeter while feeding Looney inside, within the flow of the offense, will be worth watching because the half-court offense left a bit to be desired.
Quotable: “That was my goal, to get 10 rebounds per night. Tony [Parker]and I always challenge each other about who’ll get the most rebounds.” – Looney, on missing the double-double by a rebound
Making the most of his time: It was just a brief, two-minute stint in the first half but freshman center Thomas Welsh found a way to make an impact. First came the soft touch on a hook just outside the paint, then an offensive rebound for one of his two boards in the half, and to cap the stretch off he added a block. Two quick fouls put him on the bench, but that surge earned Welsh significant second-half minutes. Baseline jumpers and hook shots just outside the paint were falling all night. The McDonald’s All-American also showed good hands, catching a behind-the-back Alford bounce pass in the lane and finishing for a two-hand dunk with contact. Welsh finished the night with 14 points on 7-of-12 shooting and four rebounds in just 13 minutes. Not bad, freshman.
Quotable: “Thomas says, ‘Yeah, I know, I missed those free throws. They’re suppposed to be free, coach. But I did get two more rebounds out of it and a basket out of the same play.’” – Alford, on Welsh’s activity
Crystal clear to start: It was just a little less than a month ago when Steve Alford looked at his team’s inexperience and worried about its communication on defense. Strides were made by opening night. UCLA, with a zone and press, collected 17 steals and forced 22 turnovers. The Bruins owned a 36-12 advantage in points off turnovers.
Quotable: “It was a big improvement from our exhibition game and our closed scrimmage that we had, just talking and helping one another. We still have a little bit of a breakdown here and there but that’s going to happen. But I liked the way we communicated. We helped each other when somebody got a foul or somebody was out of position.” – Powell, on UCLA’s defensive strides