Tenth-ranked UCLA’s basketball team faces the Oregon schools next, starting tonight, while USC hopes the return of Bennie Boatwright helps them crack the Top 25 when they meet the same Oregon teams.
The Bruins host No. 5 Oregon this evening at 7 at Pauley Pavilion, and they face last-place Oregon State on Sunday at 2 at Pauley. Last week the Bruins swept Cal and Stanford in the Bay Area.
UCLA is 8-3 in the Pac-12 and 21-3 overall. They are led by freshmen Lonzo Ball and TJ Leaf, Aaron Holiday, Isaac Hamilton, Bryce Alford and Thomas Welsh.
The No. 15 Lady Bruins (9-3, 18-5) are on the road. They visit Oregon on Friday at 6 and Oregon State on Sunday at 1. p.m. Kari Korver, Jordin Canada, Kennedy Burke, Kelli Hayes and Monique Billings lead the Lady Bruins..
The UCLA women’s gymnastics team (2-0, 3-1) hosts Stanford on Saturday at 2.
Can USC Bounce?
Victories over the Oregon schools this week should put USC back into the conversation as one of the best teams in the nation.
The Trojans play Oregon State tonight at 8 at the Galen Center and Saturday evening at 7:30 they battle Oregon.
At 7-4, the Trojans are in fifth place in the Pac-12 and 20-4 for the season.
Oregon, 10-1 in the conference, trails Arizona, and the Ducks are 21-3 for the year.
With the return of sophomore forward Boatwright, out nine weeks with a knee injury, the Trojans seem ready to challenge the other elite teams in the Pac-12.
Boatwright is a complete player. At 6-foor-10, 230 pounds, he can score from the inside, from the outside, and , his length causes problems defensively for opponents.
The rest of the USC’s players and coaching staff deserve credit for playing at a high level while Boatwright was missing.
Shaqquan Aaron, Charles Buggs, Jonah Mathews, Harrison Henderson, Chimezie Metu, Jordan McLaughlin, De’Anthony Melton, Elijah Stewart and Nick Rakocevic along with Coach Andy Enfield and his staff have created a winning atmosphere.
Women Struggling
The Lady Trojans women’s team is 3-9 in the Pac-12 and 12-11 for the year.
They visit Oregon State on Friday at 8 and Oregon on Sunday at 11.
Mr. Finley may be contacted at sfinley50@aol.com