Cori Close must be satisfied with the way the UCLA Bruins have begun their Big Ten Conference schedule. UCLA has won its first five games, with four of those games being decided by more than 20 points. That continued on Sunday, as UCLA picked up a 83-61 win over No. 25 Nebraska.
UCLA is the cream of the crop in the Big Ten
Ohio State is the only team that’s been able to stay close to the Bruins, and even then, UCLA was able to get a 82-75 win on the road. The Big Ten is crowded at the top, with five teams having five conference wins, but nobody has been as dominant as the Bruins.
The Bruins overcame a slow start
The UCLA offense has so much experience, and a lot of experience playing together, which was on display on Sunday. The Bruins got off to a slow start and wasn’t in much of a rhythm but the team was able to come together and ended up putting together a solid performance. UCLA shot 48% from the field and hit nine threes while shooting 38% from behind the arc.
The Charlisse Leger-Walker addition is paying dividends
Charlisse Leger-Walker didn’t play last year, as she missed the season recovering from her torn ACL, but her experience is apparent. The longtime Washington State Cougar knows exactly what the team needs at all times. Pairing Leger-Walker besides Kiki Rice gives UCLA two terrific lead guards, who are more than capable playmakers.
Kiki Rice and Charlisse Leger-Walker gives UCLA plenty of veteran know-how
Leger-Walker hasn’t been one of UCLA’s primary scorers, averaging 8.8 points per game but she’s leading the team with 6.2 assists and on Sunday she totaled 14 points with four assists and four made threes. The Bruins were a +23 with Leger-Walker on the court, the second-best mark on the team behind Rice’s +24.
Nobody wants smoke with Lauren Betts in the paint
Lauren Betts’ impact goes beyond her box score numbers. Not that those numbers were bad, as she put up 18 points, 10 rebounds with four blocks and five steals. Betts consistently helps UCLA dominate points in the paint, she’s a mismatch for any opposing centers and is a major deterrent for teams looking to score inside. On Sunday, UCLA outscored Nebraska in the paint 40-26.
UCLA should enjoy the wins now because March will be a battle
It’s important for UCLA to stay the course during Big Ten play, and enjoy this year of terrific basketball with so many important pieces being in their senior season. The real test will come in March. UCLA has no excuses to not bring home a second-straight Big Ten tournament championship before returning to the NCAA Tournament, still searching for their first national title since their AIAW championship in 1978.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: Five takeaways from yet another impressive win for the Bruins
Reporting by Dylan McNeill, UCLA Wire / UCLA Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
