No. 4 Bruins can clinch share of Pac-12 title in Colorado
There's no place like home, especially where a team has won 23 in a row.
It's the safe haven the No. 4-ranked UCLA men's basketball team wants to get back to with just two more Pac-12 Conference games left on the slate after this afternoon's final road game at Colorado at 1 p.m. (PT) on CBS.
The Bruins aren't too shabby on the road, either, going 7-2 away from Pauley Pavilion in conference play this season. And a victory over the Buffaloes – or either of the Arizona schools next week – can clinch the Bruins (244, 15-2 Pac-12) a share of the conference championship after Arizona State (20-9, 11-7) shocked No. 7 Arizona (24-5, 13-5) with a buzzer-beater from beyond half court Saturday.
The Bruins are in that position thanks to the recent play of Jaime Jaquez Jr., whom coach Mick Cronin thinks is a sure-pick to be an All-American.
“Jaime is a big-time player,” Cronin said. “You
UP NEXT
Up next: UCLA at Colorado, today, 1 p.m., Ch. 2
talk about a guy that's an All-American and will play in the NBA for 10, 12 years. It's not a surprise. He's tough. He can make 3s and he can beat you off the dribble.”
The Camarillo native scored 25 points at Oregon, poured in 25 against Stanford, had 20 against Cal and tallied 23 at Utah on Thursday night – all in winning performances.
Jaquez is definitely a front-runner for the Pac12 Player of the Year award and is just one of five Pac12 players to rank among the league's top 10 leaders in scoring and rebounding. He's also scored at least 10 points in 25 of UCLA's 28 games.
“A lot of hard work,” Jaquez said of his late surge of great play. “I put in a lot of work during and after practice on my shot, preparing myself for these situations. My team needs me to make plays and score sometimes, Coach trusts me with the ball in my hands. I want to continue to earn that trust.”
Jaquez has been particularly good late in games. A reporter asked the 6-foot-7 senior after the 78-71 win over Utah if Jaquez is the “closer” on the Bruins, if that was his role on the team.
“I don't try to be. I just try and make the right play,” Jaquez said. “I know (Utah) started doubling me, so I passed to Jaylen Clark and he passed to Tyger Campbell for a big 3. It's a team, collective effort.”
Campbell added 18 points in UCLA's win over Utah. The senior point guard made three of his four 3-point attempts, a good sign considering Campbell hasn't scored double digits since he scored 11 points on Feb. 2 against Washington.
“Because of our seniors, we have the chance to do something real special,” Cronin said. “We've put in the work, so now is not the time to take our foot off the gas.”
UCLA has won six of their past seven meetings against Colorado (7-11, 1514) and leads the all-time series 17-7.