Thanks to the infusion of talented freshmen Lonzo Ball and T.J. Leaf, the Bruins have made a remarkable turnaround from a 15-17 record last season that was so far under UCLA’s expectations that a plane flew over Westwood with a banner reading “Fire Alford!” Now, Ball’s uncanny passing skills and deceivingly good shooting has made his already offensively gifted teammates better. They run the nation’s 10th-fastest pace, and are the nation’s top team in offensive efficiency, averaging 124.3 points per 100 possessions. Ball averages 8.0 assists and a 3.5-1 assist-turnover ratio in conference games, while coach Steve Alford’s sharpshooting son, Bryce, is now able play fully off the ball instead of handling point guard duties as he did last season. Leaf is a versatile big man who can shoot from anywhere on the court. UCLA has a pair of athletic wings who can impact both sides of the floor in Isaac Hamilton and Aaron Holiday, while Thomas Welsh is a skilled big man with a face-up game. Alford, Leaf and Welsh all especially benefit from Ball’s passing.
Bruce Pascoe
Reporter
