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2007 Pac 10 Basketball Predictions
2007 UCLA Bruins Basketball Preview & Predictions
Can UCLA float the loss of Aaron Afflalo
to make a third straight Final Four trip? Get Jimmy’s
take in his 2007 UCLA Bruins predictions and season
preview.
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UCLA is the pick of many to win the national title this
season. The arrival of Kevin Love, UCLA’s most heralded recruit since
Baron Davis, can make UCLA’s title hopes a reality. At 6’10’’ 250
pounds, Love already has a Division 1-A body. His post game is beyond
his years and he is reminiscent of Bill Walton with the way he is able
to pass the basketball. Unlike many other top freshman across the
country, Love will have plenty of tournament-tested players to help him
out. One of which is point guard Darren Collison, who could be an NBA
lottery selection this June. He is one of the quickest guards in the
country with the ability to take over games on both ends of the floor.
Josh Shipp is another experienced talent on the UCLA roster. Shipp is
the team’s top returning scorer and will spilt time between the two and
the three. His offseason hip surgery appears to be behind him as his
play has been solid in the early going.
UCLA has some good depth in the frontcourt and that will allow coach
Howland to move his troops around to get favorable matchups. Senior
Lorenzo Mata and Junior Luc Richard Mbah a Moute will be key front court
options in addition to Love.
This will be the most balanced offensive team Howland has put on the
court yet in his stint at UCLA and that’s why there are so many people
taking the Bruins to win it all. Howland knows that this is a must win
year as he could lose as many as four players to the NBA draft. If UCLA
is not the team cutting down the nets at the end of the season, it will
be seen as a big disappointment by the Bruins program.
There’s not going to be a more consistent money line bet this season as
far as college basketball
betting goes for big time players. Going against UCLA against the
spread could prove to be a strong play however, as oddsmakers will be
overvaluing the Bruins often this season. The Pac-10 is strong and deep
and it figures to put some marks in the loss column on UCLA’s record,
but at the same time it will be solid preparation for the Big Dance.
December 12th, 2007
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