UCLA Basketball v North Carolina Game Thread

Good morning, Bruins!

Breakfast with the #Bruins! #UCLAvsUNC ⏰ Sat, 10 AM PT @cbs @AM570LASports @SIRIUSXM 84/84 @tunein pic.twitter.com/xg230PzLrG

— UCLA Athletics (@UCLAAthletics) December 18, 2015

The #22 UCLA Bruins (8-3) will meet the #11 North Carolina Tar Heels (8-2) this morning in the CBS Sports Classic at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

The game starts at 10 am PT and is televised on CBS, naturally. The Tar Heels are favored by 6.5 points.

Check out DCBruins' excellent UNC preview here for the best look at this matchup of college basketball legends.

The Bruins carry a 5 game win streak to New York face the preseason number one team in the country. After surprising wins against Kentucky and at Gonzaga, the Bruins are actually looking like a good basketball team. And like both Kentucky and Gonzaga, UNC will be short handed when they take the court without Kennedy Meeks, a starting forward who is their 4th leading scorer and second leading rebounder on the season. Once again, Bruin bigs Tony Parker and Thomas Welsh will have an opportunity to play a key role in today's game, though Welsh is recovering from a viral illness himself. Bruin forward Jonah Bolden's improved defensive play will also be critical.

Once again, U.C.L.A. will get to measure up against a legit national title contender in the nonconference season. The Bruins have impressed twice in this setting already this season. making fans overlook some of the Bruins other surprising struggles. Also, traveling three time zones east to play an early morning game is a tough challenge under any circumstance. Which Bruin team shows up in Brooklyn? It's time to find out.

Here's your Basketball open thread. Have at it.

GO BRUINS!