What’s Bruin: UCLA Basketball Looking to Improve on the Offensive Glass

One of the rare stats that the Bruins do not fare well in this season compared to the rest of the college basketball world is offensive rebounds.

From Clay Fowler at the LA Daily News:

UCLA failed to get more offensive rebounds than its opponent on Sunday for the 14th time in 17 games, continuing one of the few disturbing trends for the No. 4 team in the country.

The Bruins, who entered Sunday’s 89-75 win over Stanford ranked 272nd in the country with 9.4 offensive rebounds per game, collected 12 offensive boards to Stanford’s 16, despite the absence of the Cardinal’s leading rebounder.

However, there is this counterpoint:

Of course, UCLA does lead the nation in field-goal percentage, meaning the Bruins can argue they have less opportunity for offensive rebounds than anybody else.

But the Bruins are getting the boards on the other side of the floor: UCLA ranks fifth nationally in defensive rebounding.

Pauley Pavilion is starting to feel that magic again, and could set record-level attendance since the arena was renovated five seasons ago.

Per Ben Bolch in the LA Times:

UCLA is averaging 9,202 fans per game overall, trailing only Utah (11,780) and Arizona (14,176) among Pac-12 teams. While the Bruins’ average is below the 9,549 fans it averaged in 2012-13, the first season after the completion of Pauley Pavilion renovations, it will likely surpass that figure before the end of the season because attendance tends to increase during conference games.

Even celebrities have come out to see the Bruins, including Snoop Dogg, Warren G., Jessica Alba, and Vince Vaughn, as well as a host of former Bruin legends and NBA scouts.

Sorry, TJ. No word on Taylor Swift yet...

The story from the U.S. Army All-American Bowl this weekend was the commitment to UCLA from five-star CB Darnay Holmes, but another five-star future Bruin put on a show on the field.

From Thuc Nhi Nguyen of the LA Daily News:

The five-star defensive end was a dominant force for the West Team in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl on Saturday with a game-high five tackles. He had 0.5 sacks and one quarterback hurry as his West Team lost 21-17. NBC announcers praised Phillips’ quick, strong hands and full arsenal of moves, calling the Redlands East Valley graduate "the most impressive prospect of the week" with the "look of a future pro."

The UCLA Gymnastics team won their first meet of the season, defeating Arkansas on Saturday in Pauley Pavilion.

The #2 men’s volleyball team beat Penn State, but then dropped a match to defending national champs and current top-ranked Ohio State in Columbus in four sets.

The women’s basketball team lost both games to the Washington schools this weekend.

Now let this tidbit sink in...

GO BRUINS.