New year, new coach, new beginnings? That’s what UCLA fans were hoping for as the UCLA Bruins started Pac-12 play against the Stanford Cardinal Thursday evening at Pauley Pavilion.
Two things were very clear early. UCLA was trying to feed the post and they were not going to settle for outside shots. UCLA’s first 12 points came in the paint, as their first points outside the paint came at 14:20 when Jaylen Hands hit a three-point shot to put the Bruins up 15-12.
UCLA continued the onslaught in the paint, as they pretty much refused to shoot anything from the outside and, with Stanford going on a 7:24 second scoreless drought, the Bruins were able to extend their lead and went up 30-16 at the 7:46 mark.