UCF's turnovers could be a deciding factor in the first round
· Yahoo Sports
It’s worth remembering how challenging this season has been for the UCLA Bruins. The Bruins are entering the NCAA tournament on a high note, only bowing out of the Big Ten Conference tournament after injuries to their two top players.
UCLA has lost to some mediocre teams this year
Despite making the Big Ten tournament semifinals, UCLA has proved that they’re not a sure thing to beat anyone. The Bruins lost to Cal, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Indiana this season. If UCLA handled business in three of those games, it’s unlikely that they’d be placed across the country as a No. 7 seed.
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UCF knows the stakes too
UCF certainly isn’t coming into the tournament with much momentum. The Knights are 1-4 in their last five games and have faced just one ranked team over that stretch. Mick Cronin knows that the NCAA tournament is the most important time of the year, and UCF has every intention of sending the Bruins home early.
The Bruins aren't shying away from March's spotlight
Even with the heightened stakes of March Madness, Cronin emphasized that his team is ready to meet the moment.
“We’re not anxious. It’s the last thing we are,” Cronin said during his media availability on Monday. “We’ve been waiting for this all year. We’re just hopeful that we’re healthy. No anxiousness at all.”
UCF taking care of the ball has led to good results for the Knights
UCLA’s defense has improved heading into the NCAA tournament but limiting turnovers has been paramount for the Knights. UCF turned it over just six times on each of their wins over No. 11 Texas Tech and No. 17 Kansas. The Knights turned the ball over 15 times in their win over No. 19 BYU but UCF went 14-24 from three in the game, and the team shooting 58% from three led the Knights to the win.
UCLA's defensive pressure is peaking at the right time
The Bruins forced plenty of steals during their run in the Big Ten tournament, racking up 7, 12 and 8 steals over their three games. If UCLA can maintain that defensive pressure, it’ll go a long way in ensuring a first round win for the Bruins.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: Mick Cronin says UCLA is not anxious for the NCAA tournament