UCLA Basketball: 10 Crucial Tell-Tale Games for the Bruins in 2011-12

After beginning their season with two consecutive losses to mid-major schools, UCLA’s future is beginning to seem more and more uncertain. Almost every aspect of their team play is lacking, and team chemistry seems nonexistent.

With their fate increasingly uncertain, the Bruins need to pull through and start putting some wins on the board, or their chances of doing any damage in the NCAA will quickly dissipate. 

Here are 10 tell-tale games for the Bruins for the remainder of their 2011-12 season.

1. Chaminade: Nov. 21, Away

Result: Win 92-60

At the beginning of the season, the Bruins’ initial games appeared to be easy wins that would boost the Bruins squad going into the Pac-12.

Now that the Bruins have lost two consecutive games to mid-majors to begin their season, getting their first win next Monday against Chaminade is crucial. The effect on team morale will be defining.

Losing three in a row to mid-major schools to begin the season will crush team morale, but winning will boost their morale greatly. Even though it’s against another mid-major school, a win would lift the Bruins out of the swamp. 

2. Texas: Dec. 3, Home

Regardless of whether the Bruins win their game against Chaminade, their matchup against Texas will be an adequate test for their success in the NCAA this year. The Longhorns have won their first two games of the season, and while they are not currently ranked, they should see their way to the top 25 this season.

UCLA’s defense will be put to the test against Texas, who have scored high in their first two games and have moved the ball well.

If the Bruins are able to pull through against Texas, they will be able to prove that they are worthy of being discussed in the NCAA. 

3. Stanford: Dec. 29, Away

This will be the Bruins’ first Pac-12 matchup of the year, and a very important one. Predicted to finish first in the Pac-12 in the preseason, the Bruins need to get off to a good start to the Pac-12 in order to forget about the woes of a disappointing start to the season.

Stanford is a decent Pac-12 team, one that the Bruins should beat if they have their team flow figured out. Starting off on a good foot in the Pac-12 is critical for the Bruins momentum in the conference, as the competition will be tough this year.

Although it may sound a little sweeping, if the Bruins win this game, they have a chance to win the Pac-12. If not, they do not. 

4. California: Dec. 31, Away

This is a huge Pac-12 showdown for the Bruins. Cal is their biggest contender in the Pac-12 and will give the Bruins a run for their money. The Golden Bears have a strong returning team and could take the Pac-12 if UCLA is not able to execute.

The Bruins defense will be put to the test again in this game, as Cal has a very lively and dangerous offense. This will be their second game in the Pac-12, and if they are able to defeat Cal, they will have positive momentum going into to their next matchup against Arizona.

All will not be lost if the Bruins cannot pull away a win against Cal, but their first matchup against the Golden Bears will be defining for their success in the Pac-12. 

5. Arizona: Jan. 5, Home

This will be the Bruins’ first Pac-12 home game, and it will be a very intense one. Winning this home game is a must for UCLA, who must establish themselves on their home court in the Pac-12. Ranked in the top 25, the Wildcats are a strong and aggressive team that will be a threatening force in the Pac-12.

Much like their first matchup against Cal, the Bruins' initial matchup against highly-ranked Arizona is almost make-or-break. A win would send the Bruins rolling through their following Pac-12 matchups, but a loss could send the team into disarray.

With an evident lack of chemistry and motivation, the Bruins are a team that needs wins in order to fill those voids. This win will be exceptionally important in the beginning of their Pac-12 season. 

6. USC: Jan. 15, Away

Although USC doesn’t have the strongest of teams this year, UCLA-USC rivalry matchups are always an intense game regardless of each team’s strength.  This will be their first matchup of the year against USC, and it will be at their house, which will feature a loud and intense atmosphere.

This is a vital Pac-12 matchup for the Bruins, who must win their games against their rivals this year.  Setting the tone with a win in this game is essential to the Bruins’ success in the Pac-12. Even without a strong squad, USC should hover around the middle of the Pac-12 and won’t surrender losses easily.

If the Bruins can win this rivalry game, they will be riding high and should sweep their next four Pac-12 opponents—Oregon State, Oregon, Utah and Colorado. 

7. Washington: Feb. 2, Away

Even without Isaiah Thomas, the Huskies have a solid team and will certainly do some damage in the Pac-12 this year. They have a chance to finish in the top three of the conference this year and are off to a good start in their non-conference games.

UCLA’s first matchup against Washington will be in the middle of their Pac-12 lineup after they have played the Pac-12’s newest additions, Utah and Colorado. The Bruins need to stay strong in their away matchup against Washington in order to have some momentum going into the second half of their Pac-12 schedule.

The Huskies have a chance to finish higher than UCLA in the Pac-12, which makes this game a must-win for the Bruins. 

8. California: Feb. 11, Home

UCLA’s home matchup against Cal will be exciting and hard-fought. The Golden Bears and the Bruins were split in their showdowns last year, and this year will probably be no different.  If the Bruins are able to make the necessary changes to become a competitive basketball team, they should be fighting for a Pac-12 title with Cal.

At this point in the season, this will be the Bruins' toughest matchup in over a month after playing Arizona for the first time. That makes it a defining game for UCLA in seeing how they consistently stack up against top teams.

This will be a big game for the Bruins. 

9. St. John’s: Feb. 18, Away

This will be the Bruins’ first non-conference matchup in almost two months and should give them good perspective on how they stack up against the rest of the NCAA outside of the Pac-12. St. John’s has a very young but talented team and will give UCLA some troubles.

The Bruins should be able to take away a win from this matchup if they are able to play well as a team. The matchup comes late in the season, and if UCLA hasn’t rectified their downfalls by that point, then they do not stand a chance in the NCAA Tournament. 

10. Washington: March 3, Home

The Bruins’ final game of the Pac-12 against Washington will be very important in terms of their success in the Pac-12 Tournament and beyond. It is crucial to close out the season with a win and get some momentum going into the conference tournament.

We saw this last year with UConn, who rectified their decent performance in the Big East by closing the season out with a win, winning the Big East Tournament and carrying that momentum with them to a NCAA Title.

Regardless of their performance leading up to this point, this game will be a must-win for the Bruins if they are to have any success in the postseason festivities.