The top-ranked UCLA Bruins (7-0) open up the John R. Wooden Classic today (Dec. 9) in a 2:30 p.m. (EST) tip-off against the sixth-ranked Texas A&M Aggies (7-1) at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Ca. The game will be televised nationally by CBS.
The Bruins last played on Tuesday when they needed 20 points from Arron Afflalo and 16 from Josh Shipp as well as the defense forcing 28 turnovers to come from behind and beat Cal State Fullerton 78-54. The Bruins defeated their third consecutive Big West opponent, but this one was a lot closer until the final eight minutes than wins over Long Beach State and UC Riverside. The game with the Aggies today will be the first true test for the undefeated Bruins.
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UCLA could get an early season wake-up call from the Aggies, who feature the front line of 6-foot-7 Josh Carter, 6-9 Joseph Jones and 6-10 Antanas Kavaliauskas – who average a combined 37.6 points. The Bruins counter with 6-5 Josh Shipp, 6-8 Luc Richard Mbah a Moute and 6-9 Lorenzo Mata.
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Texas A&M is coming off a 64-52 loss at No. 9-ranked LSU on Tuesday. The first loss of the season for the Aggies (7-1) also came against their first ranked opponent. A&M had won 14 regular season games and had not lost since being eliminated by LSU in the second round of the NCAA tournament. Kavaliauskas led the Aggies with 18 points, while Jones added 12 before fouling out late in the game.
After opening with UCLA favored by a -5 ½ point chalk the betting line has now dropped with the Bruins favored by -4.0, a significant drop from overnight. The public-betting trend seems to be enjoying the drop in the line with 84% leaning toward the Bruins. The total is set at 123 and 84% of the public like the OVER.
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Texas A&M has played seven games listed on the Las Vegas and offshore board and has covered 4-of-7 of the contests with five of the games cashing for the UNDER. UCLA has covered 6-of-7 board games with 4-of-7 cashing for the OVER.
