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(NCAAB) Oregon vs. UCLA,
Point Spread: 4.00 | -101.00 Oregon (Away)
Result: Win
The set-up: The first time this season UCLA and Oregon met was back on Dec. 28th in Eugene, the Pac 12 opener for both schools. The Bruins were 13-0 and ranked No. 2 in the AP poll and the Ducks were 11-2 and ranked 21st. Oregon won that game 89-87 and as the teams get set for the rematch at Pauley Pavilion, both are 21- 3 with Oregon ranked 5th and UCLA 10th. However, the Ducks are 10-1 (Arizona is 11-1) while the Bruins are 8-3, a half-game back of 9-3 Cal for fourth in the league. Oregon: The Ducks made a huge leap of eight spots in Monday's newly released AP, after beating then-No. 5 Arizona 85-58 on Saturday. The Ducks shot 65.2 percent from the floor against the Wildcats, including 16 of 25 on three-pointers, It was Oregon's largest margin of victory ever against a top-10 team. Brooks is healthy these days and leads the team with 14.4 PPG. Oregon also has four other double digit scorers in guards Dorsey (12.6) and Ennis (11.0), plus 6-9 forward Bell (10.9- & 7.6) and 6-10 center Boucher (12.4 & 6.9). UCLA: The Bruins ranks second in the nation in scoring at 92.9 PPG and are No. 1 in FG percentage at 53.5%. They have six players scoring in double figures, led by freshman forward TJ Leaf at 17.1 PPG along with a team-high 8.9 RPG. Senior guard Bryce Alford is averaging 16.4 PPG but most feel that 6-6 freshman PG Ball (15.1-5.8-7.8) is the team's MVP. Guards Hamilton (14.7) and Holiday (13.4) plus the 7-0 Welsh (10.4 & 8.3) round out the double digit scorers. The pick: Brooks made a three-pointer in the final seconds to win the first meeting, finishing with 23 points and a season-high nine rebounds. UCLA is playing with revenge but Oregon may be just "too good." T.J. Leaf is considered a first-round NBA draft pick but he needs to step up in situations like this. So far, that hasn't been the case as against Jordan Bell of Oregon, Lauri Markkanen of Arizona and Chimezie Metu of USC (UCLA's three losses), he's been neutralized, averaging just 11.1 PPG and a pathetic 3.3 RPG. UCLA allows 76.5 PPG, almost two 'TDs' more than Oregon, which allows 63.5. Make Oregon a 10* play.