Deflections are the lifeblood of any Cronin team, signifying the defensive effort that he demands through passes that are tipped, shots that are blocked and loose balls that are grabbed. AdvertisementThe Bruins (2-0) fed that monster by taking all but four of their shots inside the three-point arc in the second half, leading to easier rebounding opportunities. Hill snagged eight of UCLA’s 18 offensive rebounds for the game and the Bruins finished with 20 second-chance points. After one steal and zero blocks in the first half, UCLA tallied a combined five over the first eight minutes of the second half. AdvertisementUCLA generated 17 deflections in the second half and 22 for the game -- a touch over half the number that Cronin wants.

Source: Los Angeles Times November 11, 2019 02:19 UTC