UCLA men’s basketball wary of Washington as a trap game – Daily News

A Saturday afternoon start doesn’t exactly scream primetime. Neither do the makings of the game between UCLA and Washington, each on the other side of the Pac-12 standings.

The Bruins are in first place at 6-0, while the Huskies are 0-6. Some might call it a “trap game”.

It’s cliché because it happens all too often. A high-flying team off a big win – like Thursday afternoon’s 30-point win over Washington State – hosts a one-win team looking to claim its first conference victory of the season.

Upon further review: It’s a trap game.

“All I know is we play Washington and all I care about is what they’re good at,” UCLA coach Mick Cronin said. “I know Washington has struggled, but the one thing about coaching in a Power 5 conference is that everybody has good players and everybody is capable. Their record is irrelevant, and if it is, then we’re still really immature.”

UCLA (10-2) will host Washington (1-10) at 2 p.m. in Pauley Pavilion on the Pac-12 Network.

The trajectory of the two teams couldn’t be more opposite. UCLA is riding a five-game winning streak. Washington is on a seven-game skid. The Bruins just took down Washington State 91-61. The Huskies lost 95-68 to USC on Thursday night.

UCLA’s latest shooting display from beyond the arc was one of the best of the season, knocking down 9 of 16 attempts, while the Huskies shot 37.9% from the field against the Trojans, including just eight field goals in the first half.

Despite the daunting numbers that will probably make UCLA a 20-point favorite for the oddsmakers, Cronin will not let the Bruins’ attitude slip up.