• Kyle Anderson, UCLA’s 6-foot-9 point guard, is a physical mismatch for Florida’s Scottie Wilbekin. He’s averaging close to a double-double with 14.7 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. The sophomore star says Wilbekin will be tough on him, too, because “he’s lower to the ground and has great leverage on me.” Billy Donovan recruited Anderson hard out of high school in New Jersey but couldn’t land him.
• Florida has hit a wall from the 3-point line during the NCAA tournament, making only 25 percent from long range in wins over Albany and Pittsburgh. Three-point defense has been a weak spot for UCLA, however. The Bruins have allowed 8.1 3-pointers per game this season, and that includes seven each made by two NCAA tournament opponents. Could be a chance for Florida and Michael Frazier II to get hot again.
• The Gators get a lot of production out of their full-court press, but there’s a real danger that the Bruins’ tall and talented guards will beat it often enough to trigger some easy points on the other end. UCLA committed just three turnovers in its win over Stephen F. Austin, and the Bruins’ crisp passing is a major plus. They’re averaging close to 20 assists per game through two NCAA tournament games.
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