LOS ANGELES – As two of college basketball’s blue bloods met on the United Center floor in Chicago last December, the contrast was striking.
It took UCLA 7 minutes, 43 seconds to score its first basket, coming by way of a layup by Kevon Looney. During that span, Kentucky reeled off 24 points. The Bruins finished with seven first-half points, the fewest in program history.
The final score: Kentucky 83, UCLA 44.
“I think you could say we were a little intimidated,” junior guard Bryce Alford said before practice Tuesday.
UCLA (4-3) gets another crack at top-ranked Kentucky (7-0), this time Thursday night at Pauley Pavilion, where the Bruins hope to snap a sour streak.