It may be a battle the UCLA basketball team fights all season.
The perception of its defense versus its actual defensive efficiency.
The highs and lows were aptly demonstrated in the first two games of the season. The fast-paced offense Friday produced the program’s most points in more than 19 years, but it cost UCLA’s defense 22 points off turnovers in Sunday’svictory over CSUN.
Coach Steve Alford’s philosophy for a team as deep as it is offensively talented is: the more possessions, the better. The downsides include more possessions on which to defend the opponent and more opportunity for UCLA to turn the ball over.