This article is part of our Final Four Preview series.
UCLA Bruins, East Region, No. 11 Seed
Backcourt: The Bruins bread and butter is their four-guard starting lineup, three of which go 6-foot-6. Johnny Juzang has put this team on his back, not just in the tournament but throughout February through volume, and is averaging 21.6 ppg on 17.6 shot attempts in the Bruins five-game run. Jules Bernard provides inconsistent offense (10.8 ppg, two of five games combining for 10 points) but support on the glass (7.0 rpg), while Jaime Jaquez stretches defenses (39.3 percent 3-point regular season, 46.7 percent in tournament). He's averaging 14.2 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 2.8 apg and 1.6 spg during this stretch, and his ability to provide floor spacing makes up for the Bruins' lack of size. Point guard Tyger Campbell remains more of a facilitator, but he was key in UCLA's two wins last week, garnering four steals while scoring in double-digits in both outings after not doing so in any of the team's prior eight games. There isn't a plan B behind any of these four, with reserve David Singleton playing 14.0 minutes over the last five. Gonzaga has plenty of size and length across it's core five, but there's a chance Corey Kispert gets run around, leading to some defensive chasing and open looks for the Bruins lead four.
Frontcourt: Cody Riley. That's it. We can label guys as guards or forwards all we want, but the Bruins have one rotational option north of 6-foot-6, and it's the 6-foot-9, 255 pound Riley,
