Tag: UCLA

Fresh off National Championship run Chip Kelly hired as Raiders OC

One year at Ohio State was all it took for Chip Kelly to take an offense to a national championship and a return to the NFL with the Raiders.

Chip Kelly is back in the NFL. After leading the Ohio State offense to the National Championship, the former Eagles and Oregon Ducks head coach will be the Raiders next offensive coorcinator.

Kelly was at Ohio State for just one season, which makes for some impressive results. Previous to that he had been a head coach for several years, starting at Oregon before heading to the NFL to coach the Eagles, then spent a year with the 49ers, before heading back to the college ranks at UCLA.

While Kelly’s head coaching record has not great since his days at Oregon, it’s his work as an offensive coordinator where he has developed a reputation as one of football’s greatest innovators.

He and Pete Carroll coached against each other for three seasons in the Pac-10. The first two with Kelly as Oregon’s OC and the final season in 2009 when Kelly was promoted to head coach. The Ducks went to the Rose Bowl that year, which was Carroll’s final season at USC before leaving to take the Seahawks job.

Steelers can’t ignore potential ‘next T.J. Watt’ in 2025 NFL Draft

UCLA’s Femi Oladejo could be a steal in the 2025 NFL Draft and a potential successor to T.J. Watt.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have glaring needs looking ahead to the 2025 NFL Draft—wide receiver, defensive line, cornerback, and running back, to name a few.

However, 2024 painted an unpleasant picture the Black and Gold must face heading into the 2025 offseason—what will life look like without T.J. Watt?

It’s an intimidating question to ponder—almost as frightening as watching Watt go sackless in four straight games to end the 2024 season—and just scary enough to justify ignoring one or two of those aforementioned positions to solve tomorrow’s problem.

That’s where UCLA EDGE Femi Oladejo comes into play—a Senior Bowl standout who switched from ILB to edge rusher during the 2024 season and is expected to be one of the biggest mid- to late-round steals.

His 2024 numbers don’t jump off the stat sheet—4.5 sacks, 14 TFLs, and 57 combined tackles—but no one can deny the raw talent he possesses since switching over to EDGE.

HC Mike Tomlin lives for developing these types of players, and if the team can do so properly, Oladejo could very well be Watt’s successor.

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Free throw shooting dooms USC in loss to UCLA

Andy Enfield-era free throw shooting problems for USC have continued into the Eric Musselman era. This was a crusher.

Any USC fan who watched the men’s basketball program during the Andy Enfield era knows the Trojans frequently struggled with free throw shooting in critical moments. On numerous occasions under Enfield, USC lost a game because it was unable to knock down free throws in crucial situations.

However, with a new head coach and an entirely revamped roster, surely the Trojans’ free throw woes would finally go away in 2024-2025, right?

As it turns out, the answer was no.

In Monday night’s Crosstown Showdown against UCLA, USC’s free throw problems of seasons past reappeared at the worst possible time. In the rivalry matchup against the Bruins, the Trojans shot just 57.9% from the line in an 82-76 home loss.

When the game was on the line late, the Trojans were at their worst. Over a seven-plus minute stretch late in the second half, USC went just 3 of 9 from the free throw line. Those six points wound up being the difference in the game.

The backbreaker came with the Trojans trailing 73-72 in the final two minutes. Saint Thomas drew a foul and went to the free throw line with a chance to tie the game or put USC ahead. However, he missed both shots, leaving the Trojans trailing by one. UCLA’s Sebastian Mack proceeded to hit a 3-pointer at the other end, which effectively served as the dagger.

For USC, it was a massive instance of what could have been. Had the Trojans shot better from the free throw line, they may have been able to pull out a massive rivalry victory. Instead, they suffered a heartbreaking loss to their crosstown foes on their home court.

USC comeback attempt falls short in Crosstown Showdown loss to UCLA

USC battled hard but was ultimately far too inconsistent against UCLA.

On Monday night, USC men’s basketball fell 82-76 to rival UCLA in the first Big Ten edition of the Crosstown Showdown.

After a back-and-forth first half, UCLA seemed to tack control of the game early in the second, going up by as much as 12. However, the Trojans did not give up, battling back and cutting the deficit to one with under two minutes left to play.

With 1:37 remaining, USC’s Saint Thomas went to the free throw line with the Trojans trailing 73-72 and a chance to give his team the lead. However, Thomas missed both shots, Sebastian Mack immediately hit a three on the other end, effectively putting the game out of reach for USC.

With the loss, the Trojans dropped to 12-8 overall and 4-5 in Big Ten play. UCLA, meanwhile, improved to 15-6 overall and 6-4 in conference.

Up next, USC welcomes No. 7 Michigan State to Galen Center on Saturday afternoon. The Trojans and Bruins will meet again on March 8 at Pauley Pavilion in the regular season finale for both teams.

Kobe Johnson returns to Galen Center wearing blue

If Kobe Johnson had gone anywhere else, it wouldn’t have been an issue, but he transferred to UCLA. Monday night should be spicy.

For three years, Kobe Johnson was a USC basketball fan favorite at Galen Center. A two-time team captain, Johnson was a strong leader and constantly remained humble. While the likes of Drew Peterson, Boogie Ellis, Isaiah Collier, and Bronny James naturally drew most of the attention, Johnson was always content to let them have the spotlight and let his play on the court speak for itself. However, this past offseason, that all changed when Johnson decided to transfer from USC to crosstown rival UCLA. In a heartbeat, he went from a player USC fans loved to one of the Trojans’ biggest villains.

When the Trojans host the Bruins at Galen Center Monday night, it will mark Johnson’s return to Galen Center. He will do so wearing a color USC fans cannot stand: UCLA light blue.

In the transfer portal era, fans are generally understanding when players decide to look elsewhere. Had Johnson transferred to just about any other school in the country, USC fans would have thanked him for his time in Cardinal and Gold and wished him the best of luck.

But even in today’s new age, rivalries remain the heartbeat of college sports. While transferring to a different school is widely viewed as normal and acceptable, switching sides in a rivalry is where most fans draw the line.

So when Johnson hears his name introduced at Galen Center Monday night, don’t expect a particularly warm welcome from the Trojan Family.

Previewing USC-UCLA hoops with UCLA Wire’s Jake Hamilton

Trojans Wire talked to UCLA wire about Monday night’s big game in the Galen Center. USC is in must-win mode.

Monday night, when USC basketball hosts UCLA, marks the first men’s basketball Crosstown Showdown of the season. It will mark the beginning of a new era in the storied rivalry. For one thing, it will be the first matchup between the schools as members of the Big Ten Conference. In addition, it will mark the introduction to the rivalry for Eric Musselman, who is in his first season as the Trojans’ head coach.

Ahead of the matchup, I spoke to UCLA Wire’s Jake Hamilton to ask him a few questions about the Bruins.

Adam: How has UCLA fared in adjusting to the Big Ten thus far?

Jake: UCLA’s first season in the Big Ten has been up and down. The Bruins have a nasty habit of playing up to their competition and playing down to it. With big wins against Oregon, Wisconsin, and Iowa, UCLA showed what they can be at their best. On the other hand, in their losses to Michigan, Nebraska, Maryland, and Rutgers, the Bruins look disjointed and, in some ways, lost. This upcoming stretch of games (Washington, USC, Oregon, and Michigan State) should be telling as to whether or not the Bruins can contend in the super-sized Big Ten.

Adam: Kobe Johnson made headlines when he transferred from USC to UCLA this offseason. What has his impact been for the Bruins thus far?

Jake: Johnson has struggled to find a rhythm thus far with the Bruins, averaging only 7.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.2 assists. One of the culprits for Johnson’s minimal impact is the Bruins’ offense. UCLA has a lot of mouths to feed at the guard position between Skyy Clark, Dylan Andrews, and Sebastian Mack. The Bruins have a “committee” backcourt in many ways. In most cases, the Bruins feed the hot hand. Johnson is due for a breakout game in a UCLA uniform, perhaps against his former team. That said, the clock is ticking for the senior to make a statement on the Bruins.

Adam: Unlike in years past, UCLA’s roster is not filled with high-profile players. Who are some guys that USC fans should familiarize themselves with ahead of the game?

Jake: Sebastian Mack and Eric Dailey Jr.

When Mack gets minutes, he can score in bunches, scoring ten or more points in ten games for the Bruins this season. The sophomore guard is streaky as a scorer, something that could be huge in the Big Ten and NCAA Tournaments. The problem? Mack, in his somewhat limited role with the Bruins this season, is a volume shooter. And when Mack can’t make good on his three-point attempts, he can become a liability on offense. However, no team in the Big Ten should want to face the Bruins on a night when Mack is hot. That’s for sure.

Dailey Jr. is a reliable two-way player for the Bruins. He is a relatively consistent scorer and can routinely score in the double digits. Shooting over 50% from the field and over 33% from three, Dailey Jr. is a solid contributor for the Bruins and is leaned on heavily when they need a bucket. Unfortunately, Dailey Jr. often finds himself in foul trouble. Dailey Jr. has fouled out twice this season and committed four fouls in five of the Bruins’ eighteen games. For Dailey Jr. to have a pronounced impact this season, he will need to be more polished and avoid unnecessary fouls.

Adam: What is your prediction for the game?

Jake: Nearly every statistic is identical between the Bruins and the Trojans thus far this season. From points per game to field goal percentage to rebounds, the two Los Angeles programs are neck and neck. That said, UCLA’s defense will be the deciding factor. Allowing only 64.7 points per game to opponents, the Bruins should manage to slow down Desmond Claude and the Trojan offense. Having dug their way out of a four-game losing streak in the Big Ten, the surging Bruins will eke out a narrow win against the Trojans, 72-67.

Wisconsin basketball’s updated NET ranking, NCAA Tournament resume after UCLA loss

Wisconsin basketball’s updated NET ranking, NCAA Tournament resume after UCLA loss

Wisconsin basketball fell to 15-4 on the season and 5-3 in Big Ten play with an 85-83 loss to UCLA on Tuesday.

The result ensured a 1-1 split during its two-game Los Angeles road trip. While the narrow defeat ended the Badgers’ seven-game winning streak and paused their surge to the top of the conference standings, it did not negatively impact their KenPom, ESPN BPI, or NCAA NET ranking.

Related: Updated game-by-game predictions for Wisconsin basketball after UCLA loss

Wisconsin held its same No. 21 spot in KenPom, rose four spots to No. 24 in the BPI and remained at No. 21 in the NET.

That dynamic is due to UCLA‘s perceived quality — the Bruins sit No. 31 in KenPom despite recent struggles in Big Ten play. A two-point road loss to a fringe-top-30 team in the country won’t initiate a significant downgrade.

The loss to UCLA is a Quad 1 defeat. Wisconsin is now 4-4 in such games this season, compared to 11-0 against everybody else.

As a reminder, here is a reminder of how the NET classifies each game:

  • Quadrant 1: Home 1-30, Neutral 1-50, Away 1-75
  • Quadrant 2: Home 31-75, Neutral 51-100, Away 76-135
  • Quadrant 3: Home 76-160, Neutral 101-200, Away 135-240
  • Quadrant 4: Home 161-353, Neutral 201-353, Away 241-353

The Badgers actually received a boost just before the UCLA loss, as Ohio State won on the road at Purdue and jumped to No. 30 in the NET. That pushed the Badgers’ recent home victory over the Buckeyes back into the Quad 1 category.

Wisconsin is now the mentioned 4-4 against Quad 1, 4-0 against Quad 2, 2-0 against Quad 3 and 5-0 against Quad 4. That resume is the fifth-strongest in the Big Ten, only ranked behind Illinois (No. 8), Michigan (No. 12), Purdue (No. 13) and Michigan State (No. 16). It has the team in the 5-seed range in most bracketologies.

That standing has the chance to rise considerably over the next six weeks. Wisconsin has Quad 1 games remaining against Maryland, Northwestern, Iowa, Purdue, Illinois, Oregon and Michigan State, and Quad 2 games against Nebraska, Indiana, Minnesota and Penn State. Its only remaining Quad 3 game is a home contest against Washington.

That quest begins on Sunday when Nebraska (NET No. 57) visits the Kohl Center.

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Wisconsin basketball upcoming opponent notches signature victory, ends losing streak

Wisconsin basketball upcoming opponent notches signature victory

Wisconsin’s game against the UCLA Bruins on Tuesday looks like a tougher test after Friday’s action.

That result: UCLA demolished Iowa 94 to 70. The game was over by halftime, as the Bruins built an insurmountable 57-24 lead.

Related: Updated win-loss predictions for Wisconsin basketball schedule entering West Coast road trip

The victory is an important step forward for a UCLA team that had lost four straight conference games entering Friday’s contest — 66-58 to Nebraska, 94-75 to Michigan, 79-61 to Maryland and 75-68 to Rutgers. That slide readjusted the team’s expectations after it was a popular pick to contend for the conference entering the season.

In the words of head coach Mick Cronin, the Bruins were struggling with the Big Ten’s ‘physical game’ and still working to acclimate to the new conference dynamic.

Friday’s result may begin to switch the team’s momentum. For Wisconsin, that couldn’t come at a worse time.

The Badgers face USC on Saturday afternoon before staying in Los Angeles, California for Tuesday’s matchup against the Bruins. Wisconsin enters the West Coast road trip on a six-game winning streak, one which has elevated the team near the Big Ten’s top tier.

Wisconsin matches up well with both teams on paper. It presents the size and scoring ability required to succeed in the Big Ten. Both USC and UCLA have struggled to defend that formula at times this season.

But the Bruins rounding into form would change the outlook Tuesday’s matchup. ESPN win probability now favors the home team (59.1%), with Wisconsin entering as the clear underdog (40.9%). Those numbers shifted significantly after UCLA’s win over Iowa.

The glass half-full outlook: Wisconsin gets a chance for another Quad 1 victory, which would move it further into Big Ten contention.

The glass half-empty view: The Badgers may be playing the Bruins at the worse possible time.

Wisconsin has already benefitted from some schedule breaks, including Rutgers superstar freshman Dylan Harper battling an illness when the two teams met on Jan. 6. Those breaks tend to swing in the opposite direction eventually, unless a team has a season like Indiana football’s 2024.

Wisconsin and UCLA are set for a 9:30 ET, 8:30 CT tip-off on Tuesday. The game will be broadcast exclusively on Peacock. Stay tuned over the next few days for a more extensive matchup preview and prediction.

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Wisconsin basketball upcoming opponent struggling with Big Ten’s ‘physical game’

Wisconsin basketball upcoming opponent struggling with Big Ten’s ‘physical game’

Wisconsin basketball is currently headed west for its first Big Ten Conference matchups against former Pac-12 powers USC and UCLA. It first visits the Trojans on Saturday afternoon, then the Bruins on Tuesday.

The Badgers enter the road trip on a six-game winning streak dating back to mid-December. The team has risen from the bottom of the Big Ten standings into its top third, threatening to contend for a top spot. Two more road wins would be an important step in that regard.

Related: Updated win-loss predictions for Wisconsin basketball schedule entering West Coast road trip

The context surrounding those two upcoming opponents is worthwhile to note before the Badgers make the West Coast trip.

USC, first, has impressively won two straight over Illinois and Iowa. It is up to No. 58 in the ESPN BPI and No. 66 in KenPom — both significant improvements after a tough start to the season. The Badgers will need to recreate their top form to exit with a victory.

UCLA, meanwhile, is amid somewhat of a collapse. The Bruins sat 10-1 entering a Dec. 21 matchup against North Carolina. They fell 76-74 in that contest, rebounded with a win over Gonzaga, and then continued to drop four straight conference games. That stretch sent the team down to 11-6 on the season, 2-4 in Big Ten play and No. 34 and No. 36 slots in BPI and KenPom, respectively.

Those four losses came against Nebraska, Michigan, Maryland and Rutgers. Michigan and Maryland are formidable opponents and clear NCAA Tournament teams. Nebraska and Rutgers, on the other hand, are games that the Bruins couldn’t afford to lose with an expectation of Big Ten contention.

Head coach Mick Cronin was blunt when discussing that losing streak and why the Bruins have struggled in their new conference. “I think we are trying,” Cronin told the media. “But here are the facts. We have struggled in Big Ten basketball. Our two wins were against teams we were familiar playing against. I think the truth of it is, that Big Ten basketball is different. It’s a much more physical game.”

The Bruins head coach went on to discuss the context surrounding his team’s skid:

“I also think the league is unbelievably rock-solid,” Cronin continued. “Some teams get fortunate, we were not with the schedule. We were not with Dylan Harper, who is a unbelievable player, having some sort of illness where he could hardly stand up in the previous two games, where he hardly played. And then being back to full strength against us…That being said, we’re struggling with the adjustment to Big Ten basketball.”

UCLA’s losses haven’t been by slim margins. It fell 66-58 to Nebraska, 94-75 to Michigan, 79-61 to Maryland and 75-68 to Rutgers. The Badgers will look to extend that streak when the two teams meet on Tuesday night.

Wisconsin may have an advantage on paper against both USC and UCLA, especially given the team’s latest defensive improvement. But the Badgers will need to overcome significant travel and challenging road environments to exit with victories, even while both programs still work to acclimate to Big Ten basketball.

Saturday’s game against USC is set for a 3 p.m. ET, 2 p.m. CT tip-off and will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.

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Is former Bruin Chase Utley worthy of the Baseball Hall of Fame?

Another Baseball Hall of Fame vote will increase the focus on Chase Utley’s HOF candidacy.

Former Philadelphia Phillies and UCLA Bruin second baseman Chase Utley finds his name on the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot for the second time, but is the six-time All-Star Cooperstown bound?

Utley received just 28.8% of the vote in 2024, quite far from the 75% threshold required to make the Baseball Hall of Fame but also well above the 5% threshold to remain on the ballot. 

The second baseman played 17 seasons in MLB after he was selected in the first round of the 2000 MLB draft by the Philadelphia Phillies. Prior to the draft, Utley spent three seasons with the Bruins, where he had a career .342 batting average and 53 home runs in 179 games. 

Once he made it to the big leagues in April of 2003, Utley put up 64.5 bWAR over his career, with 259 career home runs and a World Series title in 2008 and appearing in three other Fall Classics in 2009 against the Yankees and in 2017 and 2018 when Utley was a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

The average bWAR of a second baseman to reach the Hall of Fame is 69.5, so Utley falls a bit short of the HOF average but Utley’s numbers reflect favorably compared to some recent Hall of Fame inductees. Todd Helton, Joe Mauer and Harold Baines all reached the Hall despite accumulating less career bWAR and never winning a World Series title. 

On the other side, Utley never finished above seventh in an MVP ballot, while multiple of his non-Hall of Fame teammates like Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins won the award. 

Utley has fared better in 2025 than he did on the 2024 ballot, with Ryan Thibodaux’s ballot tracker currently having Utley on 51% of the ballots. Thibodaux’s tracker has recorded 26.8% of the total ballots. 

With an induction, Utley would be the second former Bruin in the Baseball Hall of Fame, joining the legendary Jackie Robinson.