UCLA, sellout crowd should expect different kind of show tonight

There was as much talk at UCLA basketball practice this week about what size crowd the Bruins would draw for Michigan today as there was about the Wolverines themselves.

What is expected to be a sellout crowd – including Jessica Alba and Vince Vaughn – shouldn’t expect a show like the one in Lexington against No. 1 Kentucky a week ago. Michigan plays some of the slowest basketball in the country. And it’s made them an “upper echelon” team in the Big Ten this season.

The question is, will UCLA allow the slow pace to frustrate it and throw the up-tempo Bruins off their game? Now that UCLA is ranked No. 2 in the country, they can expect to get Michigan’s best shot today as they try to reach 10-0.

“We’re going to have a target on our back not only being No. 2 in the country, but when you wear the four letters that we do, you always have that target,” senior Bryce Alford said. “I think we’ll be prepared for it.”

Read the preview story for No. 2 UCLA (9-0) versus Michigan (7-2)