Reeling UCLA basketball team to visit WSU, where strange things happen

Tonight, No. 11 UCLA visits Washington State, where it hasn't won since 2012

Tonight, No. 11 UCLA visits Washington State, where it hasn’t won since 2012

Washington State may be the perfect haven for the UCLA basketball team right now. After tripling their loss total during a five-day stretch last week, tonight seems like perfect timing for the Bruins to visit the team picked to finish last in the Pac-12.

On the other hand, Washington State may be the worst destination for UCLA at its most uncertain point thus far this season. Strange things have happened to the Bruins at Beasley Coliseum, where they have inexplicably failed to win since 2012.

UCLA was the only Pac-12 team to lose a game to Washington State last season. During coach Steve Alford’s first season, a Bruins team good enough to win the Pac-12 tournament and reach the Sweet 16 managed to lose by 18 at Washington State, which won three conference games that year.

The Bruins won 19 straight in Beasley Coliseum before losing their last three.

“It’s a hard one to figure out,” Alford said.

An improved Cougars team deserves credit for winning four of their first nine conference games this year. But on paper, they are certainly overmatched by UCLA. The Bruins are catching plenty of heat for their defensive efficiency ranking of 127th in the nation on kenpom.com. By comparison, Washington State is 224th.

Unlike UCLA, the Cougars don’t have the most efficient offense in the country to offset their defensive shortcomings, just an eerily quiet arena that’s difficult to play in because it lacks an exciting atmosphere.

Read the complete preview for No. 11 UCLA’s crucial game at Washington State here.