CBS Sports analysts favor UCLA, highlighting Donovan Dent's dominance. However, UCF's strong shooters and a potential upset pick create intriguing possibilities.
Wednesday morning, Matt Norlander, Avery Johnson, and John Henson joined Hakem Dermish on CBS Sports HQ to give their picks for the game between UCF and UCLA.
The Bruins went 2-0 in the predictions, picking up the endorsements from both Norlander and Johnson.
Norlander
Pick: UCLA
Norlander started off the show by emphasizing the importance of UCLA's two best players, Donovan Dent and Tyler Bilodeau, being available for Friday's game. He credited Dent for really picking it up towards the end of the season, amassing a 13-1 assist to turnover ratio over the past eight games.
Norlander credited UCF and head coach Johnny Dawkins for "a nice season," while shouting out All-Big 12 Third Teamer Themus Fulks, but said that "everything suggests" the Bruins taking the win.
He also said that senior guard Riley Kugel could "do some damage" if he gets it going.
Johnson
Pick: UCLA
Johnson also opened by crediting Dent, giving him props for how he can control and dominate multiple facets of the game. He emphasized Dent's ability to get his team out and running in the break, comparing him to Purdue standout point guard Braden Smith.
Although the CBS crew is fading the Knights, ESPN's Jay Bilas is one analyst who picked UCF to pull off the upset, comparing Jamichael Stillwell to one of the best glue guys in NBA history.
"The Bruins have Donovan Dent, one of the five best point guards in the nation, but UCF has Themus Fulks, Jordan Burks and the Big 12's version of Draymond Green in Jamichael Stillwell. With UCLA banged up, the Knights are worth a flier," Bilas wrote in his full projections.
UCF is hoping for a better shooting performance than its past three games, as the Knights are 9-of-61 from 3-point range during that span.
Fulks said that the unique nature of the Big 12 LED courts may have played a part in the team's struggles, but still, that is not a promising sign. However, UCF finished as one of the top-3 shooting teams in the Big 12, shooting 36.2% from deep.
The Knights tip off in the Round of 64 at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday, March 20 as they look to capture UCF's second March Madness victory in program history.
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