Dylan Andrews must reassert himself: Five takeaways from UCLA’s excruciating loss

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UCLA’s Dylan Andrews drives past North Carolina’s Drake Powell during the first half Saturday. Andrews this season has gone to the free-throw line less, suggesting he’s not attacking the basket as a point guard should. (Frank Franklin II / Associated Press)

Success in March, when the games matter most, is rooted in strong guard play.

Fortunately for UCLA, this is still December.

That means the Bruins have plenty of time to resolve what might be their biggest issue. His game-winning shot against Oregon notwithstanding, Dylan Andrews has regressed since emerging as one of the top point guards in the Pac-12 over the final months of last season.

A bottoming out came Saturday during No. 18 UCLA’s 76-74 loss to North Carolina at Madison Square Garden in the CBS Sports Classic.

Andrews missed five of six shots and finished with more turnovers than assists, including the critical turnover in the final minute that allowed the Tar Heels to complete their comeback from a 16-point deficit. Andrews took an inbounds pass in one corner of the backcourt and immediately had the ball slapped out of his hands and off his leg out of bounds.

Read more: No. 18 UCLA gives up 16-point lead, losing to North Carolina in a heartbreaker

It was the third time in the last four games that the usually sure-handed Andrews has finished with more turnovers than assists. Getting Andrews to more closely resemble the player he was late last season must be a top priority going forward.

Here are five takeaways from the Bruins’ first loss since early November:

Drive time?

Andrews’ production is down across the board from last season.

He’s averaging fewer points, assists and rebounds while committing more turnovers.

The most telling statistic might be free throws. After averaging 2.3 free throws per game last season, Andrews has taken a total of three free throws in 10 games this season.

Might Andrews have become too reliant on taking jump shots? He said before the season that he had spent the summer working on his…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/dylan-andrews-must-reassert-himself-181527234.html

Author : LA Times

Publish date : 2024-12-22 18:15:00

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