Ron Chenoy- USA TODAY Sports
Norman Powell is scoring just 10 points per game on the season. Against the Colorado Buffaloes, he scored 19 points and created four steals as the UCLA Bruins beat the Spencer Dinwiddie-less Buffs 69-56.
The Bruins are an interesting team because they have nine players that just can go off and take a game. Whether it be Zach LaVine, Kyle Anderson, Jordan Adams or the aforementioned Powell, the Bruins can put a world of hurt on the Pac-12 Conference if they hit their shots. Having shooters, dribble penetrators and shot creators is exactly the kind of versatility that any coach, specifically Steve Alford, wants on offense.
With the versatility and amount of go-to playmakers like Anderson, LaVine, Adams and now Powell, UCLA can be very dangerous heading into the middle portion of the Pac-12 season. The Buffs are a different team without their best player, Dinwiddie. If UCLA lost one of these guys (Anderson is the most valuable of them all), they would not be depleted as quickly or struggle to find baskets.
Coach Alford knows how to get guys open and score; if they can defend, UCLA could be one of the hardest teams to play.
If a guy like Powell — a usual role player that comes up huge against tougher opponents — goes off for the Bruins more consistently, then good luck Pac-12 — because you’re going to need it.
John Lloyd is a Pac-12 Basketball writer for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @JohnHLloydIII
