UCLA Faces Tall Task in Slowing Down Washington's Hannes Steinbach in Crucial Big Ten Clash
The stakes are rising fast in the Big Ten, and tonight at Pauley Pavilion, UCLA finds itself in a must-win situation against a Washington squad that may be under .500 in conference play-but is anything but an easy out. That’s because the Huskies have a game-changer in the frontcourt: freshman sensation Hannes Steinbach.
Let’s be clear-Steinbach isn’t just one of the best freshmen in the country. He’s one of the most dominant players in college basketball this season, period.
The 6’10” forward from Germany has been a walking double-double, averaging 17.7 points and 11.5 rebounds per game. And he’s coming into this one riding a streak of five straight double-doubles, with a sixth very much in reach.
If you need a reminder of just how much of a problem Steinbach can be, rewind to the last time these two teams met. UCLA barely escaped Seattle with an 82-80 win, and that was with Skyy Clark putting together a breakout performance.
Steinbach, meanwhile, nearly dragged Washington to victory on his own. He dropped 29 points on an absurd 11-of-12 shooting and grabbed 10 boards, dominating every matchup the Bruins threw at him.
That’s the challenge UCLA faces tonight. The Bruins don’t have a true answer for Steinbach one-on-one.
So expect to see plenty of help defense, double-teams, and rotations designed to force the ball out of his hands. The question is: can they execute that game plan without leaving Washington’s talented backcourt wide open?
Because it’s not just Steinbach. Zoom Diallo and Wesley Yates III can both fill it up from the perimeter, and if UCLA overcommits to the paint, those two are more than capable of making them pay. That balance is what makes Washington dangerous-even at 12-11 overall and 4-8 in the Big Ten.
For UCLA, now 16-7 and 8-4 in conference play, this game is more than just another date on the schedule. This is a pressure cooker.
A win keeps them on the right side of the NCAA Tournament bubble. A loss?
That could start a downward spiral, especially with a tough three-game road swing looming, starting in Michigan. What looks like a promising 17-7 record today could turn into 16-11 real quick if the Bruins don’t take care of business at home.
That puts the spotlight squarely on head coach Mick Cronin. He’ll need to have his most dialed-in game plan of the season-and his players will need to execute it to perfection.
The Bruins have shown real growth defensively in recent weeks, and tonight’s matchup is the perfect test of that progress. Can they contain one of the most efficient scorers in the country without giving up too much elsewhere?
Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. PT on FS1.
Expect a high-energy battle between a team fighting to stay in the tournament picture and a freshman phenom who’s already proven he can take over a game. If Steinbach gets rolling early, UCLA could be in for a long night.
But if the Bruins can weather the storm and keep him in check, they’ll take a big step toward solidifying their postseason hopes.
Buckle up-this one could get interesting.