Looking to limit turnovers, No. 22 UCLA hosts Boston University

When No. 22-ranked UCLA returns home to Los Angeles on Monday to face Boston University, the Bruins will be focused on cutting down on turnovers.UCLA (1-1) gave up 21 points off 21 turnovers in a 72-64 loss to New Mexico on Friday in Henderson, Nev. The 21 turnovers were the most by a Mick Cronin-coached team since his first season at UCLA, 2019-20, when the Bruins had 22 turnovers vs. North Carolina.”I’m extremely disappointed in some of our guards,” Cronin said. “There are three things you’ve got to do: defend, rebound, and take care of the ball. We didn’t take care of the ball.”Maintaining possession has been a hallmark of Cronin’s UCLA teams. The Bruins averaged fewer than 11 turnovers per game in each of the previous four seasons. In 2021-22, UCLA averaged just 8.9 turnovers a contest.Rediscovering that identity promises to be a point of emphasis for a veteran, but still new-look Bruins lineup. Four of the five starters against New Mexico are transfers: Eric Dailey Jr., Skyy Clark, Kobe Johnson and Tyler Bilodeau.Meanwhile, the lone returning starter — Dylan Andrews — scored just four points while committing six turnovers on Friday.Andrews, Sebastian Mack and Lazar Stefanovic, three of UCLA’s top performers a season ago, combined for just eight points vs. New Mexico.”Dylan and Sebastian were throwing the ball away for layups,” Cronin said. “I told them, ‘Guys, we were better than that last year.'”

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