pulls up the year-old movie for clues. The coach searches clips of UCLA’s Candy 16 final 12 months for reminders of units to run, defensive sport plans that might work and errors to be rectified because the groups meet once more within the Elite Eight on Sunday. However Shut’s most evident takeaway goes past UCLA’s personal scouting report.
It’s that isn’t simply good anymore. The 6-foot-7 heart has crossed over to dominant.
Coming off 31 factors and 10 rebounds in a Candy 16 , Betts’ development from budding star to unstoppable power has pushed UCLA to the brink of its first NCAA Last 4. Maybe the nationwide semifinal isn’t even a excessive sufficient ceiling to include UCLA’s first Related Press first-team All-American.
“UCLA seems like a workforce that may win the nationwide championship to me,” Mississippi coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin mentioned, “as a result of I don’t — like, who’s going to cease her?”
LSU will get the subsequent attempt. The No. 3-seeded Tigers face UCLA within the Spokane Regional 1 closing Sunday at midday .
The rematch of final 12 months’s Candy 16 will happen one 12 months precisely for the reason that Tigers knocked the Bruins out in Albany, N.Y. Betts had 14 factors and 17 rebounds within the sport, however UCLA wilted down the stretch. After taking a three-point lead with 2:51 remaining, the Bruins have been outscored 14-2.
The Bruins usually recalled the empty feeling in final 12 months’s locker room as motivation to enhance this season. The sight of UCLA and LSU in the identical area despatched a murmur via the group at UCLA’s choice present watch celebration.
But when requested Saturday of final 12 months’s sport, LSU coach Kim Mulkey recalled only a few particulars. Solely that LSU gained.
Guard Flau’jae Johnson, who had a team-high 24 factors and 12 rebounds in final 12 months’s sport, estimates UCLA (33-2) is a greater workforce now than final season. However the Tigers (31-5) have improved in their very own methods.
Whereas they misplaced star Angel Reese, who had 16 factors and 11 rebounds in opposition to the Bruins, forwards Aneesah Morrow and Sa’Myah Smith fashioned their very own dynamic frontcourt duo. They turned the one teammates in NCAA match historical past with 20-point double-doubles and 5 assists every in LSU’s second-round win over Florida State.
Smith, who missed nearly all of final season after tearing a knee ligament, has back-to-back 20-point double-doubles. She had 21 factors and 11 rebounds in LSU’s Candy 16 win over North Carolina State and might be a key defender in opposition to Betts, whose personal enchancment has impressed Mulkey.
“Her peak is basically a bonus, nevertheless it’s additionally her talent degree,” Mulkey mentioned of Betts. “She’s studying the way to actually put up you deep, and that simply comes with expertise and age and simply most likely them working along with her day-after-day.”
Betts, who had 30 factors and 14 rebounds in a second-round win of the NCAA match, turned the third participant within the final 25 years with a number of 30-point, 10-rebound video games within the NCAA match. The unique listing contains Brittney Griner and Elena Delle Donne.
After USC bottled up Betts for a irritating 11 factors on five-of-11 taking pictures in UCLA’s regular-season finale, the All-American has discovered a brand new degree. Within the final six video games, Betts is averaging 22 factors and 9 rebounds whereas taking pictures 79.7% from the sphere.
“I’ve simply utterly modified my mindset going ahead,” Betts mentioned of her shift after a loss to USC. “I believe simply being aggressive it doesn’t matter what and doing no matter I have to do to assist my workforce and persevering with to be constructive no matter what occurs.”
Betts has gotten stronger after she was voted to the All-Pac-12 workforce final 12 months, UCLA affiliate head coach Shannon LeBeauf mentioned, and the junior is tapping into her athleticism extra this season. She works day-after-day with coaches after apply on sealing defenders deeper within the put up.
However a lot of Betts’ enchancment stems from off-the-court work.
Privately, she has labored on her mindset to be extra affected person with herself, teammate and graduate pupil Angela Dugalic mentioned. As soon as she stopped criticizing herself for each missed shot or tiny mistake, Betts’ true abilities have shined.
“She has issues you’ll be able to’t train,” LeBeauf mentioned. “Her timing, her arms, her coordination stuff, you can’t train. Her with the ability to entry all of that has to do along with her confidence.”
LeBeauf calls the middle her “favourite unicorn.” Betts is enjoying her greatest basketball ever, UCLA’s long-time assistant estimated, nevertheless it’s not near her full potential.
“We’re going to get her taking pictures that three,” LeBeauf mentioned.
