Lauren Betts and UCLA look to tap talent to avenge | College News

SPOKANE, Wash. — Cori Close pulls up the year-old movie for clues. The UCLA coach searches clips of UCLA’s Sweet 16 loss to Louisiana State final 12 months for reminders of units to run, defensive sport plans that might work and errors to be rectified because the groups meet again within the Elite Eight on Sunday. But Close’s most blatant takeaway goes past UCLA’s own scouting report.

It’s that Lauren Betts isn’t simply good anymore. The 6-foot-7 middle has crossed over to dominant.

Coming off 31 factors and 10 rebounds in a Sweet 16 win over Mississippi, Betts’ development from budding star to unstoppable power has pushed UCLA to the brink of its first NCAA Final Four. Perhaps the national semifinal isn’t even a high enough ceiling to include UCLA’s first Associated Press first-team All-American.

“UCLA looks like a team that can win the national championship to me,” Mississippi coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin stated, “because I don’t — like, who is going to stop her?”

LSU will get the subsequent attempt. The No. 3-seeded Tigers face UCLA within the Spokane Regional 1 ultimate Sunday at midday .

The rematch of final 12 months’s Sweet 16 will happen one 12 months precisely because the 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 typically recalled the empty feeling in final 12 months’s locker room as motivation to improve this season. The sight of UCLA and LSU in the identical area despatched a murmur by means of the group at UCLA’s choice show watch social gathering.

Yet when requested Saturday of final 12 months’s sport, LSU coach Kim Mulkey recalled only a few particulars. Only that LSU received.

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 higher staff now than final season. But the Tigers (31-5) have improved of their own methods.

While they misplaced star Angel Reese, who had 16 factors and 11 rebounds in opposition to the Bruins, forwards Aneesah Morrow and Sa’Myah Smith shaped their 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 virtually 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 Sweet 16 win over North Carolina State and might be a key defender in opposition to Betts, whose own enchancment has impressed Mulkey.

“Her height is really an advantage, but it’s also her skill level,” Mulkey stated of Betts. “She’s learning how to really post you deep, and that just comes with experience and age and just probably them working with her every 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 record 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 new stage. In the final six video games, Betts is averaging 22 factors and 9 rebounds whereas taking pictures 79.7% from the sphere.

“I’ve just completely changed my mindset going forward,” Betts stated of her shift after a loss to USC. “I think just being aggressive no matter what and doing whatever I need to do to help my team and continuing to be positive regardless of what happens.”

Betts has gotten stronger after she was voted to the All-Pac-12 staff final 12 months, UCLA affiliate head coach Shannon LeBeauf stated, and the junior is tapping into her athleticism more this season. She works on daily basis with coaches after follow on sealing defenders deeper within the post.

But a lot of Betts’ enchancment stems from off-the-court work.

Privately, she has labored on her mindset to be more affected person with herself, teammate and graduate scholar Angela Dugalic stated. Once she stopped criticizing herself for each missed shot or tiny mistake, Betts’ true expertise have shined.

“She has things you can’t teach,” LeBeauf stated. “Her timing, her hands, her coordination stuff, you cannot teach. Her being able to access all of that has to do with her confidence.”

LeBeauf calls the middle her “favorite unicorn.” Betts is taking part in her best basketball ever, UCLA’s long-time assistant estimated, nevertheless it’s not close to her full potential.

“We’re going to get her shooting that three,” LeBeauf stated.