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College Basketball Power 10: Watch Out For Baylor Bears

By Jeremy Karll

Dec 3, 2016; Waco, TX, USA; Baylor Bears huddle together during the second half while playing against Xavier Musketeers at Ferrell Center. Mandatory Credit: Sean Pokorny-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 3, 2016; Waco, TX, USA; Baylor Bears huddle together during the second half while playing against Xavier Musketeers at Ferrell Center. Mandatory Credit: Sean Pokorny-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports /

3. UCLA (9-0)

No one believed in the Bruins against Kentucky. Their sub-par defense emerged in one of the highest scoring games college basketball will have this season. Nonetheless, UCLA came out on top 97-92 by forcing Kentucky to play their brand of basketball.

UCLA’s defense will have questions all year. They’re not going to magically fix their 240th ranked scoring defense by the end of the season. UCLA wants to outscore their opponents to win, and so far they’ve done it in all nine games.

It starts with star point guard Lonzo Ball, however the Bruins go way deeper than just Ball. Fellow freshman T.J. Leaf was named the Pac-12 Player of the Week and National Player of the Week for his 17 points, 13 assists and five assists against Kentucky on Saturday.

Must Read: Lonzo Ball Making UCLA Relevant, Again

Yet Leaf’s 17.2 points per game only ranks second behind Isaac Hamilton and his 9.4 rebounds per game ranks second behind Thomas Welsh on his own team. UCLA is undoubtedly one of the deepest and most talented teams in the nation.

Their roster of freshmen and upperclassmen is the mix you need to compete for a national championship.

It took a win over top-ranked Kentucky for people to believe in the UCLA hype, but the Bruins have looked this impressive all season. Being ranked second in this week’s AP Poll is a testament to how impressive they looked against Kentucky and the whole season.

UCLA has a legitimate argument for being considered the top team in the nation. Everything has clicked for them so far and they force teams to play their up-tempo, offensive-minded brand of basketball.

UCLA will host the Michigan Wolverines this week.