UCLA vs. Oregon recap: 3 things we learned

Oregon knocked off UCLA, 89-87 on Wednesday night. Here’s a look at what we learned.

It took a herculean offensive effort, but behind a late 3-pointer from junior Dillon Brooks, Oregon upset no. 2 UCLA, 89-87 to open up their Pac-12 title defense.

This is what we learned from the Ducks’ big win.

1. Dillon Brooks is seemingly back at full strength

After missing Oregon’s first three games of the season while he recovered from a foot injury, Brooks finally appears to be rounding into form. The junior scored 23 points and grabbed nine rebounds in the Ducks’ win as he powered the Oregon offense for stretches and took on the task of defending UCLA’s Lonzo Ball for much of the contest.

Brooks’ ability to help facilitate — he had four assists on Wednesday — while also finding his own shot is important for an Oregon team that has had some trouble scoring efficiently this season. Against the Bruins, that’s a necessity. As ESPN analyst Bill Walton said during the broadcast, “UCLA just never stops scoring.” Any team that beats the Bruins this year is going to have to put plenty of points on the board and Brooks made sure Oregon walked away with just a couple more than them this time.

2. Oregon freshman Payton Pritchard is one to watch

The 2016 freshmen class is loaded with star talent. Washington’s Markelle Fultz, Kansas’ Josh Jackson and UCLA’s Lonzo Ball have already become household names. There are other newcomers, though, just as deserving of your attention.

Oregon’s Payton Pritchard was a four-star, top 100 recruit, but he’s not a one-and-done talent like those others guys. Still, the 6-foot-1 point guard has a vital role to play for the Ducks. Against UCLA, Pritchard scored 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the field, including a 3-pointer to get Oregon within one before Brooks’ knocked down the game winner.

The freshman may not have the chops to play in the NBA, but he has the look of a player who could terrorize the Pac-12 for many years to come.

3. Thomas Welsh’s mid-range game is an outdated thing of beauty

UCLA’s Thomas Welsh finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds in defeat, but it’s worth pointing out the important role the 7-footer plays in the Bruins’ offense. While most offenses focus on generating points from shots at the rim or from behind the 3-point arc, Welsh has made a name for himself as a mid-range shooter.

The junior came into tonight’s game having converted 53.1 percent of his 2-point jumpers this season, according to Hoop-Math. His ability to step out between 15 and 18 feet is valuable for two reasons. First, it helps spaces the floor for the Bruins’ offense, opening up driving lanes for Lonzo Ball to penetrate and locate open teammates. Second, Welsh gives Ball a safety valve on those drive-and-kick actions as well as in pick-and-pops along the perimeter.

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The mid-range game is a lost art, but sometimes it’s all that’s available and Welsh’s ability to knock those shots down is a valuable piece of UCLA’s offensive attack.