Cavs Draft Viewing Guide: 2 rivalry games on SAT with 2 impressive PGs

Why You Should Watch (12) UCLA at (21) USC

What: UCLA (17-4) at USC (20-4)

When: Saturday, Feb. 12 | Time: 10:00 PM EST

Where: Galen Center — Los Angeles, CA

Coverage: WatchESPN

The past five years it seems like the West Coast has been forgotten in the world of college sports. With that being said, they’ve made a major comeback this season. USC football hired Lincoln Riley away from Oklahoma, and he’ll look to load up on Southern California talent to get USC back in the mix with schools like Georgia, Alabama, and Ohio State. However, the West Coast college basketball renaissance the past two years has been beautiful. Thus we are presented this rivalry game on Saturday night.

UCLA, who just had a tough loss to Arizona this week, will travel to take on USC and Isaiah Mobley. While I’m sure many of you will be interested in seeing what Evan Mobley, his brother, is capable of, keep your eyes out for Bruins point guard Tyger Campbell. He’s a small, 5-foot-11 fiery guard, who plays above average defense, and can facilitate an offense.

After leading UCLA to a Final Four run last year with teammate Johnny Juzang, who you also might want to keep an eye on, they are back in the hunt again this season. Campbell averages just over 11 points per game, while also dishing out nearly five assists per night.

He’s not gonna blow your socks off when you watch him, but there’s a sense of calmness, mixed with tenacity, that makes him a very interesting guard. I have my doubts about his size, and ability to translate his skills to a bigger, faster league, but he’s someone to take a flier on come this offseason.

Juzang on the other hand will absolutely be drafted, and may even fall to the Cavs with their early second-round pick. He’s a great defender and 6-foot-7 wing, but he’s limited offensively. To me, he would be a great defender, and potentially capable scorer at the NBA level. He still has work to do, though.

So after another ugly game on Friday night, the Cavaliers still left Indiana with a win over the Pacers. They now head into a a tough two-game away stretch that starts in Philadelphia. The 76ers have acquired James Harden, but he will not make his first appearance for the club likely until Tuesday. However, it will be a big test for big men Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley versus Joel Embiid.

After taking on the Sixers tonight, they travel to Atlanta to take on Trae Young and the Hawks. I won’t say the Cavs can’t afford to go 0-2 right before the All-Star break, but they have to win at least one of these games to keep the momentum going.