Arjun absolutely loves the feeling of dunking—it's like a rush of youth, something he never had the body for in his past life.
Just under two minutes into the game, Arjun has already racked up 9 points.
The gap in skill between the two teams is so obvious, you could almost call the game now.
But Oregon University still shows some grit.
After a series of quick passes, their shooting guard Jack nails a long two-pointer from the baseline.
The score's 9-4.
"Oregon's problem isn't their offense, it's their defense," Jeff Van Gundy comments.
No sooner has Van Gundy spoken than Arjun is already pushing fast to the frontcourt.
Despite having 35 seconds on the NCAA shot clock, Arjun isn't interested in running down the time. He waves his hands, signaling for space,he's going on the offensive.
Brooks is trying hard to guard Arjun.
But with just a quick dip and a sprint to the right, Arjun blows past him.
No fancy dribbling or changes in direction needed,with just a slight positional advantage and his explosive power, Brooks can't keep up with Arjun.
Brooks feels like he's been made a fool of by Arjun, who seems to be the more agile guard.
Brooks isn't slow, but he just can't match Arjun's rhythm.
And Oregon's interior defense isn't any better.
Their big center becomes just another part of the background as Arjun opts not to dunk over him this time.
Instead, he uses a high toss combined with a Euro step, sweeping the ball over the 7-foot Oregon center's head, and slams it down with one hand!
11-4.
"Arjun is fully showcasing his impact, breaking through Oregon's defense like it's nothing," the commentator says.
"Five possessions, five dunks. Arjun has top-tier physical talent and scoring ability."
Jeff Van Gundy, Mike Breen, and the UCLA fans are all thrilled by the spectacle Arjun is creating.
Who would have thought that this ordinary season opener would reveal a rising superstar?
Talented people just need the right stage to shine, and right now, Arjun is dazzling!
In the first half of the game, Arjun continuously assaults Oregon's defense, single-handedly turning their line inside out.
With 8 minutes and 11 seconds left in the first half, Oregon's coach Richardson calls for yet another timeout—his fourth.
He's visibly anxious about how the game is unfolding.
Meanwhile, UCLA's coach Howland is relaxed, casually chatting with his assistant coaches.
"What kind of defense are you playing?" Richardson yells at his players.
"Can we get some intensity here?"
"Get physical, don't shy away like cowards. That rookie isn't as scary as you think."
"Arron, it's okay if you can't make your shots, but can you at least hold him off for one possession?"
Richardson is dissatisfied with the whole team, especially Brooks, who's been completely outplayed by Arjun on both ends of the court.
Especially on defense, Brooks might as well be made of paper,Arjun just tears through him!
If the first line of defense can't hold, how can they stop Arjun once he gets going?
Everyone who plays knows, once some players start speeding, they're hard to stop. The best defense is to limit their first step.
If you can't control that first step, you're in big trouble.
"It's like pulling one hair and moving the whole body."
"He's really strong, and then he's fast too," Brooks says, wiping sweat from his forehead.
Honestly, Brooks is giving it his all, but Arjun's physique and speed are just freakish.
Richardson stops yelling.
He knows, and it's hard to blame Brooks.
Brooks is trying hard.
But sometimes, effort just isn't enough.
Arjun, though he's a point guard, keeps charging in for these insane dunks. His physicality is just off the charts.
He hasn't even needed to shoot because he can dominate the game without it.
After the timeout, Oregon University didn't manage to turn the tide.
Arjun stopped going for those explosive dunks every chance he got and started focusing on controlling the pace and setting up plays for his team.
The UCLA players were all in good form today, each contributing on the court.
Arjun racked up assists quickly.
By halftime, the score was 50-25.
UCLA was leading by a whopping 25 points.
NCAA games are split into two halves, each 20 minutes long.
With each possession lasting up to 35 seconds, which is less than the NBA, scoring 50 or 60 points in a game is pretty standard. But UCLA scoring 50 in just the first half? That's what many teams aim for in an entire game.
Last season, UCLA averaged 62 points per game, so this game clearly shows they've stepped up their offense from last season.
"There's no surprise in this game anymore. Arjun dominated the first half, showing his ability to suppress Arron Brooks and break through Oregon's defense," Jeff Van Gundy said.
"Absolutely, Arjun's talent is incredible, and his skills are solid, especially his impact at the basket, probably one of the best among NCAA point guards," Mike Breen added.
"This is a player that all NBA scouts should keep an eye on moving forward," Jeff Van Gundy remarked.
The commentators didn't even need to look at the stats to see who the standout star on the court was.
UCLA's Afflalo also played well, but he didn't dominate like Arjun.
The second half of the game didn't hold many surprises.
Coach Howland kept making strategic moves, bringing in Westbrook and some other key players for rotation.
Arjun, the hero of the hour, ended up sitting out and watching the game from the bench.
It was like clocking out early for him.
In the end, the game finished at
80-52.
UCLA won by 28 points at home against Oregon University, taking a smooth victory in the 06-07 PAC-12 season opener.
Arjun played 23 minutes, scoring 25 points with 6 assists, 7 rebounds, 4 steals, 2 blocks, and 3 turnovers.
After the game, Oregon's coach Richardson praised Arjun: "He's a phenomenal player. It's hard to believe this was his first NCAA game. His talent makes me envious. At 6 feet 8 inches tall with a 7-foot-3 wingspan, he's going to be a nightmare for any point guard."
Getting praise from the opposing coach after just one game speaks volumes about how successful Arjun's debut was.
Coach Howland said, "I knew Arjun had this in him,he's just translating what he does in practice to the game, which is why I started him. And I'm not afraid to say, this game didn't even showcase all his abilities. He's going to surprise everyone."
Coach Howland clearly understands Arjun's talent and capabilities.
Arjun's contribution, both offensively and defensively, has been phenomenal for UCLA.