Gonzaga’s Byron Wesley has been a problem for UCLA

Byron Wesley, a senior guard for Gonzaga, gets a last crack at UCLA in the NCAA South Regional semifinals in Houston on Friday. He has had quite a career against the Bruins.

Wesley, one of the nation’s top players at Etiwanda High in 2010-11, started at USC. He transferred to Gonzaga as a graduate student last summer.

The Bruins have likely seen enough of him.

He averaged 14.4 points and 5.7 rebounds in seven games against UCLA while at USC. That included games of 27 and 21 points last season.

Wesley proved even more of a handful for the Bruins playing on a good team. He had 20 points, making seven of eight shots, and nine rebounds in Gonzaga’s 87-74 victory over UCLA in Pauley Pavilion this season.

The move to Gonzaga has been a good fit for Wesley, who has sacrificed scoring for winning. He averages 10.5 points, seven less than last season at USC.

“It’s just been amazing how seamless the adjustment has been,” Gonzaga Coach Mark Few said last week. “From day one those guys that were up here, the seniors welcomed him with open arms and they knew he could help us. But at the same time they knew it was going to diminish their shots, their minutes and parts of their roles. I think that what they have been able to do is a big part of the story and then what he’s been able to do.”

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