Just back from UCR game

First the good news: the point/foul/timeout tracker boards finally work again.  Even then, it only started working 10 minutes into the game.

OK, now to the dirty biz:

1. Slow starts: This is the second game now where we just looked absolutely out-of-sync for the first half.  Actually, we were even out-of-sync for the first few minutes of the second half as well.  These slow starts are going to catch up to us if we don't fix this quickly (namely, this upcoming Saturday).
2. FT shooting: better, but definitely needs improvement
3. Zone-D penetration: The ugly zone-D issues are back again.  We did penetrate a few times, but when we definitely gave up several ugly turnovers trying to pass on the perimeter.  Considering our size and strength advantage, we could have been bullying our way to the basket more often.
4. Fan support: OK, I know this was the game after the GAME, but still, when I checked after asking a prof sitting next to me, this is only the week before dead week, yet the Den had at least 100 or so seats empty.  Come on, these are your #1 UCLA Bruins!

I'll end this on some positive notes.  It was awesome to see our FB seniors during half-time (though McNeal was strangely absent, considering he probably would have gotten the biggest cheers).  Our athleticism looked great, some insane moves by AA, Shipp, Luc, shoot even DC dunked near the end (I didn't even think he could do that). Mata is back. Definitely. Monster tough, getting his touch back. Lots of good vibes at the game, especially coming off yesterday's win.  Um, I'm sure I'm missing quite a bit, but honestly, I spent quite a bit of time talking with my seatmates about yesterday. Update [2006-12-3 21:13:36 by stevenucla]: Oh yeah, we're defintely going to be unanimous #1 tomorrow. That's DEFINITELY positive!