The basketball polls get it right

by antipimp on Dec 4, 2006 5:43 PM PST

From the Diaries. GO BRUINS. -N

The poll results are in, and as expected, UCLA is now ranked number one in both basketball polls!

More exciting to me than the poll results, which are only what was obviously deserved, is this quote from the Los Angeles Times:

There was no chance, Howland said, that the Bruins would take any team lightly this season. Even though UCLA looked flat while leading UC Riverside only 26-16 at halftime, the coach said it isn't about the opposition but about the goals.

"Our guys want to win every game this year," he said. "They understand what's at stake. We have a chance to be No. 1 in both polls this week. That's great for our program."

...

Junior guard Arron Afflalo said it is realistic to consider having an undefeated season.

"I do feel, when you look at our schedule, that every game is winnable," Afflalo said. "So that's definitely something we can consider."

It's definitely been a good 48 hours for Bruins fans. And while I don't expect it to happen, I'm glad to see that the basketball team seems to be striving for perfection.

With the team we have this year, and the recruiting class we have for next year, it feels like this will be a special time for Bruins basketball for quite some time to come.

GO BRUINS!

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of BruinsNation's (BN) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of BN's editors.

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Although I've been living it up with the WIN

I'm glad that we are starting to get back to business again! Let's get a nice, big, cheering crowd for the game tomorrow, and we can get a fast start from the gate.

by stevenucla on Dec 4, 2006 6:01 PM PST reply actions

Don't get too confident.

I love Afflalo, but he needs to just focus on winning the conference and a national title for now. "It doesn't mean a thing without the ring" is a popular saying. You don't get banners for winning streaks. You get banners for NCAA championships. We're bound to lose a couple in the regular season, but the most important games are in March.

The ranking hype is great for recruiting and for national exposure, but it does not help our team win basketball games. If anything, it puts a target on the team's back and it adds pressure to every game. This team must fight through that and the Bruins must continue to play hard to achieve their goals. Play the way you know you can and things should take care of themselves.

by Bruin Roar on Dec 4, 2006 6:06 PM PST reply actions

Context a key?

Normally I'd agree with you, but the reason this didn't worry me was because of the way it followed a Howland quote saying that we wouldn't overlook any teams. I took this as Arron saying that the team needs to be "up" every night and always play to their potential, not that he was saying that the team could coast through anything.

Of course, being undefeated in the months of March and April would be more important than winning the games before then.

by antipimp on Dec 4, 2006 7:06 PM PST up reply actions

Seriously

I was at the UCR game and Pauley still isn't filling up. The student section in the 300's was absolutely empty!! Where the hell are the students? And why the hell aren't the alumni coming to support the number 1 team in the land?

by BruinFanatic1988 on Dec 4, 2006 7:44 PM PST reply actions

I'm the most critical of my fellow students here

but I'm going to have to give them a pass on this one given what took place the day before.

If the same thing happens tomorrow night, then we can talk.

by Tydides on Dec 4, 2006 8:11 PM PST up reply actions

students

10th week. Get back to us after winter break.

by ranelar on Dec 4, 2006 8:22 PM PST up reply actions

Level of the competition

I was there when I was a student, but I know that now I'm more careful about the games I'm going to choose to attend. I went to the Long Beach State game (it wasn't going to be televised) but other than that, I understand a little why students aren't excited about going to the games with these teams that are not possibly going to beat us.

by antipimp on Dec 4, 2006 8:48 PM PST up reply actions

Even in '95...

The student section didn't start filling up until January. Once conference play starts, you'll see a full house.

by insomniacslounge on Dec 4, 2006 11:34 PM PST up reply actions

just a thought

The makeup of the current student population is not one that lends itself to be supportive of its athletic program, imo...

by jose007 on Dec 4, 2006 8:50 PM PST reply actions

Loaded statement

you might want to back off on that.

by Tydides on Dec 4, 2006 9:26 PM PST up reply actions

In the words of Clancy Wiggum...

Lay off the Asians, Lou...

BBall has been down awhile. We're back, but just expecting Pauley to just explode overnight is not realistic. It'll take time

Renovating the arena would also help {I'm looking at YOU, board of trustees and Athletic Dept).

Go Bruins...F@#$% Southern Cal... UCLA Fight Fight Fight!

by HomeBruin @ Bruins Nation on Dec 4, 2006 9:06 PM PST reply actions

The Den

I'm Asian and I have Den Season tickets, so I wouldn't jump to conclusions. I know of many others that support our programs as well.

by Yoyo on Dec 4, 2006 9:53 PM PST reply actions

Maybe he was referring to Persians

I kid.

Go Bruins...F@#$% Southern Cal... UCLA Fight Fight Fight!

by HomeBruin @ Bruins Nation on Dec 4, 2006 10:02 PM PST up reply actions

One of the most dedicated

UCLA b-ball fans that I knew while on campus was my asian (japanese) roommate senior year.

by bruinhoo on Dec 4, 2006 10:09 PM PST up reply actions

lots of excuses

There are so many excuses for students not to come (not all valid of course).

For one, the seats seem so far from the court compared to other stadiums.

For two, it is close to finals and we all know how studious UCLA students are. I can't blame them for having such priorities, but I can blame them for such poor time management that they can't take a two-hour break!

Finally, I put most of the blame on the athletic department itself for doing a poor job with promotion.

I don't think the makeup of the students has anything to do with it. Just go to the Wooden Center and watch some kids play hoops, it's like the UN out there.

by tasser10 on Dec 5, 2006 7:39 AM PST up reply actions