From the diaries. GO BRUINS. -N

All is right in the universe as UCLA legend Bill Walton would say:  the ESPN/USA Today coaches poll is out and our Bruins are ranked #1.  And that is without DC and Roll playing.  Nice job coach and team!!

We squeaked by North Carolina in the poll after getting an additional 2 first place votes this week over last week.  Obviously, we all know this doesn't matter at all.  Coach Howland will have our guys ready to play each game they play this season with an eye toward preparing for the tourney.  Year in year out we can expect the same.

This year, I think that our biggest threat is a whistle-happy referee, at the wrong time, and of course injuries.   We have gotten through injuries before, all last year, and come out the better for it. I expect the same this year.  Russell Westbrook is getting valuable minutes at the point, just like two years ago with DC when Jordan Farmar went down. Westbrook still makes mistakes but he is gaining incredible confidence on the defensive end.  

But referees are more of a wild card. If opposing coaches start publicly campaigning against our suffocating defense that could have an effect.  Im not saying it will happen, but it's a risk.  I wouldn't mind losing the #1 ranking at any point up to the tourney to keep attention away from the team, but I love it just the same. In the end, we are lucky bastards ... and will be for the next 20 years. Go Bruins!!!