Rounding Into Form: Demolition Night @ Pauley

by Nestor on Dec 15, 2007 7:02 PM PST in Basketball

Congratulations to Coach Howland on his 100th win at UCLA. Here is to a few more hundred of those in the House that Coach Wooden built.

Bruins obliterate the Idaho State Bengals in a 40 point demolition. Here is the box score. Kevin Love started slow but finished with 17 points and 8 boards and, as usual, made his presence felt around the paint:

Photo Credit: Chris Carlson/AP (via ESPN)

We talked this week about DC and Roll rounding into form. They didn't disappoint tonight. DC had his first explosive game of the season with 20 points (and 6 rebounds). Roll finally gets it going with 3 smooth bombs and all around great play. Kevin, DC, and Roll weren't the only one with a great night. Everyone had a solid game today in a 40 point blowout win.

If the Bruins can stay in this form and get in rhythm as a team, it will put us in good shape heading into the conference season.

Lastly, here is a toast to Matt Lee, living the dream of hooping it up as a Ben Ball warrior. That buzzer beater was a beauty.

Thread it up in our Ben Ball post game thread.

GO BRUINS.

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Just got back

MVP = Matt Lee

by Tydides on Dec 15, 2007 7:10 PM PST reply actions

Hahahaaha

For sure! What a shot.

Prediction: UCLA wins conference 14-4.

by Howland on Dec 15, 2007 7:15 PM PST up reply actions

i scared the fiance

he was working on his last final, and i screamed "YESSSSSSSSS" and he screamed back "WHAT?! you scared me!"

"MATT LEE!!"
"who?!"
"he's one of those guys that NEVER plays and he just made one from half court as the buzzer sounded!"

so to all those who leave games early.. you missed a great shot.

by freesia39 on Dec 15, 2007 7:28 PM PST reply actions

Good for him

He was where he was supposed to be, doing what he had been coached to do, and succeeded. Good coaches make it possible for good players to do well in those situations.

Sure, there was probably an element of luck (I didn't see it - we had some bass fishing extravaganzo), but the fact is that he still succeeded. It wasn't all luck.

So good for him.

by Fox 71 on Dec 15, 2007 7:52 PM PST up reply actions

Divine Bruin intervention

as the Bruin Nation (and donny mac asking for the matt lee show at the end of the game) helped to will that ball in.

the shot he attempted earlier went in and out.

the great part was the entire bench loving that shot. ahh team mentality.

by freesia39 on Dec 15, 2007 8:20 PM PST up reply actions

Team Mentality

That is the part I liked the best. Starters and bench warmers all giving Matt Lee props after hitting that shot starting from the bench all the way to the locker room he was surrounded by his teammates and just soaking in the adulation. These are GOOD GUYS we have here.

by bruin8uclap on Dec 15, 2007 9:54 PM PST up reply actions

He went to half court to celebrate

with the students and he couldn't take three steps back to the bench before the rest of the team mobbed him.

BTW did anyone else notice the beautiful LED displays on the scorers table? They also put them up over the lower level tunnels with fancy graphics and everything throughout the game. It makes me wonder what the new Pauley will look like.

by Tydides on Dec 15, 2007 10:01 PM PST up reply actions

The actual shot involved some luck

but they way he dribbled around two defenders to get open for the shot was definitely skill.

by UCngLA on Dec 15, 2007 10:30 PM PST up reply actions

Not the first to 100

but Howland's first 100.

He was 79-59 at NAU and 89-40 at Pitt. Small school -> big school -> UCLA.

And we're looking at assistants to fill our HC vacancy? You must be joking.

by Tydides on Dec 15, 2007 9:29 PM PST reply actions

My Trip to Mecca

Great to be home and to go to a game with my law school bud. Some observations:

At the beginning of the game, the yell leaders led an 8 clap at almost the right cadence -- slow, like it is supposed to be.
Great to see Mata-Real and K Love warming up together. Looks like they really like and enjoy each other. Obviously each is making the other a better player.
This is a team that clearly likes each other. No one will deliberately break a 'mates jaw. And, a very unselfish team.
Love is amazingly patient. He's almost like Shaq was in college -- constantly pounded on and unprotected by the ref's.
There is something very special about friendships made in a seating section. I used to see these people twice a week for games during the season. Coming "home" to my section was very special. It's great to be around my Bruin family.

sjh

by Class of 66 on Dec 15, 2007 10:39 PM PST reply actions

Bleacher friends

A couple of my best friends are guys I met sitting in the bleachers at Pauley. I was an usher at the wedding of one of them.

Bob O. (Signholder #3)

by TuneMan7 on Dec 17, 2007 7:17 AM PST up reply actions

What a shot

Someone needs to get a video of Matt Lee's shot and the celebration following. I was disappointed when it wasn't featured in the Top 10 Plays on Sportscenter (they even had a similar buzzer beater), and even more disappointed that it wasn't even in the highlights of the game.

by lolwtferic on Dec 16, 2007 3:56 AM PST reply actions