"[P]assion, purpose, and desire"

by Nestor on Mar 9, 2007 6:18 AM PST in Basketball

The long time readers of BN know what we think of Andy Katz of ESPN. We have given him a lot of hell over time for his observations on college hoops (i.e. comparing Coach K’s accomplishments to those of Wooden). So it’s only fair that I give him his due for writing a really good report following last night’s debacle at Staples. Katz report on last night’s lapse includes some interesting observations from our coaching staff :

The Bruins' coaching staff wasn't pleased with the 14 turnovers -- seven by point guard Darren Collison. They also lamented UCLA's inability to get critical stops in both regulation and overtime. More than anything, though, the staff is convinced that all the postseason praise heaped on Collison and Arron Afflalo (Pac-10 Player of the Year, first team All-American) went to their heads. Afflalo shot just 1-for-7 from the field, 0-for-5 on 3s.

So, now that the Bruins have been "told how good they are," the staff is hoping reality will set in, since their next loss will be their last.

Howland was quick to point out that the Bruins haven't fallen too far, since they did win the league title just a week ago. Still, there needs to be a quick change of attitude, beginning in practice and with their preparation, according to the head coach.

"We are a team that has to play at its peak performance to have a chance to win against anybody, whether it's Sam Houston State or Kentucky," Howland said. "Anybody can beat us on a given day, and we can beat anybody. This just proves there is so much parity in college basketball."

I think lost amidst the season ending run of last season and this year’s regular season is how the Bruins have been consistently winning not based on their sheer talent, but based on their passion, desire, and intensity in which they out-willed their opponents in every game. It’s clear lot of our opponents have adjusted their mindset while taking on our guys, and I think it us up to our guys to readjust and refocus and find that peak intensity level they were able to sustain up until the Florida game. They have had that intensity for most of the season this year and specially displayed it against Washington State at Pullman. But then they being human and 18-20 year old kids they are turned it off. They need to find "it" back. More Katz:

A No. 1 or No. 2 seed won't matter if the Bruins don't stop feeling sorry for themselves; instead, they must play with passion, purpose and desire, like they did just one week ago in Pullman.

Let’s hope AA, DC and rest of their team-mates can rediscover their "passion, purpose and desire" by the end of next week. Otherwise we are going to be done with the Big Dance real soon.

GO BRUINS.

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I just posted a quote from this...

...and other pieces from CBS and other emdia reports/ analyses in the Diaries. And I actually figured out the codes from (presumably) your edits. (Thanks yet again, BTW).

Anyway, can you hook me up with another front page slot? Not trying to be greedy, but I think people will want to see some positive spin.

MIM

by Meriones on Mar 9, 2007 8:42 AM PST reply actions

You got it

I will bump it up during lunch time. Keep at it MIM!

by Nestor on Mar 9, 2007 8:44 AM PST up reply actions

Bruin intensity

I agree with the comments about UCLA knowing how good they are based on recognition awards presented this week. I thought early in the season as they swept thru the Maui tournament, "Are they peaking too early?". I know they say they can improve and BH has done a masterful job of keeping them focused. And also in the PAC-10, the other teams have all improved since last year. Look at the generally better defense played across the board, except for "the standard", and that will change when Lute leaves.
In the NCAA tournament, those teams will not have the intra-league familiarity with UCLA. But it will be up to BH and his staff to get the team focused on one game at a time starting next week. This is the time of year when we need a Kevin Love (Bill Walton, Lou Alcindor), so when the focus is missing, you can go inside and get you extra 10 points a game......Good luck to the Bruins and let's all remember what a blessing it is to have a winner in at least one revenue leading sport.
Bill

BillSouthBay

by Mensgym on Mar 9, 2007 9:18 AM PST reply actions

We're No. 1

Regardless of how depressing yesterday's game was, most of the wires still have us as a Number 1 seed. However, even if we're a 2, DG is on the selction committee and we'd like be in the sam boat as last year where we're the best #2 and play the worst #1 . . . we'll stay in CA for the first four rounds. If we are a #1, we may be the worst #1 and would play the best #2 (which is the same exact scenario). Although it hurts, the only real "disaster" is that we've dropped a great shot at the overall #1 seed, which would stack us against the worst #2 seed.

by charnaw on Mar 9, 2007 9:52 AM PST reply actions

Seed Shmeed....

I think we need to table the #1/#2 seed discussion for now. As Howland said, this should be the last thing on our minds right now. Not only is this out of our control after last nights bad loss, but if we keep playing like we have the last 2 games, we could lose to ANYONE, regardless of our seed, or where we're playing. We need to think about one thing, and one thing only, getting our own team back on track. Sure, we're not playing any more this week, but I guarantee you this...next week's practices will be the most intense of Ben Howland's 4 years at UCLA.

by norcalbruin95 on Mar 9, 2007 10:29 AM PST up reply actions

Hey Norcal - were you reading over my shoulder?

I just posted almost the exact same thing elsewhere. (You are obviously a very brilliant person.)

by Fox 71 on Mar 9, 2007 11:53 AM PST up reply actions

UCLA 07 reminds me of.

Of recent teams with NCAA tournament successes, this UCLA team reminds me of the 2005 Illinois team (#1 parts of the season, final game finish), the 2004 St. Joseph's teams (#1 parts of the season, elite 8 finish), and most of all, Maryland 2002 (Champs)

All these teams had stud All-American guards, complimentary bigs. And in St. Joe's and Maryland's, unquestioned leaders whose work ethic and determination and heart took them far.

Maryland went to the Final Four in 2001, but let a big lead collapse against archnemesis Duke the eventul champs led by Battier and Willams. The next year that team came back and won it all.
They had some regular season losses where fans questioned how they'd do in the tournament. They had a second-round loss to NC State in the ACC tournament, and again, questions arose about how they'd do in the tournament.

In the tournament the Terps beat: Wisconisn w/ Devin Harris; Kentucky w/ Tayshaun Prince; UConn w/ Caron Butler, Emeka Okafor and Ben Gordon;
KU w/ Kirk Heinrich, Nick Collison and Drew Gooden.

AA reminds many here of Ed.
AA also reminds me of Juan Dixon, a guy who just wanted it more than anyone else and didn't fear anyone else on the court. The team fed off that.

We may not win it all, or get to the F4, but with Coach Howland and Arron leading, we have a group of guys who are going to be fighting and scraping to reach the goal. There are a lot of scary teams this year -- and not just in the top 10... But I think we're going to be extremely proud of their tourmanemnt performance, no matter the result.

by ursa on Mar 9, 2007 2:50 PM PST reply actions

I think Ursa summed up my feelings exactly

You want the team to win it all. You know intellectually that the team has the wherwithal to win it all. You know we have a coach who is not going to be out-coached. We have a team who is not going to be out-fought or out-"hearted". We might not win it all, and we don't, there will be abject disappointment.

But it's not the same as with certain other sports. If we don't win it all in Bball, it won't generate the same feelings of frustration and bitterness that needs no further description. The Bball team may not win the whole thing, but it will not be for the same reasons that the a certain other major revenue producing sport didn't win. No cliches are necessary in Bball.

I'm proud of everyone associated with the Bball program, no matter what happens from here forward. I'm proud to be a Bruin. I wear my hand-made Bruin hat (none available back here, so I went to some sports hat store in the local mall, got two of the wrong color (one NC Blue, one Navy blue -- there were no Bruin blue ones) and had a gold UCLA sewn on - cost an enormous amount.) Anyway, I wear one of the two everywhere back here in Gator country. [The feeling here is that the Gators are one and done, by the way.]

It's great to be a Bruin. I truly haven't felt this way since Coach Wooden departed. (I sort of still don't think 95 actually happened.)

GO BRUINS.

by Fox 71 on Mar 9, 2007 7:05 PM PST up reply actions