A Total Team Victory For Ben Ball Warriors

by Nestor on Jan 3, 2008 9:34 PM PST in Basketball Comment 36 comments

The win against Michigan State earlier this season in which we were without DC (and Roll) was a huge deal. However, tonight at Maples our Ben Ball warriors pulled out what I think may be the most meaningful win to date in the post AA era.

Right from the tip-off Stanford threw everything they had at the Bruins tonight. But it was Shipp, Love, DC and rest of our boys who played the roles of stone cold assassins, who went up to Palo Alto and put together a total team effort through offensive execution and the prototypical inside the jersey, lockdown Ben Ball defense.

The final score was 76-67. Here is the box score. Shipp led everyone with 21 points.

Photo Credit: AP Photo/Paul Sakuma (via ESPN)

Shipp's effort included 5 money bombs from behind the three point line, which came within flow of the game. But he wasn't the only hero. Love was steady inside with 13 points and 7 boards. More importantly it was the total team effort of Love, Luc, AA2, and Mata Real on the Lopez brothers and Stanford frontline, which left them huffing, puffing, and whining (the whole Lopez family) in Palo Alto.

This was a total team win. DC and Westbrook were outstanding in the second half too.

Enjoy it BN. We will have more tomorrow.

For now thread it up in yet another post game Ben Ball victory thread.

GO BRUINS.

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whole Lopez family whining

i thought the highlight of the game was watching the mom complain about Brook's 5th foul...when he clearly got all arm and never even touched the ball.

Seriously though, great win, especially how the rest of the conference showed today how tough road wins will be this year in the Pac.

by bruin11 on Jan 3, 2008 9:49 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Requesting screenshots or youtube video of this

As I don't have cable at home

by JWongUCLA on Jan 3, 2008 9:51 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

that was good for a laugh

Brook's mom: whaaaa??? hand to arm contact is a foul??? bullshit?!?!? whaaaaaaa!

It was a very solid win for the good guys tonight; hopefully they will follow up with another one on Saturday.

by bruinhoo on Jan 3, 2008 10:04 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I forgive her

Moms often don's see fouls by their sons. I give her a pass.

by Fox 71 on Jan 3, 2008 10:36 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

valid point

though according to DH's comment, Marques J doesn't have that excuse. I was also watching sans audio (in a bar w/the Orange Bowl on audio - thanks to Comcast not showing the game in the Bay Area), and have to say that I didn't miss a thing.

by bruinhoo on Jan 3, 2008 10:57 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Marcus Johnson on cable telecast said

that he agreed with Lopez' mom on that one. I think it was a foul.

by Dodger Hater on Jan 3, 2008 10:34 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Which is why you have the sound off

I didn't hear Marques say anything and hence was not influenced to see something that wasn't there or as in this case not to see something that absolutely was there. It was clearly and obviously a foul.

If you watch with the sound off, the game is really better. Try it.

by Fox 71 on Jan 3, 2008 10:40 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

FWIW...

He actually said given some of the physicality of the game today and what the refs have let slide, he was they shouldn't have called it. Basically saying it was inconsistent.

by kidro2001 on Jan 3, 2008 10:51 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

The difference to me was that

this was a shot that was kept from having a chance to go in because of the foul. The refs weren't calling battles on contested rebounds or fighting for position (although they really should have established early that that kind of

by Fox 71 on Jan 4, 2008 6:16 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Premature eclickulation

... that kind of physicality was going to get called.

by Fox 71 on Jan 4, 2008 6:19 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

DC looks like he's getting better

but still has quite a ways to go. he seems a bit uncoordinated and unsure out there. I think he'll need 2-4 more weeks before he is 100%

"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"

by silverlakebruin on Jan 3, 2008 9:56 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Thank You Bruins!

I had a lot of anxiety wondering what I was going to see when I got back. A Bruin victory and a SUC loss is just what the doctor ordered.

by Tydides on Jan 3, 2008 10:05 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Very proud

Just got done with the Tivo of this one. This has got to be one of the more satisfying wins in a while. I'm very proud of our guys.

by Menelaus on Jan 3, 2008 10:10 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I thought Keefe

was going to red shirt

by uclaov1 on Jan 3, 2008 10:13 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Roll's injury

The injury in practice to Michael Roll caused Howland to decide to bring Keefe back, instead of trying to go with a 7-man rotation or bring Stanbeck into the fold, perhaps too early (we've all seen how time spent learning his defensive structure makes all the difference).

I think Roll will receive the redshirt, though I might be mistaken, but Keefe will play, hopefully for the whole rest of the season.

by Underbruin on Jan 3, 2008 10:18 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Roll

will get a redshirt if he decides to sit out the rest of the season, but they're estimating only 3 weeks so he looks like he'll play later and not redshirt.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Jan 3, 2008 10:19 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Right...

But I've heard speculation that they may sit him for the rest of the season and use Keefe for an 8-man rotation, seeing as if Roll comes back there could be issues with PT.

I wouldn't necessarily mind either way, just noting the possibility.

by Underbruin on Jan 3, 2008 10:33 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

He Did A Great Job...

...doing the little things. Just like he was expected to do...He has a lot of potential still...

by RScal on Jan 3, 2008 10:18 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

Keefe did a fine job, particularly considering this was his first game, while coming off surgery. Not perfect, but made a couple plays while he was out there, and looked noticeably better than he did at this stage of last season.

by bruinhoo on Jan 3, 2008 10:21 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Keefe

He had a monster rebound in the first half.

by Class of 86 on Jan 3, 2008 10:40 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

No he didn't

He entered the game with a quick foul (bad pick) and a turnover (throwing the ball away in the corner). With a bricked three, great game.

I think Keefe will be a player for us, but don't lose your objectivity.

If you're going to compliment someone save the praise for RW. Amazing efficiency tonight.

by Nars on Jan 4, 2008 7:33 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Howland reversed as of yesterday

due to Roll's injury, and the decreased depth that resulted (leaving only Aboya and Mata in the rotation, + a little of Stanback). Howland stated that he was not comfortable with such a shallow rotation.

by bruinhoo on Jan 3, 2008 10:18 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

3-pt shooting was crucial

forcing Stanford to think twice about keep playing zone.

Shipp hit some key 3's.

Luc needs to concentrate on his inside game.

Collison still cannot blow past people, and defenders know this.

by bluegold on Jan 3, 2008 10:17 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

Our three point shooting really saved us. Shipp looked like Jerry West out there (I'm dating myself.) It would be so nice to have a clutch shooter to depend on this season.

by doublebonus on Jan 4, 2008 8:16 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

How did Mata Real look?

It wasn't on TV here and I listed to most of the game on radio. Does it look like his injury could linger? Bruins obviously played very well tonight. Every team in pac-10 seems to have big men this year, Mata Real will be needed to bang with the big boys.

by Bruins095 on Jan 3, 2008 10:26 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

A bit tough to tell

He didn't play all that much. When he was in, he looked solid on defense as usual (only 1 foul, which is nice).

I think he's probably not 100%, but that's hardly new for the Bruins. Plus, coming off the bench should ease up on his workload a bit, and allow him to heal more quickly.

by Underbruin on Jan 3, 2008 10:35 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

agree

mata's one of my favorite bruins, but didn't look as good as he was playing earlier in the year in this game or against michigan, though he did have a cold at michigan and is coming off an injury.

by stephons on Jan 3, 2008 10:40 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Anytime You Can Get Out of Maples . . .

. . . with a W, be very, very happy. And the guys should be happy - it was a good win.

Love the way they've been playing in the second half all season - both the coaches and players have done a great job with halftime adjustments.

DC looks like he still lacks some confidence in both his body and his game. Our offense is going to continue to sputter at times until he starts getting the ball in the lane with the quickness and authority that we know he's capable of.

One pick to nit - there were several times tonight where the shot clock was expiring and the ball ended up in the hands of Aboya or Luc Richard. If you're a Josh Shipp or a DC, you can't give the ball up to someone who's not a scorer with the clock winding down. It's a credit to the kids to try to find a teammate with a better look but sometimes, it DOES take a little selfishness to be a leader on the court.

by tliggett on Jan 3, 2008 11:11 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Agree on the

shot clock comment. I recall 2 times off the top of my head where shot clock was down and some ugly low percentage shots were put up with the ball in Luc's hands. Shipp, DC, or Westbrook need to take that shot IMO...they have a better mid range/outside shot as well as better body control when driving or creating their own shot....

by gorams77 on Jan 4, 2008 7:02 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

SF Chronicle post-game commentary

here, if interested.

"There was a moment, about nine minutes before game's end, when it occurred to the sellout crowd at Maples Pavilion that Stanford could beat UCLA. It came after a flurry of missed follow shots, and finally a short left-side runner from Mitch Johnson, and the crowd erupted with the kind of noise a UCLA-Stanford game should always have.
And then it died - swiftly, surely, and irrevocably. The Cardinal, a prime-time team for much of the last 15 years, found out that there's prime, and then there's prime.
UCLA re-established its place at the top of the contentious Pacific 10 Conference food chain with a 76-67 win that actually looked like feeding time for the family boa constrictor. The Bruins consumed the Cardinal with their typical remorselessness, first exhausting and then out-executing Stanford down the long and seemingly tedious stretch..."

"...In other words, there was nothing egregious about Stanford's performance. It was just what happens with UCLA because the Bruins have Shipp, and Alfred Aboya, and Luc-Richard Mbah a Moute and Darren Collison - the nucleus of the team that has gone to successive Final Fours. Indeed, the highly touted freshman Kevin Love (15 points, 7 rebounds) all but disappeared into the many basket-level scrums with the Lopez twins, to be replaced on the list of UCLA players you will remember from this game by scandalously overlooked sophomore Russell Westbrook (15 points, 6 assists in 35 minutes)."

by bruinhoo on Jan 3, 2008 11:14 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Great article

and great find hoo

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Jan 3, 2008 11:16 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

Great commentary about the state of the Pac-10 (UCLA is the standard).

by bruin8uclap on Jan 3, 2008 11:27 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

The Standard is UCLA

You hear that, Timmeh? Are you listening, Lute?

by Class of 86 on Jan 4, 2008 12:05 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

This article has me torn

Ray Ratto is basically the TJ Simers of the Bay Area. So while I agree with the main point of the article, I do so knowing that Ratto really only wrote it to get under the skin of his readership.

by insomniacslounge on Jan 4, 2008 1:09 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Awesome team game; like when they're more up tempo

Shipp played beautifully. Made 5 threes within the flow of the game. Never hogged it. Looked strong and confident. The new Afflalo.

Collison still seems bothered by injury, but played explosively when needed. Should shoot more threes IMO. Maybe waiting to be 100%.

Westbrook as good as DC right now, stronger, nothing but up for him. The two of them [RW and DC] together is one of the best combos in the country easily. A thing of beauty at times.

Love fouled out the Twin towers, played within himself, owned the middle on offense, played solid D, stepped up the 2d half by going to the free throw line much more with aggressive moves. Still seems tired. Truly believe he will be Number 1 pick IF he stays another year and bulks up. Great team player. [I know I'm dreaming.]

Luc. Love his effort and defense. His shooting is much, much better. A real shooting option now IMO.

Aboya. Made a three and monster dunk, I think against the zone. Still a lightning rod for fouls, I think often unfairly. Just a stud. Will be a strong role player in the NBA.

Mata. Just a stud. Love every minute he plays.

Stanford is a great team and they played great tonight at home. Really. They did not lose. They did not choke. They got beat by a better team, period, that plays unbelievable defense and fights for every board.

When they played up tempo on offense tonight, the Bruins were almost a ballet at times, scoring threes easily in rhythm. I know Coach primarily likes them to slow down and set up for good shots, but I think he's leaning towards letting these guys step on the gas more to get a nice cushion once and a while. This team can shoot, baby.

What a team. What a coach.

by uclahy on Jan 3, 2008 11:30 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Bruins Impress

I was impressed with the Bruins last night. Great win on the road against a quality opponent. Consider how good they can be when Collison is 100% and Keefe gets up to speed and is able to provide quality minutes off the bench.

I was interested to see how Love would fair and he more than held his own. He is clearly not 6-10 and maybe even shorter than 6-9 (does anyone else think he looks smaller than Mata?) but he went toe-to-toe with two significantly bigger players and outplayed both.

Love's strength and smarts more than make up for his physical shortcomings and his presence inside is what will put the Bruins over the hump this year. I hope so because IMO he's gone after this year no matter if he's a lottery pick or not.

richramus

by richramus on Jan 4, 2008 11:07 AM PST reply actions 0 recs