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Center Court: Ben Ball (Cal) Open Thread

Uclabear1_tiny by Nestor on in Basketball

The Bruins finish off their tough Bay Area road trip this afternoon at Berkeley. We have talked about it enough in the last 24 hours. This is going to be a battle where, once again, we will have to depend on our defense.

We will also need to make some clutch shots:


Photo Credit: psychofish's photostream (via flickr)

DC has been off and on this year recovering from his injury. This will be an opportune time for him to step up. If you want to read up more on DC and rest of his Ben Wall warriors matchup with the Bears go here and here.

The tip off is set for 3:00 pm PST (FSN/FSN Prime Ticket). If you are not getting the game on television you can follow it via links provided at the official site.

As always, if you are watching, listening, following, or tracking the game online, post your comments here.

This is our Ben Ball Warrior open thread.

Fire Away.

GO BRUINS.

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UCLA by 8
Collison and Shipp need to have big games.
Prediction: UCLA wins conference 14-4.

by Howland on Jan 5, 2008 2:37 PM PST reply actions  

Great first series by Love
Like I said in another thread, he's so deadly for opposing big men because he gets great position and has an excellent pump fake move. Good play once again.

by MbahABako on Jan 5, 2008 3:10 PM PST reply actions  

Shipp
He is just on fire from deep recently, UCLA up 5-0

by MbahABako on Jan 5, 2008 3:11 PM PST reply actions  

LOVE for THREE
I love this team, they play so smart

by MbahABako on Jan 5, 2008 3:13 PM PST reply actions  

Shipp with the and-one
Up 12-2 with Shipp shooting a foul on an And-1

by MbahABako on Jan 5, 2008 3:14 PM PST reply actions  

NOPE
little bit of home cookin by the broadcasters - devon hardin definitely was not set on that

i really do like this bay area FSN HD though :)

by elevated on Jan 5, 2008 3:15 PM PST reply actions  

Great start
But we need to contain Hardin on the boards.

by Nestor on Jan 5, 2008 3:15 PM PST reply actions  

mata is in
this is what we call defense, i really liked that hustle play by aboya earlier too, this is UCLA ball

by elevated on Jan 5, 2008 3:19 PM PST reply actions  

Great defense
Excellent defensive position out of the timeout -- Howland specialty

by MbahABako on Jan 5, 2008 3:19 PM PST reply actions  

wow
can shipp be shooting any better??

by elevated on Jan 5, 2008 3:20 PM PST reply actions  

What a box out
Great boxout by Mata there

by MbahABako on Jan 5, 2008 3:20 PM PST reply actions  

yeah
i liked how even when the ball was bouncing away mata and keefe were still blocking out their men, hahhaa

by elevated on Jan 5, 2008 3:21 PM PST up reply actions  

Box-out
That's just pure defensive technique there, I love Howland ball.

by MbahABako on Jan 5, 2008 3:22 PM PST up reply actions  

AMAZING DUNK
ABSOLUTE HIGHLIGHT BY WESTBROOK

by MbahABako on Jan 5, 2008 3:23 PM PST reply actions  

Someone needs to tell Russell....
...that he is not Vince Carter.

Better yet, maybe not...

That dunk was ridiculous.

by Ajax on Jan 5, 2008 4:04 PM PST up reply actions  

HAHAHA
how does it feel to be posterized, jamal boykin?

by elevated on Jan 5, 2008 3:23 PM PST reply actions  

Wow, Westbrook!
My whole family loved it.

by BruinMatador on Jan 5, 2008 3:25 PM PST reply actions  

How sick was it?
My fiancee, who admittedly knows little about sports, asked if he got 2 or 3 points for that dunk--- I'll be watching that as the #1 play on SC tonight!

by DallasBruin on Jan 5, 2008 3:25 PM PST reply actions  

collison
still looks uneasy with that drive

by elevated on Jan 5, 2008 3:26 PM PST reply actions  

he looks like he lost all his confidence
i think we need to play Westbrook and keep the ball in his hands. i trust his decision making a lot more.
Prediction: UCLA wins conference 14-4.

by Howland on Jan 5, 2008 3:26 PM PST up reply actions  

That was amazing
The speed on the take-off, the aggressiveness to attack the rim. Just a crazy, crazy dunk. That will be shown over and over again, and I will never tire of seeing it.

by MbahABako on Jan 5, 2008 3:26 PM PST reply actions  

They just showed the replay again
It's great to see the some in the Cal bench jump up and down.

by BruinMatador on Jan 5, 2008 3:28 PM PST reply actions  

shipp
needs to calm down a little, that was beyond an NBA three, i preferred it when he was shooting those threes in the flow of the game vs stanford

by elevated on Jan 5, 2008 3:30 PM PST reply actions  

Exactly
and now he just turned it over with an out of control offensive foul.

by Nestor on Jan 5, 2008 3:35 PM PST up reply actions  

Love with great shot
Bank shot off of medium length turn around jumper. Great play.

by MbahABako on Jan 5, 2008 3:32 PM PST reply actions  

wow! he got game
that post move was incredible
"Tough times don't last, tough people do"-Rick Neuheisel, December 31st, 2007

by bruin95 on Jan 5, 2008 3:32 PM PST reply actions  

Just a quick note
This is a great start but we simply cannot get "comfortable," and we can't force our shots. Shipp has been on fire, but he needs to take those shots within the flow of the game.

by Nestor on Jan 5, 2008 3:33 PM PST reply actions  

looked like a travel
on keefe, but great job to stay with it

by elevated on Jan 5, 2008 3:34 PM PST reply actions  

Keefe with a good post move
Like it. He might have traveled, but I like the offensive rebounding

by MbahABako on Jan 5, 2008 3:34 PM PST reply actions  

beautiful
display of his hops and upper body strength by westy

by elevated on Jan 5, 2008 3:38 PM PST reply actions  

Ryan Anderson
Looks really soft.

by chaphill1 on Jan 5, 2008 3:42 PM PST reply actions  

too many fouls!!!
how many offensive fouls this half? 5-6?
Prediction: UCLA wins conference 14-4.

by Howland on Jan 5, 2008 3:42 PM PST reply actions  

the 2nd foul on AA2
was a total joke. I think that as AA2 getting the short end of the stick (prolly due to his "reputation" of being an over aggressive player)

by Nestor on Jan 5, 2008 3:45 PM PST up reply actions  

i LOVE
how anderson is getting dominated on the defensive end, aboya's going to be in his nightmares tonight

by elevated on Jan 5, 2008 3:47 PM PST reply actions  

Wow
Just killed Cal on the offensive glass for about six rebounds in a row, ends with Love putting it back in.

by MbahABako on Jan 5, 2008 3:48 PM PST reply actions  

yeah
that must have been about 6 touches - it looks like mata could have ooped that airball/pass from RW though

by elevated on Jan 5, 2008 3:48 PM PST up reply actions  

DC's half time shot
I am glad I picked the picture for today's game thread!

by Nestor on Jan 5, 2008 3:53 PM PST reply actions  

NICE HALF DEFENSIVELY!!!
If we can just execute offensively slightly better and limit fouls, we'll blow them out by 20.
Prediction: UCLA wins conference 14-4.

by Howland on Jan 5, 2008 3:58 PM PST reply actions  

By the way
The Seahawks/Redskins game is really heating up.  Skins just took the lead 14-13.

by chaphill1 on Jan 5, 2008 4:07 PM PST reply actions  

Yeah
I can totally hear the apartments in my neighborhood.

by Nestor on Jan 5, 2008 4:14 PM PST up reply actions  

Killers would put the game away in the first 5 min
Are we killers?

Cal will make a run in this half. The key is to put them down so far that it does not matter.

I do not want them to turn this into a 4 point game.

sjh

by Class of 66 on Jan 5, 2008 4:07 PM PST reply actions  

We just cannot get complacent with this lead.
On the road you cannot relax for a second. UCLA needs to keep the foot on the gas and play smart.
Prediction: UCLA wins conference 14-4.

by Howland on Jan 5, 2008 4:13 PM PST reply actions  

Hardin
Flopping like the Sacramento Queens.

by Nestor on Jan 5, 2008 4:16 PM PST reply actions  

major flop
from devon hardin we need to step it up right here especially with kluv out

by elevated on Jan 5, 2008 4:16 PM PST reply actions  

Shipp
A dumb 3 point shot out of the flow of the game.

by Nestor on Jan 5, 2008 4:17 PM PST up reply actions  

We need to raise our energy
Westbrook looks like the only guy in there with the right energy.
Prediction: UCLA wins conference 14-4.

by Howland on Jan 5, 2008 4:18 PM PST reply actions  

We need to get it together!!
It's a ballgame now.
Prediction: UCLA wins conference 14-4.

by Howland on Jan 5, 2008 4:22 PM PST reply actions  

This is now the Stanford game
of last season. Let's see how we fight through this?

by Nestor on Jan 5, 2008 4:24 PM PST up reply actions  

I love how Howland yells at the team
when they score to get back on defense. Now this guy brings it 100% every time.
Prediction: UCLA wins conference 14-4.

by Howland on Jan 5, 2008 4:25 PM PST up reply actions  

westy
might just be our clutch man down the stretch, no one else is steppin up

by elevated on Jan 5, 2008 4:24 PM PST reply actions  

Shipp is out of control.
Prediction: UCLA wins conference 14-4.

by Howland on Jan 5, 2008 4:27 PM PST reply actions  

howland should tattoo
"flow of the game" on his forearm

by elevated on Jan 5, 2008 4:28 PM PST up reply actions  

LOVE!!
Prediction: UCLA wins conference 14-4.

by Howland on Jan 5, 2008 4:28 PM PST reply actions  

Kevin Love just brings it
Every game, I like his effort and willingness to bang. Makes the game so much easier

by MbahABako on Jan 5, 2008 4:29 PM PST reply actions  

And
he is playing smart/composed like a red-shirt junior (Shipp please study KL's game film).

by Nestor on Jan 5, 2008 4:30 PM PST up reply actions  

+1
Prediction: UCLA wins conference 14-4.

by Howland on Jan 5, 2008 4:31 PM PST up reply actions  

kevin love
getting it done on both ends of court, BD in the house watching his former team - lets hope we fare better than the warriors did last night, i was at that game

by elevated on Jan 5, 2008 4:29 PM PST reply actions  

BARON in da house!
good to see him supporting the Bruins

by BruinFan96 on Jan 5, 2008 4:29 PM PST reply actions  

Rocking a Tie!!!!
Baron come home just like Coach Neuheisel and play for the Lakers!

by Nestor on Jan 5, 2008 4:32 PM PST up reply actions  

never
we like him just fine here in the bay ;)

by elevated on Jan 5, 2008 4:34 PM PST up reply actions  

ENOUGH
I am sick of all the "Love's first real test blah blah blah"

This game should make a statement, Love passes each test with flying colors. what a pro

by chourobin on Jan 5, 2008 4:31 PM PST reply actions  

When we played in the Emerald Bowl
Baron and Matt Barnes were at the game. I was talking them for a while. Really cool guys.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Jan 5, 2008 4:34 PM PST reply actions  

lucky
i was supposed to go to that game

by elevated on Jan 5, 2008 4:37 PM PST up reply actions  

Collison
Just got a little Shippites.

by Nestor on Jan 5, 2008 4:35 PM PST reply actions  

thats what happens
when you start runing before you guys have the ball

by elevated on Jan 5, 2008 4:35 PM PST reply actions  

Defense! Defense! Defense!
Prediction: UCLA wins conference 14-4.

by Howland on Jan 5, 2008 4:35 PM PST reply actions  

Box out guys!! Cmon!
Prediction: UCLA wins conference 14-4.

by Howland on Jan 5, 2008 4:37 PM PST reply actions  

DC starting to get more
confident in his game.  Looks more aggressive as the game goes on

by BruinFan96 on Jan 5, 2008 4:37 PM PST reply actions  

Great.... Mata to the line....
Prediction: UCLA wins conference 14-4.

by Howland on Jan 5, 2008 4:37 PM PST reply actions  

He makes one!!
Prediction: UCLA wins conference 14-4.

by Howland on Jan 5, 2008 4:38 PM PST up reply actions  

makes both!!!
Prediction: UCLA wins conference 14-4.

by Howland on Jan 5, 2008 4:38 PM PST up reply actions  

I don't think DC
has all the strength back in his knee. All his 3s are short.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Jan 5, 2008 4:38 PM PST reply actions  

Yeap
And Shipp's 3 point attempts are starting feel like turnovers.

by Nestor on Jan 5, 2008 4:40 PM PST up reply actions  

We keep giving up offensive rebounds..............
Prediction: UCLA wins conference 14-4.

by Howland on Jan 5, 2008 4:39 PM PST reply actions  

shipp is releasing too fast
he needs to setup and take his time

by chourobin on Jan 5, 2008 4:39 PM PST reply actions  

ive never seen that before
mata with the ball alone at the top of the court - and shipp is not ready to lead this team

by elevated on Jan 5, 2008 4:39 PM PST reply actions  

gah
thats 4 easy points dropped right there...

by elevated on Jan 5, 2008 4:41 PM PST reply actions  

Damn! Two blown fast breaks....
Prediction: UCLA wins conference 14-4.

by Howland on Jan 5, 2008 4:41 PM PST reply actions  

Jesus
We need to fucking convert on this breaks. Fuck.

by Nestor on Jan 5, 2008 4:42 PM PST reply actions  

If they just sat there and wasted time
It would have been a better result
Prediction: UCLA wins conference 14-4.

by Howland on Jan 5, 2008 4:42 PM PST up reply actions  

Collison looks tentative, he blew a fast break
last game too
Prediction: UCLA wins conference 14-4.

by Howland on Jan 5, 2008 4:43 PM PST reply actions  

shipp
was goin for the posterization #2 - intentional foul

by elevated on Jan 5, 2008 4:45 PM PST reply actions  

Cal may have just lost the game with that foul
Prediction: UCLA wins conference 14-4.

by Howland on Jan 5, 2008 4:45 PM PST reply actions  

Refs owed us that call
for all the BS calls on our front court in the first half.

by Nestor on Jan 5, 2008 4:46 PM PST up reply actions  

Time to
execute and be smart ... and D UP!!!

by Nestor on Jan 5, 2008 4:46 PM PST reply actions  

+1
and waste the shot clock
Prediction: UCLA wins conference 14-4.

by Howland on Jan 5, 2008 4:47 PM PST up reply actions  

That time
We were little too patient.

by Nestor on Jan 5, 2008 4:49 PM PST up reply actions  

:-D
Prediction: UCLA wins conference 14-4.

by Howland on Jan 5, 2008 4:50 PM PST up reply actions  

i like hearing
the MOOOOO after luc scores, little bit of UCLA in norcal today ;)

by elevated on Jan 5, 2008 4:48 PM PST reply actions  

oh
its LUUUC? its my third year going to ucla games as a student, i always thought we were chanting MOOOO all this time

by elevated on Jan 5, 2008 4:50 PM PST up reply actions  

cmon guys
count out the shot clock for your teammates, you learn that in high school ball

by elevated on Jan 5, 2008 4:49 PM PST reply actions  

no communication
i remember watching the lakers, they showed Farmar is VERY vocal on the court... thats what we need in a leader.. and westbrook could have told love, but didn't.

by chourobin on Jan 5, 2008 4:50 PM PST reply actions  

Something like that
will come with time for Russell.

by Nestor on Jan 5, 2008 4:52 PM PST up reply actions  

CLOSE THIS OUT GUYS!!!
Prediction: UCLA wins conference 14-4.

by Howland on Jan 5, 2008 4:52 PM PST reply actions  

shipps
really gotta stop shooting that, i have no idea why he chooses to step back 3 steps or so and shoot it

by elevated on Jan 5, 2008 4:53 PM PST reply actions  

weve missed
a lot of layups today, funny, usually its free throws

by elevated on Jan 5, 2008 4:55 PM PST reply actions  

He's AA's aire apparent
Prediction: UCLA wins conference 14-4.

by Howland on Jan 5, 2008 4:56 PM PST up reply actions  

uh oh
luc is limping, say it aint sooo

by elevated on Jan 5, 2008 4:55 PM PST reply actions  

OH SHIT
Luc might have tweaked his ankle

by BruinFan96 on Jan 5, 2008 4:56 PM PST reply actions  

UCLA takes their last TO after a made basket
and it was a smart one or else it would've been a 5 on 3 with 2 players on the floor.

by UCLA4Life on Jan 5, 2008 4:56 PM PST reply actions  

Howland is a genius
Uses Stanback and Keefe in first half so we can finish strong with starters.
sjh

by Class of 66 on Jan 5, 2008 4:56 PM PST reply actions  

Marcus is right
About 5 min's ago he said "UCLA knows how to finish these games out."

True

sjh

by Class of 66 on Jan 5, 2008 4:58 PM PST reply actions  

Stanford game last year taught them
That game was huge for the team's learning curve
Prediction: UCLA wins conference 14-4.

by Howland on Jan 5, 2008 5:00 PM PST up reply actions  

Anderson has a nice stroke
but it doesn't look like he worked on his body at all during the off-season.

by UCLA4Life on Jan 5, 2008 5:00 PM PST reply actions  

U R right
our guys get bigger and stronger over the summer

and better

sjh

by Class of 66 on Jan 5, 2008 5:01 PM PST up reply actions  

When Aboya can hit a 3pter
They are getting A LOT BETTER!!
Prediction: UCLA wins conference 14-4.

by Howland on Jan 5, 2008 5:03 PM PST up reply actions  

Even over the course of the season
The first few games, Howland was hesitant to keep Love in the game at the end because of concerns about his D.  Now, all that is out the window.  He looks sharper and quicker on D.  

by BruinFan96 on Jan 5, 2008 5:04 PM PST up reply actions  

Aboya is a great example of improvement
Stronger

better hands and feet.

Remember how he used to drop the ball?

And, Mata had the same problems.

They are much improved.

sjh

by Class of 66 on Jan 5, 2008 5:05 PM PST reply actions  

Aboya
I like his confidence on offense. He had a couple good post moves in the Stanford game and showed confidence when he shot it.

Is there any player on Howland's squad that hasn't shown any noticeable improvement physically? I can't think of anyone. Keefe looks much bigger... same with Westbrook. Just wait until Chace fills out. With his size and basketball skills, he could be a better looking Tayshaun Prince.

by UCLA4Life on Jan 5, 2008 5:10 PM PST up reply actions  

I agree
You can always tell a first year player -- by the body.

Look at the difference in Keefe.

Stanback stands out. It's not tht he's not in good shape, it's that he isn't a monster. He will be.

sjh

by Class of 66 on Jan 5, 2008 5:14 PM PST up reply actions  

Imagine Chace with 4% body fat
like Russell Westbrook. He could end up playing a few positions for Howland.

by UCLA4Life on Jan 5, 2008 5:39 PM PST up reply actions  

AA2
Just one favor to ask AA2: no more 3 pt shot attempts!

by Nestor on Jan 5, 2008 6:16 PM PST up reply actions  

Does Howland Seem Upset by Them?
On tv, we don't get to see him. Maybe, it's ok with him -- or he might have pulled him from the game for taking the shot.

MJ mentioned that Howland encouraged KL to take some of those open 3's to force the D  to come out an play the bigs. I wonder if AA2 is encouraged to do the same.

I guess the theory is that we'll give up a couple of scoring opportunities to change the other team's D.

And, with Luc and RW on the floor, we have good rebounding even with the bigs outside.

sjh

by Class of 66 on Jan 5, 2008 8:03 PM PST reply actions  

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