"One thing coach Dunlap just said even right now in the locker room is that we can beat UCLA in...

"One thing coach Dunlap just said even right now in the locker room is that we can beat UCLA in Pauley Pavilion, and we can beat them at home," said junior point guard Nic Wise.

"We haven't beaten them in a while. That's one thing we focus on every day in practice - Pauley Pavilion."

The "Standard" Trash Talking From Tucson (emphasis added)

10 months ago Nestor 25 comments 0 recs |

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I don't see this as much of trash talking

as I do a sign of respect. To me, these comments show they recognize we are the class of the conference and the team to beat. They know that to win the conference or to establish themselves as an elite program again they need to go through us. I think the comment about what Dunlap is telling them is more a coach convincing his team they can beat us and building their confidence. Maybe it’s just me, but I see it as a sign of respect. They know who they have to go through.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Dec 15, 2008 3:25 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

yeah i agree rye

honestly i’d be worried about the Arizona program if they weren’t focused on beating us at our place.

And quite frankly, if they can beat Gonzaga, they can beat us. We’ve got a ways to go ourselves.

by bucknellbruin on Dec 15, 2008 3:27 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Strongly disagree

I have no problem with these guys talking among themselves and setting their goals. But in this specific face, Wise specifically gave an on the record quote about how Arizona “can beat UCLA in Pauley Pavilion” and at “their home.” Given the context between these two teams re. how players from Arizona has had a history of running their mouths in last three years, I see this as them calling UCLA out after one big win. It’s a little too much.

It’s nice that their assistant coach is getting them all fired up but now that they have gone on the record in press, I do see this as running smack, given the way we have had scoreboard on them for last three seasons.

by Nestor on Dec 15, 2008 5:15 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

It's all right if Dunlap is setting those goals in private

It becomes a little too much of a public bravado if they are already declaring on record how they are going to sweep the season series.

by Nestor on Dec 15, 2008 5:19 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

i agree with rye

I love your dedication and passion, Nestor but I think your take on UA’s trashtalking is wrong. They never declare on record how they are going to sweep the season series. There is a big difference between a coach trying to tell his team that they CAN beat another team or CAN be the national/conference champion versus a coach/player stating that his team is better than another.

I interpret Wise’s statement as putting “beating UCLA at home” as their ultimate measure stick. For that, I appreciate the respect, unlike their attitudes of the former years under Lute.

Just like CRN wanted our team to believe that we can match $C and be the Pac-10 champion this year (which in retrospect was a far-fetched goal), I think Dunlap and Wise are really paying us the respect we deserve as the de-facto pac-10 powerhouse or “standard”. He did say that his team hasn’t beaten us in awhile.

This is very different from the former years of UA or current Timmey putting down on our program. I’m pretty sure no one from UA, even Chase, would consider themselves to be the favorite of the conference or even their own state.

by HK Bruin on Dec 15, 2008 5:46 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Uhm ... they never declare on record?

Do you understand what going on record means?

Did you read Nick Wise’s comment above in quotation mark declaring “we can beat UCLA in Pauley Pavilion, and we can beat them at home” to a member of MSM?

You want to say that comment is not on the record?

by Nestor on Dec 15, 2008 5:52 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Can vs. Will

I think HK’s point was not whether the comments were on record, but that he was telling his guys, publicly, “we can do it.” Seems to me like a coach encouraging his guys, not spouting we WILL do this or that.

My 2 cents

by bru79 on Dec 16, 2008 9:05 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

thanks bru

Anyway, I highly doubt howland would even consider using this as a motivational tool in the locker room. Our program is at a place where our sole motivation is simply getting the next banner at pauley. No need to get fired up for any un-wise comment.

by HK Bruin on Dec 17, 2008 11:22 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

When You're Good...

you’re going to be used as a benchmark for others.

Love My Bruins

by Bruingirl83 on Dec 15, 2008 3:29 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

There is difference between being marked as a "benchmark"

and bragging to press about how they can beat that “benchmark”

Especially given the history of these guys running their mouths over last three years.

by Nestor on Dec 15, 2008 5:18 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I love the bullseye on our back...sign of respect

Also, I wonder if Dunlap keeps saying it because he’s worried his team doesn’t believe it….perhaps one of their issues is confidence.

by bornagainbruin on Dec 15, 2008 4:22 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I don't think they were trash talking

I thought it was awesome last year when SC managed to upset UCLA at Pauley last year. It was probably the most memorable victory of the season for me*, and I remember how it was kind of a turning point for the season as USC had started out very rough in conference play. Regardless of how good the Bruins are year in and year out, it is a very symbolic thing to win against them at home, and even more so considering that UCLA has consistently been the best team in the Pac 10 in recent years.

*Although your players certainly got revenge against our team at Galen and in the tournament.

by Laughing Stock on Dec 15, 2008 5:14 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I don't care

For a JustSC basketball fan’s take on hoops. It’s irrelevant when it comes to UCLA basketball.

by Nestor on Dec 15, 2008 5:16 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

To be fair

LS, I don’t disagree with you. UCLA is the returning conference champ. We’re starting this season with three consecutive Final Fours behind us. We’re the consensus favorite to win the conference again this year (at least once this young team starts to gel and hit its full potential).

Beating the Bruins at Pauley is very difficult and a laudable goal.

That said, if you’re agreeing with Wise on this, that beating us at Pauley is a big deal, then you have to admit that the infamous ad featuring CRN isn’t stupid at all.

Just like beating UCLA at Pauley is a huge goal, getting our football program to the level of success U$C has enjoyed on the gridiron isn’t something to scoff at. Yet, I recall, a great many of you loved blasting CRN for the ad.

Just a thought.

by Bellerophon on Dec 15, 2008 8:23 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I understand the point of the Ad

Obviously he (or the marketing dept) was trying to get the fan base energized and excited about the season. Premature? Maybe, but I wouldn’t call the ad stupid because there was obviously a certain purpose behind it. I think it would be hard to find an SC fan who would not like UCLA to become a better team as rivalries tend to lose their fire a bit if one side is dominant too long, and the best rivalry games tend to be the hard fought close ones. Although, to be fair, I am making this remark when 13-9 was only two years ago.

by Laughing Stock on Dec 15, 2008 11:34 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

There's a big difference ...

between saying “we can” and “we will,” but I have to agree with Nestor in that these sort of comments are best kept within the confines of private team discussions. When publicly aired, they are bound to be misconstrued as trash-talking and used as extra motivation for their opponents.

After reading the linked article, what impressed me most is that it sounds like the Wildcats may be in capable hands. You’ve got to respect a coach that stresses sound fundamentals and defense as does our own CBH.

by snorkeldorf on Dec 15, 2008 6:01 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Yes

It will be awesome if the Wildcats can tag their “interim” coach and make him a “permanent” one after a “big December win” over Gonzaga. In fact, BNers should feel free to go over to Zona boards and start the campaign for their current interim coach if they haven’t done it already. :-)

by Nestor on Dec 15, 2008 6:03 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

I usually agree with N, but on this, I think it’s more of a “you guys can play with anybody.” I would never play for a coach who didn’t believe his team could beat anyone and I’d never play with guys who didn’t believe they could play with anyone.

Winners think anything is possible. don’t mind if our coaches are telling our Bruins they can beat anyone, or for example, that our football guys can take on U$C. In fact, I hope our guys believe they can win every game they play, that they can play with anyone.

Now, that said, this kind of commentary is best kept within the locker room. Putting it out in the public is just begging for it to become bulletin board material.

Then Nic Wise is not the smartest tool in the shed.

by Bellerophon on Dec 15, 2008 8:27 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

another blurb from the article

“"You can beat UCLA in Pauley Pavilion,” he tells the Wildcats.
There’s nothing subtle about that motivation, but the words are also code for, “You can beat anybody.”"

I think this shows that honestly Dunlap was showing respect for UCLA in trying to motivate his team. To him, beating UCLA at Pauley means you can beat anyone in the country. Now THAT’s respect

by bucknellbruin on Dec 15, 2008 6:31 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I agree with Nestor on this

How about just keeping your mouth shut? How’s that for a concept? Maybe they should start with “We work every day in practice about beating UAB on their home court.” That might be a better idea, seeing as how they couldn’t seem to beat UAB at home.

The Standard doesn’t seem to get the concept. Maybe Arizona should have a course called Basketball 101, which would start with Coach Wooden’s arrival at UCLA and continue to now. They would have to go a long way before they find any UCLA guy shooting his mouth off like that. Just keep your mouth shut, Arizona. Act like a gentleman, if you can. Or put another way, act like a Bruin.

by Fox 71 on Dec 15, 2008 8:42 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

no question

that this should’ve been kept in the locker room. I guess I’m not sure if the issue is what Dunlap and Wise said or the fact that it was said publicly. Nestor, if it’s the public part that you’re against, then I’m with you 100%. That stuff needs to stay ith the team.

and Fox is right, they should try to beat a crappy CUSA team before they worry about UCLA

by bucknellbruin on Dec 15, 2008 9:31 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I have made it clear up thread

I don’t really care what they say in private, in their practices and in locker rooms. They made this a public statement by going on record and calling out UCLA. If they didn’t make this an on the record statement, I wouldn’t have cared about it. It’s not big news when people set goals to beat UCLA. However, it is bulletin board material when people call out UCLA and go on the record saying how they can beat UCLA at Pauley.

by Nestor on Dec 16, 2008 4:30 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

agree with you

Considering that they were humiliated in Pauley last year (didn’t Hubert Davis pick them in the pregame show), beaten soundly the previous couple years, and UCLA beat them in Arizona the past couple years and when we matched up in the Pac10 tournament. I think by my count Darren Collison (and Aboya) is about 7-0 against them with some great performances.

Yeah they have some good players (Budinger / Hill) but I wouldn’t go crazy over a win over the Zags (I’m not sold that they are final four / elite 8 good) in Phoenix.

by realfabfive on Dec 16, 2008 8:38 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Nic Unwise

Can’t wait to see you at Pauley Nic. Come on over! Jrue’s got something cookin’ for you.

But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.

by tasser10 on Dec 16, 2008 11:57 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Trash talk?

Maybe, maybe not. Honestly, I don’t care. The important fact is that they are talking about us. When you are irrelevant, no one thinks about you. When you are the team to beat (at least in the conference), then you are the focus.

It feels good.

by Barnes2JJ on Dec 16, 2008 4:44 PM PST reply actions 0 recs