Center Court: Ben Ball (Texas) Open Thread
by Nestor on Dec 4, 2008 5:30 PM PST
in Basketball
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PrintUCLA Bruins at Texas Longhorns, Dec 4, 2008 6:00 PM PST
Let’s get the party started in a huge week in Bruin Nation.
As we have been discussing this week for our Ben Ball warriors to pull of an upset against one of the better teams in the country and possibly the best team in the Big-12, it will be up to DC and his backcourt mates to come up with a huge game:
Photo Credit: AP Photo/Frank Franklin II (via ESPN)
To check out all of notes on Texas Longhorns check out our game coverage here. Bruin Basketball report also has its game preview up.
The tipoff is scheduled for 6:00 pm PST. It will be on ESPN2. You can also track it on our official site.
Our guys have been amped up for this game for a while calling it a "test". Should be interesting to see how they perform in this big quiz (I wouldn’t call it a mid-term yet since this is only the 6th game of the season) to see what they have learned in first few weeks in Professor Howland’s classroom.
Fire away.
GO BRUINS.
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What's this feeling?
I think it’s the feeling of being the underdog. I can’t remember the last time we were not favored in a regular season matchup. Let’s see what these freshmen have learned over the past week.
despite the dirty plays
SC actually looks pretty good. Down 4 at Oklahoma with 5:30 left is nothing to be upset about.
It Sucks that by Rooting Against sc we are hurting our RPI
And, how is ’lil Romeo doing?
Just tuned in and haven’t seen his heroics yet
sjh
well
i saw him cheering on the bench. Hope he’s comfortable there; he may be there awhile
by bucknellbruin on Dec 4, 2008 5:47 PM PST up reply actions
this is actually a great game
1 pt game with 1 minute left
by bucknellbruin on Dec 4, 2008 5:57 PM PST up reply actions
I'm getting real anxious
As TY said. Hopefully we get to see our cubs growing before our eyes tonight but our seniors will have to lead the way. Hostile environment where poise will be essential.
Interesting sports news on ticker
both Pat Hill and Mike Leach have taken their names out of consideration at Washington.
sjh
If sc could be embarrassed
Floyd is an embarrassment. Had to be held back by a player while arguing a call.
He cost them a game last year. Will he never learn?
sjh
and he was on the floor after Gibson missed his shot
foul could have been called.
Too stupid to foul or did they know they’d get a travel?
Great coaching.
sjh
ummmm
im gonna go with too stupid to foul. close call though
by bucknellbruin on Dec 4, 2008 6:01 PM PST up reply actions
oh wow
traveling on Griffen…good call but that bailed SC out sooo bad. They went 15 seconds without fouling and now have a shot to win
Good luck tonight boys
Do the Pac-10 proud!
I support Takimoto in his effort to support Roger Kieschnick in his quest to becoming the best Kieschnick ever to play professional baseball.
I would have tried to miss the second
At least that’s what I think he tried to do. They didn’t have a timeout left.
yeah that's what i was thinking
don’t give them a chance for a long pass
by bucknellbruin on Dec 4, 2008 6:07 PM PST up reply actions
Abrams has been guarding Shipp early on
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Dec 4, 2008 6:12 PM PST up reply actions
I've been saying this all year and I'll say it again here
Put Holiday on the ball and let DC play the 2.
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Dec 4, 2008 6:14 PM PST up reply actions
turnovers
are what concerns me. can’t play sloppy
it's supposed to go away
once you get inside the 3 pt arc
by bucknellbruin on Dec 4, 2008 6:19 PM PST up reply actions
You have to go more towards the basket
A couple steps towards the bucket won’t get the 5 second call off.
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Dec 4, 2008 6:19 PM PST up reply actions
DC needs to get his head in the game
That’s 3 bad turnovers now. DC looks horrific early on here. He needs to find the form of the last 2 years.
The two lines is confusing
I had to double check to see if he was on the line or not.
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Dec 4, 2008 6:22 PM PST up reply actions
They are shooting 67%
Our D needs developing.
Inexperience and lack of playing together. We will get better.
sjh
they're knocking down jumpers though
sometimes there’s not a whole lot you can do about that
but you’re right, regardless
by bucknellbruin on Dec 4, 2008 6:23 PM PST up reply actions
Our rotations are a half step slow
and against a team like Texas who can shoot the ball, that’s all it takes.
as of now that's true
but what happens after a full season in the weight room?
by bucknellbruin on Dec 4, 2008 6:26 PM PST up reply actions
it will come
new players, Howland will keep grinding and pushing them in practice
where has JS been all year though?
he’s had a slow start….
by bucknellbruin on Dec 4, 2008 6:29 PM PST up reply actions
Yup, yup, yup
We don’t have an inside game to lean on. Darren needs to lead this team offensively and that means shooting.
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Dec 4, 2008 6:31 PM PST up reply actions
although
the way Texas is leaving the ball DC gets more looks running the point lol
by bucknellbruin on Dec 4, 2008 6:33 PM PST up reply actions
Agreed
Defensively, DC is the 1 and JH the 2. Offensively, JH should handle the ball and DC play the 2.
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Dec 4, 2008 6:34 PM PST up reply actions
i don't get
why they didn’t go for Turner Gill, Al Golden, or another up and coming mid major coach…with experience REBUILDING a program
by bucknellbruin on Dec 4, 2008 6:36 PM PST up reply actions
Golden staying put
He is saving himself for PSU. He would have left Temple for UCLA last year but since he didn’t get it, its UCLA or bust for him.
yeah i dunno about that one
James is too quick
by bucknellbruin on Dec 4, 2008 6:37 PM PST up reply actions
yep
but i really don’t have confidence in anyone to guard James
by bucknellbruin on Dec 4, 2008 6:39 PM PST up reply actions
Jrue needs to come
to the ball and help DC out. Let Shipp take those shots and he needs to attack the rim to either get his shot or create for others.
If Jrue
is going to guard Abrams. He needs to fight through the screens because Abrams only needs a split second to get his shot off.
Texas is shooting a really high %
UCLA has too many turnovers…
correct bot hthose at the half and we’ll see a UCLA vic, but both teams are playing at a high level…. much better than Mich…
Nobody
is helping DC. Guys are just standing around. Somebody from the weakside needs to come to the ball or others need to cut to the basket.
Texas has great ball movement
Were just dribbling around the perimeter. We’re looking pretty vanilla on offense right now
I love JH, but from what I’m seeing, physically, he is not ready for the NBA. Imagine what he’ll be if he stays for one more year: just like RW, a lottery pick.
D takes "chemistry"
we will get there. Too many people learning assignments and missing them on some plays.
Inexperience shows.
I just want to stay close in this half and then pull it out
sjh
Gotta stop the Texas run
Morgan looks slow….
Holiday needs to assert himself and help DC…..
I agree with the commentators for once
we need to dictate the offense and make the defenders react, rather than allowing them to dictate what we can do.
dammmmmmmmmmmmm - dont foul a 3
I know the guy’s on fire, but cmon
DC has been a great scorer in the first half BUT
He has been very indecisive as a pg looking very sloppy.
Our defense also has a long way to go. It’s not tight and we are step slow on our rotation.
We need JH to step up and help out DC in the backcourt. We also need some contributions from our front court. We are getting nothing of substance from those guys except for two early 3s from JK.
JS except for couple of shots has been missing.
JH doesn't look comfortable out there
for whatever reason, he seems to be out of sync
by godblesstyus95 on Dec 4, 2008 6:57 PM PST up reply actions
I was
disappointed in DC’s decision making and sloppy turnovers in the first half. We’ll need him to shore those up in order to have a chance to come back in the second half.
Not what I was hoping for
but hopefully CBH makes his adjustments and we pull this one out.
Key Stat:
Texas has 10 assts on 14 makes.
UCLA has ZERO assts on 12 makes.
If the team doesn’t help DC out by cutting or creating plays, it is going to get ugly. DC will get fatigued in the second half and then what. The guys need to step up.
Support
DC looks great, but he is having do it all by himself on offense. We need some movement out there, everyone is just standing around which makes it pretty easy to guard them. If MR, JS, or JH don’t chip in, I don’t like our chances.
Our offense usually centers around our PG spending 20 seconds on the ball
but that’s going to have to change in the 2nd half. Texas is too athletic to have the ball in one guys’ hands for so long. If you want to score consistently against an athletic team like this, the ball has to move more, which means that not only must the offense adjust, but someone other than DC needs to step up (I’m looking at the other senior…JS).
Defensively, I don’t think there’s much we can adjust. We have our system and they just need more time in it to tighten it up. We just have to hope it clicks in the 2nd half.
no more turnovers
and maybe collison on abrams?
howland will tighten things up, and hopefully they will miss a few threes
and the refs will count are threes as threes
The refs haven't missed a single 3 point call
every time they called it a 2, it was.
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Dec 4, 2008 6:58 PM PST up reply actions
i think drago was 2
that one by collison was close
yeah i guess our guys need to make sure they are behind the line
otherwise not a great shot to take foot on line
We seem to be missing the "motion"
in the “motion offense.” There were several plays where it looked like everyone was just standing still waiting for DC to make something happen. There’s no way DC can make good decisions when there aren’t any decisions for him to make. I really hope the offense is more than DC and whoever manages to hit a 3 in the second half. Go Bruins!
It takes a while
for kids to get used to new sets. Just because they practiced for it … we can’t expect it flow smoothly on first try … especially against a team in the caliber of Texas.
definitely true
but still, just standing around is pretty inexcusable in a motion offense
by bucknellbruin on Dec 4, 2008 7:01 PM PST up reply actions
Interesting thought at this point
Let’s see if CBH has the same idea coming into the second half…
LOL!
You’ve been beggin’ for this. I’m with you. Jrue clearly has to work on his J. DC has it down. Jrue being a bigger, can get to the basket a bit better IMO because he can take the contact. This will be his future in the pros anyway.
Still can't believe
UDub hired Sarkasian.lmao
If they suck under him … are they still going to blame CRN?
what i really don't get
is why they acted so quickly…why not bring some other guys in for interviews at least?
by bucknellbruin on Dec 4, 2008 7:02 PM PST up reply actions
Had some concerns
they were gonna get Walker
by godblesstyus95 on Dec 4, 2008 7:03 PM PST up reply actions
That hire
is just insane. They go after guys like Leach, Pat Hill and reportedly Jim Mora, Jr. and they end up with Sarkisian? There’s just no way the program will improve quickly enough for the UDub fans to be happy.
all things considered its 9 points
howland has a good track record for having better 2nd halfs
maybe jrue can be more of a playmaker in 2nd half.
Regarding Sarkisian to UW
I actually don’t think it’s a bad hire. UW has lost all recruiting ties in California and you have to be recruit in California to be any good in the Pac 10. i don’t think UW will win much under him, but if he can use his California ties to get the Huskies some recruiting relationships, it’ll be a success. My guess is he’ll be gone in 5 years, but he’ll have set the recruiting foundation for the future.
i'm pretty neutral about it
I just don’t get why it happened so fast
by bucknellbruin on Dec 4, 2008 7:03 PM PST up reply actions
and the recruiting
“strategies”. as in, $$$$$$$
by bucknellbruin on Dec 4, 2008 7:04 PM PST up reply actions
it's all about the D
strong defense can lead to offense – either by TO’s or just through momentum and confidence. We’re timid on offense I think partially because of our struggles on defense
duke 45-2 in month of dec since 99
what bout march
If Kiffin gets Orgeron and Daddy Kiffen
It’s a hell of a hire. Orgeron can’t coach, but he can flat out recruit and Monte is one of the best defensive minds out there. Let that trio build the foundation and Lane will be able to go forward and have a pretty good program there.
Orgeron
Can be a “great recruiter” at certain schools who has lot of recruiting “resources”
I will leave it at that.
although
if he can recruit at Ole Miss, he can get it done in Knoxville
by bucknellbruin on Dec 4, 2008 7:09 PM PST up reply actions
Syracuse included?
He recruited well to Syracuse. The guy can recruit. Those resources do make it easier, but he’s a good recruiter regardless.
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Dec 4, 2008 7:11 PM PST up reply actions
we should't be happy about sarkisian going to udub
it’ll only make sc better with him leaving. they might higher a better oc
Next year's freshman
especially Moser and Honeycut, can’t get here soon enough. We really need a long, athletic swingman.
Yup
and unfortunately we have a gap between him leaving and his replacement.
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Dec 4, 2008 7:18 PM PST up reply actions
Law of averages
make them shoot themselves out of the game with 3’s. Just contest them and make sure we clear the defensive board. Then push the ball because there will be long rebounds.
in the words of js
LETS GO!…just briefly checking in, i’ll be in later in though
go bruins, never quit
O.A.
Seriously though
When JS is scrappy he shines, but when he goes for that 1 on 1 crap, it always spells trouble/.
Scrappy Shipp
was his FR year. I would love nothing more than him rediscovering that part of his game. He made so many plays on pure effort and toughness.
Shooting avg is equalizing. They have small rebound adv
We are showing toughness if not experience.
We are going to be fine, all year, and particularly at the end of the year.
sjh
i wish he played like that all the time
he has had a few amazing games
kind of remember dj aug and those guys laughing a lot last year
I’m glad Shipp laid one on the guy on the rebound play. He was walking away like the guy in all the movies who set the bomb and isn’t surprise when it goes off.
Well that didn't last long
D’oh. Let’s get it back.
Our guards can't be looking to get out on the break
Come back to the boards and make sure we get the board.
That is the first play where
I see the confidence in DC
I get the inexperience and need to develop
but our performance at the line this year has been inexcusable.
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Dec 4, 2008 7:28 PM PST up reply actions
yeah i agree
bad call but still. too many fouls
by bucknellbruin on Dec 4, 2008 7:29 PM PST up reply actions
Good board from keefe
If it weren;t for him they’d have 30 offensive boards now. He’s either getting the ball or boxing out every time.
lol
but seriously, how fall has L’Ville fallen?
by bucknellbruin on Dec 4, 2008 7:32 PM PST up reply actions
Kragthrope
Did a horrible job of managing assistants from the old and new regime. Tore the team apart last year and never really recovered.
Remember
we were calling for Kragthorpe to replace Dorrell? lol
by godblesstyus95 on Dec 4, 2008 7:35 PM PST up reply actions
Part was Kragthorpe
and part was the AD. You can;t force assistants on a coach and that was what their AD did. Both of them handled it poorly.
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Dec 4, 2008 7:35 PM PST up reply actions
I thought it was a foul the first time I saw it
but upon further review….ALL BALL! Great play from JH
Eerie
Tied score. Statline almost identical.
Better get to the rim. UCLA has 7 team fouls and Tex has 1. Not a good sign coming down the stretch.
We all get lost
in the heat of the battle. Looking a bit down the road because it will come into play.
I hold my breath
every time Abrams gets the ball
From the look of it
I don’t like the arena. The place looks way too big for the 16,000+ it holds, but that’s not uncommon with the circular design. It keeps seats farther from the court than they could be.
Great possession from AA2
First, he sets a great screen to free DC, then he gets the offensive board and draws the foul/
AA2 is in great shape
He does the majority in the 2nd half. As other people wear down, he keeps working.
drago's had an off night
pretty much in every aspect of the game tonight
by bucknellbruin on Dec 4, 2008 7:42 PM PST up reply actions
If he makes this free throw
all is forgiven
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Dec 4, 2008 7:45 PM PST up reply actions
He's better than Vitale
I’;ll take what I can get
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Dec 4, 2008 7:47 PM PST up reply actions
i didn't mind it
he was on balence and got space. he just missed
by bucknellbruin on Dec 4, 2008 7:49 PM PST up reply actions
Maybe it's my 4x4 online feed
It didn’t look balanced to me
by SuperBruinMan on Dec 4, 2008 7:50 PM PST up reply actions
he faded away
but still was in control of his body. old shipp would’ve made that
by bucknellbruin on Dec 4, 2008 7:51 PM PST up reply actions
He is maddening
Right when you get frustrated with him, he does something good.
Right when he gets on a roll, he goes back to his old self.
Yeah Mack
Take a good look at the true blue because you’ll be seeing them on the football field in a few years.
Shipp
should’ve put his arse into the defender and backed him down. He has the size advantage in that matchup.
Yup
I’d have no issue playing them in March…or April
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Dec 4, 2008 7:57 PM PST up reply actions
Give it to DC
and straight to the basket. They should be so concerned with defending the 3 that he gets to the basket.
First good shot
but I think we could get an easy quick 2
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Dec 4, 2008 7:59 PM PST up reply actions
Oops
I meant to say 3 in 3 years. Typo
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Dec 4, 2008 8:04 PM PST up reply actions
As long as the freshmen progress as expected,
the team will be fine come March. As close as this game was, Jrue didn’t factor much, and the rest of the newbees were just out of this one.
I'm proud of the way we played today.
Lots of improvement. If we keep this up, we will be doing fine by March.
so ridiculous
the calling by bilas and the crap that the refs weren’t calling for us was so ridiculous. ugh.
by legallybruinette on Dec 4, 2008 8:08 PM PST up reply actions
well that stung, not quite as bad as least year
but I’m proud of how we hung in there…my biggest worries were roll and drag constantly getting burned on D..also all the freshman looked a bit lost at times, DC did what he could
i agree, when we start clicking we will beat a team like this
O.A.
my biggest worry
about the new guys is Bobo… he looked really lost, especially on the play where the ball hit his arm. Hopefully he’ll catch up soon.
by legallybruinette on Dec 4, 2008 8:09 PM PST up reply actions
He's out of shape -- doesn't get down court quickly -- He'll catch up.
KL was out of shape at this stage of last year, too.
sjh
i'm so excited for our guys
the first real, tough away game and it was a good experience for our guys… we’ll be fine.
by legallybruinette on Dec 4, 2008 8:07 PM PST reply actions
Little different
We looked terrible against Michigan. We had good looks in this game, the ball just didn’t go in.
We showed a lot of improvement tonight
We look much improved all over the court, except at the line. That has nothing to do with youth or experience or needing to play together. That needs to improe ASAP/
Early
This team will get better. I hope one-and-out Jrue will consider this a wake-up call. The fact is that we will face teams who will score 70-80 points on us. Where will our offense come from? I hope Howland will spend as much time on that as he does on defense. We need more points.
oh c'mon
sure we hate them… but I hate teams outside the pac 10 more than I hate them, especially Oklahoma when they’re ranked.
by legallybruinette on Dec 4, 2008 8:13 PM PST up reply actions
You gotta read
what Leonard Washington of suc did to Blake Griffin of OU. That may change your mind. Or maybe not. Since this is just another Thug-Life move that is a part of their beloved tradition. :)
What does that get the Pac-10?
The conference sucks. Too bad.
by SuperBruinMan on Dec 4, 2008 8:12 PM PST up reply actions
I thought I could maybe stomach that...
but then I turned on the game. Seeing timmy on the sidelines and watching that collection of thugs was too much for me. I just can’t ever root for them in any way. The other 9 teams in the Pac can respresent and they can go to hell.
GO BRUINS!!!
middle of the first half is where we played our worst ball
and we missed free throws, a little more consistency especially on the offensive end and we’ll be fine.
We played most of second half with starters
period you talked about we were playing deep down bench.
Need to do that for development
sjh
Scoring Figures
Collison – 22
Shipp – 15
Keefe – 8
Aboya – 7
Dragovic – 6
Holiday – 3
Roll – 3
TOTAL – 64
Not sure
I’m not sure if it was better that I “watched” the game on gamecast while I’m stuck in class or if it would’ve been better to watch the game on TV. I’m disappointed because by reading the comments, it’s a game we could’ve have won — stolen more likely. Abrams burned us for 31?? Is that the highest we’ve given up to a single player in the Howland era? We’ve played against a lot of great players over the past few years, but I can’t recall someone dropping 30+ on us. Tough, tough loss, but the team will have to grow from this.
he seriously...
couldn’t miss. We didn’t give him a whole lot of, if any, “easy” shots. He was just good and I don’t think any amount of defense really could of stopped him tonight.
by legallybruinette on Dec 4, 2008 8:17 PM PST up reply actions
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