Keeping our heads up ...

Before I get into anything else I think a big Bruin thank you is owed to Nestor, Telemachus, Ajax, Tydides etc. and everyone who keeps this site going.  While I don't always agree with everything that's said and the opinions expressed - this site is so solid and provides outstanding information and insight.  Thank you to the entire BN community for a fun way to follow this epic season.

The way we matched up today against Memphis we needed to hit our shots to win this game -- and we didn't do it enough.  Shipp started the night off solid knocking down 2 threes and then disapeared.  He was tentative - often driving into the lane and stopping, pivoting around a couple times looking to pass first before shoot.  When Shipp's shots aren't falling he's got to take the ball to the rack looking to score.  Also DC wasn't looking for his shot enough.  When a team does all they can to take Love out of the game we need a back up plan offensively and our perimeter game just wasn't strong enough.

I've always said that if we're drilling our shots and particularly - if Shipp is the Shipp we all know he can be - we won't be beat.  Memphis today, like Florida the last two years was the proverbial perfect storm against us that did us in.  Their big guards presented huge problems for us on defense, and to win we would have had to shoot fantastically and that just didn't happen.

I don't know where everyone stands on this next point, but I would not trade where our program is right now for one NC like the ones won by us in 95 and Syracuse a few years back.  We have been to three straight final fours - and while we were a bit exposed tonight - at a certain point all teams need a little luck.  Even with worst case scenario next year in terms of NBA departures our team will still be exciting and competitive with a chance to win the Pac 10 again.  We're not going to pull a Florida and settle for the NIT.  We are becoming a true program in that we don't rebuild but we reload.

While my hat is off to Memphis for this year, next year there's no way they sniff the top 15 all year i bet.  So, I guess my point is I wouldn't trade one random NC followed by years of inconsistent mediocrity for the consistently elite program that we now are.  

Bruin Basketball is back where it belongs with the blue bloods of the sport - the mecca of college basketball on the west coast.  And most importantly we must remember that whatever criticisms one may have on specific nuances of CBH's coaching style, we are led by a cool headed classy coach who recruits classy kids.  We could, theoretically go after certain more athletic yet morally and behaviorally questionable kids but that's not what we do.  We go for gentlemen who are smart, articulate, hard-working, and genuinely want to be at UCLA.  And, in my book, even if Love takes off he is a giant part of the UCLA family forever because of how much he loves UCLA and i do genuinely believe him when he says he loves UCLA.

I'm proud of our classy program and the young men who represent it.  So while i'm disapointed at certain specifics of our game today, i've come to terms that the better team today won.  And it's frustrating to criticize josh and darren because of how tough and competitive they are - all i can say is i hope they're both back next year to work on their game a little more.

Proud to be a bruin, and wouldn't trade a thing about what we have ... so tough loss today, but banner #12 is coming sooner rather than later - guaranteed.