Bruins Squeeze Out A W In The Palouse
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Jan 22, 2009 8:09 PM PST
in Basketball
Email
PrintIt wasn't always pretty and it certainly wasn't comfortable, but a Pac 10 win is a Pac 10 win and when you can pick one up against a quality team on the road, there isn't much to complain about.
After building another big second half lead, the Bruins had yet another scoring drought (although not nearly as bad as Saturday's), but the seniors came through when the team needed it and the Bruins eeked out a 61-59 win (box score).
DC was only 3-8 from the field for 8 points, but he hit two free throws late and a rainbow to keep the Cougars from getting the opportunity to tie the game. AA2 also came up huge in the clutch, hitting two free throws of his own on one end, then swatting a shot fro Rochestie on the other. While the seniors were the key late in the game, it was the much maligned junior Nikola Dragovic who was the star in the first half. Dragovic had 6 first half 3's to lead the attack as UCLA built a 13 point halftime lead.
The Bruins had rebounding issues early on when they allowed Wazzu to get 7 offensive boards in the first 10 minutes, but they cleaned it up and WSU didn't get another all game long. The team finished only 6-10 from the line and didn't get the ball inside as much as some would have liked so there are certainly improvements to be made, but it's a road conference win over a quality team in a hostile environment. Those don't come without a fight and the Bruins clawed their way to one tonight.
While the Bruins got their W today, the two other teams who entered tonight tied with us atop the Pac 10, Washington (vs. USC) and Cal (vs. Oregon St.) are still playing so there's some more basketball of interest going on tonight. This is your Ben Ball Warriors postgame thread so for all you Bruins still out there, have at it.
118 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
two things
1) Being outrebounded. Yeah but it was only by 3, but we are definitely not doing as good a job rebounding as in the past (understandable given who we lost) but it’s hurting.
2) Giving up a .489 FG% to Wash St – its a good thing they only shot 36% from 3PT because giving up nearly 50% of field goals is painful
I was thinking the same thing
But I can’t root for $c and I would prefer they lose all their games anyway. Plus, better for us if UW is still tied at the top of the pac. A more quality win for us if we can pull it out! GO LAKERS!
Pink starting to melt down already
One of his players got T’ed up for hanging onto the rim, and Floyd took offense, and took off the sport coat.
Stanford goin' out duck hunting
40-18 lead at halftime in Palo Alto
Mark Few might as well start packing his house now, as there will be a coaching position opening up in Eugene come March.
Playmakers
I’m watching the post-game Bruins Live show, and Don MacLean mentioned that UCLA’s offense will have struggles at times because teams will key on DC. He said that DC is the only reliable player that can create his own shot and for others. To help DC out, Jrue Holiday needs to be more aggressive offensively.
How about having DC, Jrue, and Malcolm on the court at the same time? I don’t think we’ve used the 3 guys all at once this year.
In the end, when our defense is creating havoc and causing turnovers, and grabbing the rebounds, that’s when we can get into transition and score easy buckets.
Our defense gives us a chance to win every game.
by UCLA Championships Made Here on Jan 22, 2009 8:22 PM PST reply actions
yeah
This was our weakness last year – games where we lost it was largely cause Collison got shut down. If Collison isn’t having a great game, we need to sub in Anderson or Lee or Jrue into his spot. Yeah, they might not be as solid as Collison, but if Collison struggles, so will the rest of our offense.
I definitely had a deja vu moment there watching this game at the end thinking that there’s no way this could happen again. I definitely got the feeling of playing not to lose rather than playing to win at moments, but I’m glad we had to killer block at the end and our defense held it down cause it could’ve gotten real bad.
You're saying that if you were the coach you would remove DC and put in a freshman in his
spot in a game like this? Yeah right. I’d take my chances with a struggling DC over just about anybody in the country. I think CBH might also. Come on blink. You must have had a brain freeze for a moment.
totally right
collison was struggling tonight and scored 6 big points at the end
that being said i wonder how we’d do if we tried to switch jrue over as the backup when collison goes out instead of jerime. he might be able to create more due to his great passing skills.
believe it or not
When he wasn’t doing as well the first half, we could easily have give him some more breathing time. It does a few things:
1) It gives him time to rest. You can only play 35-38 minutes per game in the grueling Pac-10 schedule and be fresh every game. It also gives him time to watch the defense too and see what they’re doing.
2) Some of the 3’s Dragovic hit in the first half were set up really well by Holiday. Holiday is a freshman and a change of pace. Who was it that drove in and dished it to Roll when he hit his 3? I thought they announced it as JA but didn’t catch it at the time.
Anyways, the point is that having the change of pace is fine, especially since this year we have the backcourt depth of great ballhandlers. Not to mention that if defenses are setting their defense to slow Collison, I don’t see why we can’t throw a wrench in their plans and mix it up on them. The less they can counter our set plays, the better we will all be.
DC is the best PG in the nation, but even great teams with great PG’s have to play backup PG’s and mix it up when its necessary and give their best players breathers.
collison
he is one player that I couldn’t be happier with. He is the player I ALWAYS count on to rally our team, pull off great defense, and keep us in tight games. He made me want to cry with joy when he wanted to stay around his senior year and he is the player I always brag about no matter what.
With that said, I feel that that is almost the problem. We have always known what an amazing player he is and what a great team leader he has been even in former years. Now, the other teams are recognizing it. I also feel that not only is he being targeted but he is starting to the feel the pressure.
Different statements he has made in his interviews show true leadership but at the same time I’m starting to wonder if he feels like he has the weight of the team on his shoulders. I believe in Collison and I just hope that having to deal with all the crap he got from the loss and everything like that won’t affect him.
He came back for his senior year feeling that he had unfinished business and he wants it. He is the team leader and like i said i always beleive in him to bring our team together, but its important for everyone else to step up. Not only for his sake, but to make it so teams wont be able to see shutting collison down as a absolute win for them.
Tight game, but good win.
Go Bruins
by millikinbruin on Jan 22, 2009 9:20 PM PST up reply actions
Just for fun
When we were at Pauley for the UofA game, a buddy and I had a funny discussion about a “mythical” long range shooting contest we’ll love to organize consisting of former and current UCLA players.
We’ll invite: Tracy Murray, Jason Kapono, Lynn Shackelford, Jamaal Wilkes, Reggie Miller, DC, Michael Roll, Aron Afflalo, Don Maclean, Gail Goodrich
Am I leaving any viable candidates out?
by UCLA Championships Made Here on Jan 22, 2009 8:39 PM PST reply actions
dragovic after tonight
miller wins i think
I would change the list
I’d remove Afflalo. Great player, but he didn’t have range outside the gym. Same with MacLean. Shackleford, Wilkes and Goodrich were before my time, so I can’t comment on them. But since I have been following the Bruins, Murray, Kapono and Miller would shoot it from anywhere. The 3 of them would be in the finals, and I’d give it to Kapono if it was on the line, Miller if it was a couple feet back, and Murray if it was from 30 feet.
But Didn't
Afflalo set the record for most 3-pointers while at UCLA? I can’t remember if it was the single season or all-time record but I know he holds one of them and should be in because of that.
I'd add a few more
You’d have to include Henry Bibby, Greg Lee, and Brad Holland. All played before the 3-point era, which cost us and them dearly—though Bibby got his three championships.
Wilkes was not as great a long-range shooter as a driver—smooth as Silk. (Lee was the long-range bomber for the Walton gang.) Shack was deadly from the corner, but it helped that his man had to sag off to double on Kareem.
Sidney Wicks won more than a few games with clutch 25-footers. He was a phenomenal all-around player whose pro career didn’t do justice to his talent.
Another Terrible SPTR call in the sc UW game
They can’t figure out if a play was a block or charge so they call a double foul.
sjh
Just saw that
Wow – they take 5 minutes to figure this out – it was close but I actually saw that as more of a charge. Embarassing.
All in all its a win for U Dub though since Leonard Washington didn’t punch him in the nuts.
Not to mention
I would have just made it a no call if I couldn’t figure it out. A double foul? Ridiculous.
oh, those sptr's...
I think Thomas’s upper body movement threw the refs off – feet were set, but his torso was still moving when Washington came in. Of course, Washington ensured the charge call by lowering his shoulder into Thomas, rather than trying to complete the play.
Second half defense
Did our defense get figured out in the second half? Or, just tired?
First half: WSU 35% FG, 1-7 3PT 14%
Second lalf: WSU 64% FG, 4-7 3PT 57%
Obviously the win is good
but these late game melt downs are killing me. I don’t like the stall tactic. We actually dominated in the first half and just had some bad luck keeping the ball under control on rebounds. Then, in the 2nd half, we shut down their rebounding and limited turnovers, but went cold again shooting. ND stepped up but I enjoyed the rotation of players and contributions from so many. I thought Jrue was too unselfish at times, when he could have gone to the rim. DC is struggling with his shot, but still came up big at the end. Gotta love this team!
yup
and SC is able to sink a 3 at the buzzer to close the UW lead to 1 point, 31-30
Elsewhere in the Pac-10, Oregon State is giving Cal a competitive game, trailing the Bears by only a 58-62 margin, with under 6 minutes remaining in Berkeley.
Stanford has a 58-45 lead over the Ducks, midway into the 2nd half.
Ooh really?
Didn’t think that OSU Cal game would be close. The Ducks have closed it a little, but not enough. I think Stanford will cruise in that one.
A battle raging in Berkeley
OSU took a brief 1 point lead, before Cal answered with a 3-pt shot by Randle. 65-63 Cal, 3:15 remaining.
I don't think so
I searched and couldn’t find it
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Jan 22, 2009 9:09 PM PST up reply actions
For anyone like me who will be up until very, very late
there will be some good tennis from the Australian Open. Andy Roddick plays Fabricio Santoro, Mardy Fish plays Marcos Baghdatis and Roger Federer plays Marat Safin.
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Jan 22, 2009 9:01 PM PST reply actions
fyi rye
Bruce Jenkins of the S.F. Chronicle is a very good tennis writer.
Most writers who cover tennis report the scores and maybe mention a key point or two. Jenkins dissects matches, and writes with passion about a great sport. He also paints pictures of personalities, quirks, and personal dramas, and he isn’t afraid to take down the prima donnas.
He usually covers Wimbledon live; sometimes the U.S. Open. What with budgets, sick economy, and dwindling readership of newspapers, who knows how much longer they’re going to send him to England? So far, he hasn’t been covering the Australian.
Here’s a link to his past columns matching the word “tennis.” The articles are old news, but show what a talented tennis writer he is. Note the link is just the first page of tennis articles, not the whole list.
Man
too bad this is not on TV. I love seeing these kinds of games. I think Michelle’s brother is still pumped up from yesterday!
Oregon St. pulls out another upset
This time on the road. This means we can be in 1st place all alone without any help after this weekend.
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Jan 22, 2009 9:21 PM PST reply actions
a key advantage for us
After this weekend, 7 of our remaining 11 conference games will be @ Pauley (+ Notre Dame @ Pauley).
Yup
7 of our last 11 and our next 4 after this weekend. Hopefully we can string together a run.
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Jan 22, 2009 9:26 PM PST up reply actions
15 minutes to go in Seattle
UW leads SC by 1
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Jan 22, 2009 9:22 PM PST reply actions
stupid central standard time
I would give anything to be on PST. these games are always the death of the my gpa and regular sleeping patterns, but lets face it when ucla is on my priorities lie with the blue and gold haha
Reggie takes a gratuitous shot at SUC
during the Laker game. Throwing it in his own sister’s face no less.
I love having him on TNT.
I just stepped out of the room
What’d he say?
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Jan 22, 2009 9:27 PM PST up reply actions
Commentators ask Reggie about the rivalry
Reggie says “yeah we played them a couple times” in a dismissive justSC tone.
Okay, so it wasn’t that bad. Maybe I was reading too much into it, but it got his sister’s goat nonetheless.
Reggie said
He was having a little Bruin reunion with Ariza before the game. His partner asked if Nick Young was part of the reunion. Reggie said no way and if Nick wants a reunion to go see his sister.
by Gen2Bruin1987 on Jan 22, 2009 9:31 PM PST up reply actions
UCLA Big Men
Coach Howland always says that his success comes from having great players. I’ve noticed that since CBH era began, most of the offensively skilled players have been the guards: AA, Farmar, DC, Westbrook, JH, ML, JA. Outside of Kevin Love, our big men have not been as polished offensively: AA2, LRMAM, LMR, Bobo, DG, James Keefe. I love how our big guys play so hard on defense, screen effectively, and pound the glass. My favorite Bruin during this era was Luc.
Our offense will be most effective when all five players on the court are offensive threats. Teams tend to sag their power forward and center because they know their
I still think things will get better and championships in the CBH era are ahead of us because the next batch of big men and slashers have more offensive skills: Reeves Nelson, Honeycutt, Moser, etc. , add that with the freshmen guards we already have. Each year CBH is getting more and more 5 star recruits. He is still getting the hard nose blue collar players to fit his style, but they just have more skills. Of course, all the skilled big men will play in college for only one year. Imagine it, solid defense + consistent offense= championships
So far under CBH:
1) The players play hard every game
2) The players respect the game and their opponent
3) The players know the history of Wooden and UCLA’s tradition
4) The players improve under his guidance
5) The players are approachable, cordial, and are true student-athletes
6) The players are winners
This is all we could have asked or imagine when we were looking for a coach after the lizard of Westwood was given the boot.
Things look bright now and in the future for UCLA Basketball
Go Bruins!
by UCLA Championships Made Here on Jan 22, 2009 9:33 PM PST reply actions
agreed!
No matter the outcome of the came the players can always make you feel proud. Nothing like having a team of players and a coach to brag about not just in how many they win, but the way they win (and the dignity in which they lose) and the way they play with heart. Watching the boys leave isnt just a sadness that they wont be apart of the team for winning or losing purposes, its more a gratitude for playing with such heart and generally missing the energy they brought to the team. sigh Long Live CBH and the program he is building!
Nothing like the pride of watching the boys in the NBA now. All three of them in the top 15 of the rookies btw :)
by millikinbruin on Jan 22, 2009 9:42 PM PST up reply actions
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/recap?gid=200901220632
“some big plays by Nick Collison”
UW has stretched the lead to 10
It’s 62-52 with 5:45 to go. Leonard Washington has fouled out and Demar DeRozan has 4 fouls.
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Jan 22, 2009 9:52 PM PST reply actions
Didn't get a chance to watch the game
I’ll need to go over the comments onthe game thread when I get home. The wife and I are in the hospital, with the next member of the UCLA class of 2031 due sometime in the next few hours.
BTW, I looked over the AP write up of the game, can somebody tell me who Nick Collison is?
Bob O. (Signholder #3)
Congrats TuneMan
Best wishes to you, your wife and future Bruin. Hopefully everyone is healthy.
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Jan 22, 2009 9:59 PM PST up reply actions
OK, we'll forgive you that one
Congrats. Your first?
by Give me a B... on Jan 22, 2009 10:01 PM PST up reply actions
It wasn't smooth...
…but it happened. Our daughter, 8 lbs. 2 oz. 22 3/4 in. Mom and daughter are doing well.
Bob O. (Signholder #3)
Oh WOW!
Congrats – that is so cool!
I didn’t look at that link yet, but if my memory served me he was a Kansas player?
Yeah
He played for Kansas back in the Roy Williams days.
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Jan 22, 2009 10:01 PM PST up reply actions
Looks like we'll have alot of zone to deal with against UW.
Not too impressed with Brockman this game. I think we can break down their D.
by Give me a B... on Jan 22, 2009 10:04 PM PST reply actions
Brockman doesn't have a field goal
but remember what happened last time a really good player had an off game before we faced him. He’s going to be a handful on Saturday.
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Jan 22, 2009 10:06 PM PST up reply actions
Derozan out
SC has seen 3 players foul out tonight. Particularly bad considering how shallow their roster is.
I always prefer
playing a team on Saturday that has also won on Thursday. Maybe that is because the team that plays Thursday is always $c? LOL! But really, I like when we matchup with a team that also won.
GO BRUINS!!!
Maybe not, since SC has closed to within 2 possessions
The UW student section was chanting “Romeo, Romeo…”
Game over
USC- 73
Washington- 78
The winner of our game Saturday will be alone atop the Pac 10. Washington is a good team and we haven’t won at Hec Ed since 2004 so it will be a tough one.
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Jan 22, 2009 10:18 PM PST reply actions
Wear a facemask, Alfred
Remember that bum who struck his face last year?
Oh yeah
Does that guy still play for UW? Seems to me I remember him being a Senior.
Aboya might have been the only person on the planet he could have gotten away with that against. Strong enough where it didn’t crush him to the floor like it would most other players. And I have to think a player that grew up here would have tried to kick the guy’s a$$ immediately.
by Free the 16 on Jan 23, 2009 11:28 AM PST up reply actions
it was Tim Morris
and yeah, he was a senior
but remember, the head of the STPRs said that the incident was Aboya’s fault, because he jumped into the ball. Let’s ignore the fact that his feet never left the ground
by bucknellbruin on Jan 23, 2009 11:57 AM PST up reply actions
Who's next?
The players seem to take turns “getting hot”. Late in the nonconference and early Pac-10 games, Roll was red hot. He was hitting everything for about 4-5 games. Then I think teams start to scheme against him and he’s cooled off a bit. Now it’s ND’s turn. Ever since he got the start against SC he’s been playing very well, but expect opponents to plan defenses to contain him. I really hope Shipp can pick it up more on the offensive end. Just today I felt like he’s not even on the floor. Shipp should be the #2 go-to-guy after DC.
It would seem
It might be Jrue time to finally blow up for a big game. However, given that we typically assign him to the top scoring threat on D, that might be asking a bit much from a true frosh.
Would love to see a game where he didn’t have that assignment due to match-ups and could really focus on his offensive game.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
