UCLA Destroys Notre Dame
by Nestor on Feb 7, 2009 12:04 PM PST
in Basketball
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PrintApparently before the game today Digger Phelps, the hoops "analyst" on WWL opined that the Irish will beat the Bruins today because, "Pauley Pavilion is our second home."
Well here is to Digger mouthing off about UCLA again and again. Ben Ball warriors make an emphatic statement on national TV by humilating the Irish. The final score was 89-63 (boxscore).
As good and as dominating our offense was today, once again it all started with this ... our DEFENSE:
Photo Credit: Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images (via Yahoo)
That was JS sending a loud and emphatic message in the second half but the tone of defensive domination was set early when savaged Luke Harangody with a monster block. Since then it was all Ben Ball warriors in every facet of the game. ND and rest of the Ben Ball warriors bottled up Harangody for 5 points for the entire game sending a statement all across the nation.
Once again we are presented with the good problem to pick out the player of the game. it was a total team domination. AA2 PAA played like an animal terrorizing basketball players instead of campus squirrels. DC controlled the flow on both ends of the court. JH was just a natural putting on dazzling display of offensive skills and Ben Ball defense. To top it off Bruin bench kept the pressure on via JA, ML, DG, and MR.
We will have more on this tomorrow. Bruins close out a perfect home stand answering all questions since their trip to Seattle. Now the challenge becomes to keep up this level of play when they head to the desert this week. As mentioned above, if we keep playing defense like we have last three games and maintain the all out tenacity, we are going to be all right.
Enjoy yet another post game Ben Ball victory thread.
GO BRUINS.
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We had some great D
I can’t wait to see some of those sick blocks again on the highlights
I was at game
Pauley was absolutely rocking big ass time!!!
by harveyismyboy on Feb 10, 2009 6:49 PM PST up reply actions
Before the season, I'd hoped AA2 would be a 6 and 6 guy...
… like LMR was for us as a starter.
NOW????
By the Tournaments, AA2 could be a TWELVE and SIX guy.
As Kellogg stated during the broadcast, other teams now have to scout AA2… on the offensive end.
Slams? He had those before.
Turnaround jump hook? Coming along, slowly but surely, as a go-to move.
Baseline kick-out shot, out to 12-15 feet? RELIABLE.
AA2 is becoming a legit CENTER in Division I.
WOW.
M
"In this program your passion bucket must be full to play SC." -- CRN, to Dan Patrick, 1/2008
He can hit that shot out to 18 feet
With ease.
Do Ya Remember
At the start of the season the talking point on Al was just to keep out of foul trouble? How great is it to see him continue to develop all phases of his game. Of course, this isn’t the first hard-working big man we’ve seen really bloom under CBH and staff.
The emergence of Alfred Aboya
What else can you say about him. 19 points. Tenacious D. Great leadership. He is quickly ascending this Bruin’s list of favorite all-time UCLA players.
Something just doesn’t seem right about putting a 2 behind AA anymore. How about changing it to PA (President Aboya)? Any thoughts?
If he runs for office,
I am moving to Cameroon, sleeping my way to citizenship, and casting my vote for PAA.
B.F.
AA2's last 4 games -- 14.5 points. 7.75 rebs. per game.
God Bless UCLA.
God Bless America.
God Bless Cameroon.
"In this program your passion bucket must be full to play SC." -- CRN, to Dan Patrick, 1/2008
Missed the game
Who was on Haranaranaranaranarangody or whatever his name is? Either that guy is not as good as his clippings or he ran into a tough defense.
Now, if only we had a coach who could coach offense.
PAA most of the time
with plenty of help from the rest of our warriors (doubled just about everytime he touched the ball). Our rotations today were spectacular. We never lost focus. An outright domination.
Statement game.
by godblesstyus95 on Feb 7, 2009 12:16 PM PST up reply actions
Harangody is easily as good as his clippings
and we flat out shut him down. Huge props to PAA, JK, ND, DG, and whoever was involved in double-teams (I saw JA cause a TO on a double). He was averaging 23-12 this year. Incredible performance by our defense
by bucknellbruin on Feb 7, 2009 2:35 PM PST up reply actions
averaging 12 rebounds a game and he gets...
ONE today. That is unbelievable. That is not an off day. That is called boxing out and hustling by our boys. Wow. Mr. Harangody got a taste of Ben Ball today.
Digger
F—- Digger Phelps. Guy never did anything for ND. I am pissed because I wanted the Bruins to blowout the Irish by 40 or more. JH should stay one more year to develope his outside shot. Look how the President has improved under CBH.
Hubert Davis is even dumber
On college gameday this afternoon, after our game’s highlights the only thing the WWL moron’s talked about was how tough ND’s schedule was and how difficult it has been for them. They then started talking about the ND defense (which I didn’t think was that bad, just got stuck against a better team today) and how they “even allowed 89 points to UCLA, a team that struggles to score.” Way to just go with common misguided thoughts and not facts Hubie.
I cringed at Hubert's comments, too.
“Struggles to score”???
Instead of talking about how horrible ND is, you talk about how AWESOME the Bruins are?
even nd fans hate digger phelps
Across The Face
Final 4 Team Again!
The way we are playing, best game after each game for the past four games, we are playing like a final four team. PAA and ND got to be the most improved players on the team. Also, Collison and Holiday have to be the best backcourt conbination in the country. Their passing made PAA and ND look good. I think everyone gave 100%. I used to respect Digger, but ever since he became a commentator, he alway bet against us, just like me betting against SC even we are the underdog.
I don't know
The ceiling for this team seems a little higher right now then it was after the Washington game. However, we still need to prove that we can play with poise and purpose against quality competition on the road—we’ll have that opportunity coming up this next week.
by godblesstyus95 on Feb 7, 2009 12:43 PM PST up reply actions
Not yet.
A game at a time. A week at a time.
Let’s see how we play on the road against a physically bigger team. let’s see if we can consistently play aggressive perimeter defense, and drive against a team with bigger guards and wing players throwing a zone defense on us.
IF, if, if, IF!!! DC can drive aggressively against a zone D without settling for 3s…
if Josh can continue to draw fouls on inside shots…
if JH can keep playing high-speed read and feed offense in half-court while contributing solid=rock defense…
if Drago can keep applying active, smart D on more physical players while knocking down 3s…
if AA2 can keep giving us hustle with muscle at BOTH ends…
ALL WHILE ON THE ROAD…
then look the [bleep] out below.
M
"In this program your passion bucket must be full to play SC." -- CRN, to Dan Patrick, 1/2008
You bet they are
The stunning progress PAA & ND made only point to one thing, Howland & company’s coaching. If PAA keeps up such impressive performance for the duration of the season and into the tourney, then he’ll be leaving Pauley an even better player than his cohort from Cameroon, the Prince.
Dragovich’s shooting touch, and his long jumpers remind me of Richard Washington.
Not yet...
Bruins haven’t beaten a single ranked (Top 25 polls) team yet. The good news is that they are improving. They don’t have a big body (center or power forward) that can stay with the Brockmans, so the only way to win is with D and outside shooting. if they were to sweep in AZ next week, then that would be making more of a statement than home wins against undisciplined SC and slumping ND. Nonetheless, have to give them credit for shutting down Harangoody and winning big.
Digger is a Wimp
What did he ever win? He always comes across as a bloated, whiny, bitter buffoon.
By the way, I think it is way past time for all of the “Ben Howland Doesn’t Know Offense” folks to step forward and admit they were wrong.
I’ll wait patiently.
One Final Four
Digger made one Final Four. If memory serves, he once had them ranked #1 but of course they got “upset” so no banners. As the posting below notes, one UCLA meltdown with a memorable shot by Dwight Clay is the only thing that made his record noteworthy.
#1 the week after ending out 88 game streak
If my historical knowledge is correct, they lost the ranking after being blown out @ Pauley on the return leg of the home-and-home.
Phelps really said that?
Amazing.
I’ve never understood the reasoning behind the supposed UCLA/Notre Dame basketball rivalry. It just isn’t there. How often do we play? How often do they win? Isn’t it all just based on one upset Notre Dame managed to pull off during Wooden’s hey day? University of Houston managed to pull one of those off as well, you don’t see them claiming to have a rivalry with us, or calling Pauley their second home.
Hope you’re able to get that egg off your face Digger. I hear club soda works well.
A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment. John Wooden
I have a feeling
that the Lakers aren’t done with trading. I think this may be setting something up to bring in another big to improve their interior defense and rebounding. This only makes sense from a money standpoint….I wouldn’t go house shopping in the L.A. area if I were Adam Morrison.
by godblesstyus95 on Feb 7, 2009 3:39 PM PST up reply actions
GREAT long-term trade for Lakers.
(1) Vlad’s contract goes until 2011, which means we’d be paying double his salary in luxury taxes because the roster costs so much. Morrison’s, however, ends in 2010 — which means a $12 M savings ($6M in salary plus luxury tax) in 2011
(2) High cost of roster made it less likely we’d re-sign Odom (even at reduced hometown rate) AND our own Trevor Ariza — both of whom are productive for this team. Dumping Vlad gives us salary flexibility.
(3) Kupchak once again finds a GM dumber than he is — and that’s Michael freaking Jordan. Larry Brown cherishes hardwork and defense — which means he’s REALLY going to love Utah snowboarding ace Vlad Rad.
(4) Morrison is coming off a knee injury last year. With 2-3 SFs in front of him, the former No. 3 pick will have time to get his game back — and MIGHT (if we’re REALLY lucky) be a heckuva steal. At a minimum, he is a player who can create his shot — the kind of player the Lakers lack (aside from Kobe, of course).
(5) Shannon Brown, the former Mich. St. guard, is 6’4", 210 — with almost freak-level atheltcisim and strength for his size. Lakers have lacked a 5th guard all year, and this was noticeable when Farmar went down with an injury. Given the relative lack of muscle in the Laker backups (sorry, JF), Brown is a good insurance policy addition. AND his contract expires after this year, too.
VERY solid move by Kupchak.
M
"In this program your passion bucket must be full to play SC." -- CRN, to Dan Patrick, 1/2008
If I may add a (6)
(6) Vlad’s role was diminishing anyway with the return of Luke Walton to Phil’s good graces. Trevor has earned every minute he has played this season. Sorry Vlad, but you’re the odd man out.
Frank Burleson: The Big Difference in UCLA , Lately? PAA
Burleson was discussing the ND game and was asked why UCLA was playing so well. He talked about the fact we’ve stepped up the D, that Drago was hitting from outside, and that JH’s game has been elevated but …
the big difference according to Burleson is that PAA is playing so well. He said that PAA is playing post D as well as anyone in the country and that he is starting to score, reliably.
Good shout out for the President.
And, as I noted in the game thread, DC gets a big “I told you so.” If you recall, when PAA announced he was coming back, it was DC who said we’d see things from him we’d never seen before. And, we have.
sjh
A shout out
to Howland as well, who for the last 4 years now has gotten this team to start playing its best basketball in February and March, when it counts. How anyone can knock his coaching style given his track record is absolutely ridiculous.
by godblesstyus95 on Feb 7, 2009 3:56 PM PST up reply actions
For all you old timers...."Sit Down Digger"
And as the back of one of the signs the students hold up during opposing player introductions: “Digger is a Wimp”
We are looking good! Depth, Defense and Dagger 3 pointers.
PAA just whopped ass on an “All American”. dont tell me we dont have an inside game any more.
PAA is great by the emergence of ND and MR has added a dimension that is critical in facing opposing zones. We broke the back of ND, SC, Cal and Stanford. Tired players gave up.
Go Bruins!
by Bruin Dad and Grad on Feb 7, 2009 4:09 PM PST reply actions
Big East comparisons?
I didn’t get any post-game interviews (watched the game ot my son’s hockey practice with no sound – Fox may be on to something…), but I wonder if anyone asked ND’s coach how today’s beatdown compares to what he’s seeing in the Big East. The Big East is getting so much (too much) love these days from the MSM, so I’d be curious to hear the view from someone credible.
greg in denver - UCLA guy for life
It was all A-rod steroids
I switched over to ESPN News channel to try to get any highlight but they kept saying that they were coming up and re-playing the same crap about A-rod. Yes, he flunked a test in 2003, you made your point the first time.
At least that’s all I was able to watch in San Jose.
Turning point
I think the turning point of the game happened very early on when Harangody tried to drive toward the basket and was absolutely shut down by ND. Notre Dame’s best offensive player, and the Big LEast’s player of the year last year, was met at the basket by the player who is considered to be our “weakest” defensive player. As we all know, this encounter didn’t go well for Mr. Gody and Notre Dame.
Big props to Drago who is becoming a complete player. A lot of us, including myself were hard on him earlier in the season, but I am perfectly happy to eat my words after the way Drago has played this year as a starter.
DC's shooting touch is back
Not to be lost in the excitement of this game was DC going 3-4 from 3pt range. This after a several game long range drought. It looked like there was a concerted effort to get DC looks from long range to help him regain that form that we’re so used to seeing.
espn's Andy Katz on our warriors
UCLA’s defense has powered the Bruins’ offense…UCLA forced 21 turnovers against Cal, 19 against Stanford, 23 against USC and didn’t need much more than 11 against Notre Dame on Saturday. UCLA has scored 81, 97, 76 and 89 in its current four-game win streak.
"We’re getting out in transition because we’re forcing those turnovers,‘’ UCLA assistant Scott Duncan said by phone after the Bruins throttled Notre Dame 89-63 Saturday at Pauley Pavilion. "The difference in our team is our defense. We’re getting easy baskets.’’
UCLA was running as well as it has been all season with Darren Collison and Jrue Holiday leading the break. Alfred Aboya is becoming much more offensive (19 points vs. Luke Harangody’s five) and Nikola Dragovic has become a tough matchup with his long-range shooting. UCLA appears to be on a mission to win the Pac-10 and still get a high enough seed to warrant being placed in Portland as the top team in the West in the first and second round.
full story here (this is almost the entire UCLA blurb)
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