They were allowed to be much more aggressive then we were, and the refs protected Taj all night. He had at least 8 easy to call fouls by my count

Other than that, did Marquis go to UCLA? There is being neutral and being ridiculous, he is consistently ridiculous!

tonight’s game totally ruined my night..

clearly playing a half court game with SUC and their 6 deep roster was pretty foolish. NOt sure why Howland doesn’t adjust his scheme to fit this years roster

Ya know – the thing that gets me is that HOW IN THE HELL when you are playing in the Pac-10 Tournament in your hometown in front of a national TV audience against your freaking in-town ARCH-RIVAL and you CAN’T get jacked up for that? Man, something’s just wrong with that picture.

At this rate we’ll be damn lucky to get into the 2nd round of the dance.

tonight ruined my saturday. I’ll be fired up on sunday for the brackets – but unless something miraculous happens – a sweet 16 is the best this team can do. Looking at a probable 5 seed – this ucla team will have a most difficult time beating a 1. I just can’t see it. In a 1 game scenario, anything can happen, but not something i’d bet on – bring on the crown and coke – time for a stooper

Is it me or DC get punked tonight? He seemed like he was out of it right from the tipoff. He certainly (tonight wise) does not look like a NBA player to me.

none of their players were punks tonight. Taj was a little cheeky, but they had good sportsmanship for once

We lost Love and Luke Richard Mbah a Moute, and so many of our shots last year that didn’t make it were rebound and scored easily by both of them.

Plus, after the first half it appeared that the psychological damage was done. DC and DH were both second guessing shots, and they over compensated.

We’re going to have high expectations, but we can’t bash them every time they don’t deliver or else nobody will want to play for us. Even if Jrue goes to the NBA you guys are probably going to bash Honeycutt next year for “not playing D” or “being too slow”

We need to have perspective and realize that not all Freshman are going to have as big an impact as Love.

Our two most disappointing players today were DC and JH, in my opinion, because they had tons of minutes but failed to show up offensively and defensively.
Collison: 1/9 FG, 0/5 3FG, 4 points, 0/0 Offensive/Defensive Rebounds, 3/7 Assists/Turnovers
Jrue: 0/8, 0/2, 1 point, 4/7, 3/4

In addition, neither Dragovic or Roll had a good night. Dragovic played mediocre offensively (low shooting %, but was given the ball a couple times at the very end of possession) and crap defense, and Roll played reasonably defensively but could not make a bucket.
Dragovic: 4/15, 2/8, 12 points, 2/4, 0/0
Roll: 1/4, 0/3, 2 points, 0/1, 2/1

Aboya had a mediocre night with decent offensive board showing and good hustle, but could not get a defensive rebound or score (partially due to lack of help in the paint).
Aboya: 2/9, 0/0, 6 points, 11/13, 2/2

Josh Shipp played reasonably well, and I thought Malcolm Lee had a good game and certainly should have been put in earlier.
Josh Shipp: 7/16, 2/6, 19 points, 0/3, 2/3
Malcolm Lee: 3/5, 1/1, 9 points, 2/4, 0/0

I think it is very telling when Aboya, Holiday, and Collison combine for only 11 points on 3/26 FG and 0/7 3FG.

I think our coach is not absolved of responsibility either. Unfortunately we played a slow game that did not take advantage of our depth. This is especially bad considering that USC is a shallow team. Secondly, he is very hesitant to substitute when someone is doing very poorly.

All in all, a poor showing. There is no such thing as a “switch”, and a team that is inconsistent all season long will be inconsistent in the tournament as well.

If you are a die hard Bruin then any lost to a SUC team eats at you. We didn’t show up for this team. we got out coached. you can;t say we don’t have players

we have talent every year. we have two bruins on the lakers squad. one on a piston squad and one with the suns. farmar is not great but even he said howland didnt take advantage of his talent.

Our record on Thursday nights speaks for itself.

If he’s hurt that’s just too much.

This has got to sting all the guys. Howland’s probably lost his voice. DC, JS, AA have experienced nothing but success during the season and tourney. You know they have to be pissed right now. I hate to rely on “turning on the switch” (I’m not a believer in it) – but that’s what I’m relegated too at this point. Wherever we go, wherever they ship UCLA, I’ll be yelling my ass off at the TV, saying what a shitty call was just made, and jumping up and down when we hit a 3. I will always cheer for the team and always believe they are capable of doing great things. I just want to see their best effort – and if they lose to a better team – I’ll walk around a proud ucla alum strutting the effort of my bruins. If they lay an egg with an effort like tonight…… UCLA Football with Rick Neuheisel and Norm Chow baby!!!!!!!!

But I wouldn’t call us or our performance heartless or lifeless. We played hard, but we were ultimately playing for a seed, and they played every possession like it would be their last one if they didn’t go all out. Our guys are human. It’s not in our nature to fight for what we already have as hard as the team that doesn’t have it. It was a question of urgency. We didn’t have it. We couldn’t fake it. USC needs another win tomorrow or they will still be NIT bound, and either way, they’ll be home for the spring long before us.

If we were consistently bad like say Florida, we can just chalk it up to a rebuilding year and move on. If we’re consistently good, then all is well and there are no problems. If we’re consistently mediocre like Cal, we know that we’ll make the tourney and might get an upset or two, but have no real aspirations of getting to the final 4 again.

Our problem is that we have flashes – the 4 game winning streak against the 2 bay teams, SC, and Notre Dame showed us how good we could be if we were playing at a high level. The team that showed up to those 4 games can make it to the final 4 again. Then we get a team that can’t get up for a game against Arizona and gets blown out, or doesn’t come prepared against WSU after winning the “game of the year” against Udub.

If I knew what we were getting night in and night out, it wouldn’t be so frustrating, but playing this weird sort of russian roullette with the way our team plays is just extremely frustrating

…and when that happens, we can’t expect much. The truth about this years team is that we pretty much live or die based on his performance. Not necessarily about how many points he gets, but how he controls our tempo and our composure. He’s the leader of the team…and unfortunately, he doesn’t seem to be able to fill in the leadership shoes of JF and AA when our backs are against the wall.

It reminded me of the memphis game last year. Once DC was out of sync, it was hard to remain hopeful.

That being said…I personally thought we should have just pulled DC out of the game sooner and tried to see what miracle JA or ML could pull off. Once DC got inserted back into the game with less than 2 min left…an out of sync DC was of no help and we lost our shot of a gonzaga miracle.

I feel like DC made the biggest sacrifice coming back for this 4th year…and i’ll always be grateful for that…but with him being the leader, this season is his to win or lose.

Just got back from Staples Center and thankfully im now in my room at UCLA. This was definitely my worst experience as a Bruin considering we got served and I was sitting in a section particularly inhabited by USC fans. I thought we had a shot when we were down 6. All we needed was a 3 and a turnover. But deep down I knew a win like that would probably leave us less prepared for the tournament. This loss hurt but atleast Howland and the gang will be ready to go for the first game of the tournament. A loss provides more evidence of weaknesses than a lucky win. The one good feeling I had tonight was when Collison took it up the floor and hit a jumper after getting punked after his turnover. We need Collison to take it up a notch. Moreover, Jrue needs to click. He is either too forceful or too selfless. Shipp will always be there. He is pretty consistent. To me, it is Collison and Jrue. Aboya will be a warrior no matter what. He has improved considerably since last year but I still don’t expect him to have amazing performances every day. The rest of the team just needs to give it their all but Jrue and Collison need to have some conversation very soon on how they will step it up. Let’s go Bruins.

As so many people have said this year, i think it is more than worth noting that when DC has a bad night, we struggle. Being at this game and watching us play like that is just so frustrating and inexplicable. I’m not going point fingers at who had the worst game, because after all this is a team sport, and we needed more than JS and ML to show up tonight. That said, Heads up Bruins. We’ve seen UCLA play up to their potential in a few games this season, and we know what they are capable of. There is no such thing as a good loss this late in the season, but I have faith that we will see this team, especially the seniors, take every play personally from here on out. This loss hurts too much to dwell on, so I’m moving on and looking forward to watching our bruins play in the tournament. JS, DC, and PAA don’t want to end their careers with a loss to USC and then a bad tourney run. BH and our Ben Ball Warriors will give it their all in the games to come. We may not make the final four, but our bruins WILL fight until the very end.

There’s really not much more than can be said that hasn’t been said. I’m more worried about the future of this Bruin team. The heart and soul of this year’s team will be gone next season with DC, Shipp, and PAA graduating.

One worry I have is that this year’s freshmen class really have not shown a defined role on the team. In years past, we can look at AA as the defensive stopper and emotional leader, Luc Richard as the defensive glue, Mata as providing blocks, Love as an everyman, Russell Westbrook as the athletic player that can generate steals. None of the freshmen when they come into the game gives me an impression that they have a role that they can provide to the team. And I think that has led to their inconsistent showings night in and night out.

Most telling is JH. Is he a passer? Some nights. Is he a go-to-scorer? Not really, not this season. Is he a defensive glue? Not all the time. He certainly has the raw basketball skills, but asking him to do multiple roles may be too much for him to do, especially with since he has such a quiet deferring demeanor.

Next season the only true scorer that we know is back is ND, and his defense is not really up to par. Keefe is gonna be a senior and he has not really provided much in his career. This team will really need to grow up during the offseason and the incoming freshmen need to be immediate impact players for the Bruins to get back to where they are accustomed.

I dont know if you feel the same, i’m just sick and tired of SUC getting all the athletes out there because UCLA academic standards too high. I just watched Track and Field and it look liked we were getting beat. We lost Snyder because he hasnt taken his SAT and I guess UCLA wasnt sure he would pass. Sometimes athletes just go to college as a stepping stone to the PRO LEVEL. so shouldnt they lower some requirements. SUC gets studs because they’ll take any SAT score. Look at OJ MAYO. can you honestly say he had the grades? just a thought.

It sucks losing to SUC. But let’s be real here, its tournament time and a team that’s desperate is going to have it’s best showing. SUC needed the win, and probably tommorrow as well, to get into the tourney. They might be a bunch of thugs, but they do have talent when they’re on to win, and catch us off guard with an off night and its anyones game.

There are plenty of fan bases that were dissapointed.For crying out loud, Pitt lost by 14 to WVU despite being penciled in as a #1 seed.

It seems lately like they don’t really see eye to eye. I like many others am a bit disappointed with the type of numbers the JH has put up… but i know that i must temper that with the realization that not every year do you get a carmelo, durant or KL coming into college basketball. but i am afraid that JH might think a bit too highly of himself, honestly. there are many plays where when he obviously forces the ball up or does a ridiculous jump pass and he doesn’t even seem to acknowledge his mistake. and it seems like he’s not really taking to CBH’s instructions at times (not that I think coach is perfect either, ND on derozan?!?). I’m just afraid that this might be the impetus for JH to jump early because it’s painfully clear he needs to come back. not for us as fans but to mature his game. the total lack of “one more year” chants at pauley are deafening.

one more thing, to get on DC’s back about one bad game when he has been killing the opposition for three solid years is completely RIDICULOUS. please, all you guys need to watch more than one game if you are going to go at DC.

When i go to a Laker game or watch a Laker game. It’s great to hear them mention UCLA. That goes to show you that we produce great talent. Especially when i watch a OKC Thunder and the LAkers. See four Bruins on the court. That’s UCLA representing great BRUIN NATION.

Whether we win or lose, I’m not going to dwell on it. I know a lot of us are sad, mad, dissapointed that we lost to SUC. That’s simply the nature of sports. I watched my beloved Dodgers sweep the Cubs last year, only to lose to the Phillies. I watched the Lakers take it to the Finals last year…. only to be embaressed by the Celtics. If I had it my way, we’d have won out, but things don’t always go the way you think they will.

I like what someone said many years ago that touched me. This was after 9/11 and the Yankees were playing the DBacks in the World Series: If the world were perfect, the Yankees would’ve won the World Series and given a great lift to the city of New York. But, the world isn’t perfect, and not everything ends the way we want it.

On the same note, I remember what I read in the newspapers afterwards. It was from Mariano Rivera and he said something poignant: That if the Yankees had won, his good friend Enrique Wilson would have been on the plane to the Dominican Republic that crashed into Queens a couple days later. And that he would have chosen to lose every time he had the chance if it meant that people weren’t lost.

I realize a lot of us, myself included, have become very emotionally invested into the team, and UCLA in general. And it’s always tough to lose to SUC. But today really put things into perspective for me.

Today, I was laid off, largely due to the nature of the economy and things going on in real life. Even though I had made peace with the fact that it was likely to happen, it’s tough, but it’s really put into perspective to me what winning or losing means – it’s all just a game. No matter what ESPN, or any other sports networks want to hype up about sports, it isn’t reality – only an escape from it. There’s plenty more to life than wondering whether we win or lose.

When it comes down it, it’s just sports. I’ve got family, friends, and plenty of other things to think about, things that will personally affect me and those around me. It’s tough, and it’s frustrating, but for the first time in a long time I realized that winning or losing, in the end, those aren’t the things that matter to me in real life.

It’s a tribute to your program, I’m amazed at the amount of interest in this game by you Bruins. The game didn’t mean all that much to you guys in the big picture. I actually hope you guys do well in the tourney. Go Pac 10, love to beat you guys in bb, doesn’t happen often.

TO bheesting above me: oj mayo did have grades he got a 29 on the act…95th percentile. im a huge bruin fan/alumni but its wrong to come in here and talk about a kid being “dumb” w/o the facts…give credit where its due. we got beat by a team which had less talent b/c they had more intensity. lets not blame the loss on grades. he have better players…name one player on sc that we recruited. not a one

and I was at the game and had to hear those obnoxious trOJan chants both during and well after the game. But you know what? I think the big dance will be different. Our guys had their LAST wake up call tonight. It may be for the better. I didn’t like the win against wazzu because I felt like it made us lower our guard. DC’s quote that he could “turn on the switch” only confirms this. We needed this humbling loss. Hopefully it was just a necessary evil. Game on. Last chance to dance. GO BRUINS.

How lovely that we made the cover of the fishwrap this morning (Saturday) with a telling image: ND getting fouled by Derozan in spite of SC’s win. Gee, I don’t remember us being on the cover of the Times a few weeks ago when we beat them at Galen Center, or when we trounced them at Pauley…if there was any doubt that The Times is in SC’s back pocket, this will nix that.

Beating a team as athletically talented as SUC three times in a row is difficult. The problem is how we lost. We were manhandled. We had a poor game plan, and we didn’t even execute that well.

NDs defense took yet another step back. There is no reason for him to be starting if he can’t defend man to man. If CBH wants to start him, we better start playing a zone because he is too slow to react for man to man coverage. He scores 10, but gives up 25, doesn’t rebound even thought he is a tall 4 with long arms, doesn’t box out, and rarely contests inside shots.

DC walking the ball up the court is not the right tempo to set for this team, nor is the passing around the top of the key for 20 seconds of the shot clock. This team has got to play quick, substitute frequently, trap, play harassing defense and attack the rim. We do very little of that.

Having a night to digest this lost, it made it easier to not be as angry and disappointed as last night. Remember in the AA final four year, we lost in round 1 as a 1 seed to Cal, so all hope is not lost. Plus DC gets to rest his injured tailbone…
Those are the silver linings. The more pressing issues are the fact that if we don’t shoot the ball well we are very vulnerable in the tournament and jump shooting teams tend to sooner or later get in a game like last night where shots just don’t fall. I know bad shooting will tend to kill most teams and i think that’s why our prior teams did so well in the tournament – they always had the D to fall back on so if we had poor shooting game the score would not start pulling away from us (think the Memphis game)
Another issue was when suc made their little spurt in the 2nd half to essentially put the game away, jh shot us right out of the game. We needed an answer during that stretch – and truthfully i rather 1 of the 3 seniors rise up in those situations because we’re only going as far as those 3 take us. i love jrue but he just hasnt shown that special something to be able to takeover as a freshman all year. I still hope he comes back.
I haven’t given up on this team – dont think i can but like Nestor i’m prepared for a possible short exit next week. We just don’t have that fiery leader who refuses to lose emerge this year – both dc and js just dont have the personality for it an paa just doesnt seem like he would be one to get in the face of a teammate to expect some accountability. On another board, a poster stated during the game that CBH should just pull everyone and play all the freshman to prepare for next year. I hope it was just emotions because that is just ridiculous – if you think this year is bad, i think next year we’re going to be even more inconsistent and will be a true “rebuiliding” year. Keep the faith. I’m sure the seniors realize this is it – its do or die. I don’t mind if we don’t win it all or lose in the tourney as long as every single bruin leaves it all on the court. As a great man stated, “success is a peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to become the best that you are capable of becoming”.