Proving Doubters Wrong ...
by Nestor on Mar 16, 2009 6:30 PM PDT
in Basketball
29 comments
It's not just Seth Davis who is dismissing Ben Howland's Bruins:
Over at Sportsline.com only 1 of our their 4 "experts" is picking UCLA to go beyond the second round. Otherwise everyone else thinks Bruins will be done by this weekend if not Thursday night.
Luke Winn from SI.com is "not buying" VCU over UCLA but even that "endorsement" is much to talk about when he says this:
The worst geographical draw was handed to ... UCLA. The Bruins will be traveling 2,395 miles to Philly's Wachovia Center to play Colonial Athletic Association champ VCU ... while the Rams and Larry Sanders' posse only have to travel 198 miles. If UCLA manages to win that game, it'll likely play Villanova ... which is playing in its home city, on what's essentially its alternate home court. Ouch.
Ouch is right. Guess we should have taken care of business v. Washington State and Arizona State at home or against the Trojans at Staples. Oh well.
Guess what we can hope for right now is to see this team get fired up reading or hearing from doubters all across the nation. I would like nothing more than this team to show up focused, fired up in a cold blooded way and methodically take care of VCU on Thursday night. Is it going to happen? Guess I am not sure this time around like I was in last three years. In the comment section the schully implores for a "little more faith" by comparing this year's team to the one from 05-06:
This season has had its disappointments and I’m not expecting our team to make a Final Four, but I still have faith. My first year, JF, LMR, AA made that surprise run to the Final Four. We were a 2 seed, but it seemed like in every game we played we were the underdog. We didn’t see the heart of that ‘06 team until the very end of the season, maybe not even until the tournament. I’m not saying that this year’s team is anything like the team 3 years ago, but still, don’t count them out before the tournament even starts.
Well I am not counting our guys out. But I am not sure if we can really compare this year's team to the one from 2005-05. That team did in fact turn the "switch" on after a humiliating loss to Southern Cal at Sports Arena and never looked back. Not only did they pull out two money games in the Bay Area to clinch the conference, they destroyed the competition in the Pac-10 tournament. It was pretty clear how that team was clicking on all cylinders heading into Madness. This year is a little different.
I hope schully and others are proving right but at this point of time this team has a long way to go to match up the heart, pride and the defensive intensity of the 2005-06 team. I for one hope schully and others come back here on Saturday night and flood a post game thread on Saturday night in celebration of "I told you so"s.
Here is to our guys providing all the doubters wrong this week in Philadelphia. We can always hope.
GO BRUINS.
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I went to Staples
The Trojans played outstanding defense, which is the reason they won. The reason we lost is that aside from Collison, we do not have offensive players who can break down the defender guarding them. Floyd had three players preventing Collison from driving and guarded him all the way to the three point line. When Dragovic isn’t shooting and making, our offense struggles. JH has really struggled offensively. We have the talent to go far, and I love our team, but every game is a toss up. In the NCAA you can’t afford to have a bad game, particulary with no post presence. I never thought I’d miss LMR as much as I do. We could sure use him.
by 75NatChamps on Mar 16, 2009 6:12 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
The media knows that UCLA fans pay attention
That is why they all love to make controversial announcements about us. While most of them have us getting upset by VCU, Jeff Goodman at foxsports.com has us picked to win the East:
My pick: UCLA — They have experience, terrific guard play and they defend. It’s a recipe for success and also one that could land them in a fourth consecutive Final Four.
He is the only one though that seems to have any faith in UCLA. Not that I or CBH or any of us here at BN care. It just means there are more people to be proven wrong on Thursday night.
Closing thought: If VCU really is soooooo amazing like everyone says they are (even though the last VCU game most of these idiots saw was 2 years ago against a hapless Duke team), why were they an 11 seed?
My answer: They aren’t that good. If you look at their record, they didn’t play anybody all year and event he CAA tournament that they won to get in to the tournament was at their home gym (in the comments).
by bruinponcho on Mar 16, 2009 6:29 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Good point Re: Media.
UCLA fans do pay attention. And there are so many of us, for so many reasons, that we will always be in the headlines.
by rfirpo on Mar 17, 2009 7:21 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Damn
That Fox Sports main page graphic makes me sick. I know we’re not the same team we have been the last couple of years but the negativity everywhere is more than I expected! I mean, a lot of this is coming from that terrible loss to $c. The game before that everyone was much higher on our team talking about how “the signature Ben Howland defense is back” and then it took one bad performance to wipe that all out. IMO it will take one GOOD performance to get this team going again.
There is a different kind of thrill when you win as an underdog. We will be the underdog in every game except game #1, and even in that game many think we may lose. I know this team is not the same as the 05-06 team, but some feelings are the same. I remember my mom and I were supposed to go to Vegas the first/second rounds in 2006. As the season neared it’s end, we realized we may be in the West. We talked it over and cancelled our whole Vegas weekend to go to San Diego. I mean, how could we not go since it was just a 2 hour drive right? We didn’t have a lot of expectations and ended up having a GREAT time. Then after we beat Alabama, we looked at each other and said “Well, do you want to go to Oakland?”. We both thought “Of course” and thank goodness we did. That next Thursday was Gonzahga and everyone here knows how that went down. My mom looked at me with about 10 minutes left and said “we are GOING to win this game”. I didn’t really believe it. Then after Memphis there wasn’t even a question – we were going to Indy. Every game was taken one game at a time like it should be and this year will be the same. I just hope I am at the Wachovia Center on Saturday saying “So, mom are we going to Boston?” The answer will be an unequivocal YES.
Here’s to taking it one game at a time and enjoying every last second of Collison, Aboya and Shipp in a UCLA uniform.
GO BRUINS!!!
by uclafan11 on Mar 16, 2009 6:44 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
You play the game to find out the score
I love the fact the pundits are saying negative things….because the pundits only matter when they dont pick you. Their quotes fire up the team. And we need firing up. Intensity is the key to success for this team especially.
When the brackets were announced in 2006 I said: we can really make it to the Final Four. Zags were too dependent on one guy and I did not believe in Memphis.
IF we play our game, we can make it again. I really believe we can get through the East IF we play our game. So bring it on pundits—we need more motivation!
(Of course the opposite is true. What we fans say makes little difference. The game needs to be played!)
I am ready for Thursday already
Go Team Go!!
by Bruin Dad and Grad on Mar 16, 2009 7:05 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Great Point. We do need firing up.
Those picking against us have done us the biggest favor possible. We could still come out flat and get smoked in the first round. But if ever there was a chance that the “switch” could be flipped once and for all, it is now because of all the negativity.
by rfirpo on Mar 17, 2009 7:24 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is their chance
It’s up to the Bruins to show up with pride, play all out, and prove the doubters wrong. No excuses now. A lot of people in the media sure don’t have much faith in Howland being able to turn it around. Let’s face it, those idiots weren’t enthused about them in the first place because of the style of play Howland’s teams usually play, and this is their chance to rub it in. They’ve got to prove them all wrong.
by UCLA4Life on Mar 16, 2009 7:06 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I am happy to be an underdog!
If so many people think we are going to lose, then our guys should not have any pressure. Lets just go out there and beat the crap out of VCU. Go Bruins!
by NNL on Mar 16, 2009 7:08 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
the article
was actually pretty shallow analysis with respect to most of the seeds.
publicity stunt, that works, and gives us fodder…
onward…i think we need a meriones post soon…
by glassbruin on Mar 16, 2009 7:45 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Just surprised
by the # of media who are calling for the upset (VCU over our Bruins). Most called our seed “too low” (see articles in USA Today) and our ranking of 17 in one poll implies a top 5 seed. Yet, the pile on continues. Almost seems like UCLA “hate” owing to our legacy. The Duke/Kansas/Kentucky/NC legacy brings love (is there truth to the East Coast Bias, er Jay?). Thankfully, they actually play a game (or six) to decide this, unlike football which is, well you know…
by Vanman7475 on Mar 16, 2009 10:06 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
As many times as I have seen this before,
it never ceases to amaze me; the amount of disrespect the MSM has for us.
But, I’m glad FOX put it’s foot in it’s mouth. It really is going to be US against the World, and I’d have it no other way.
Let’s Go Bruins! Time to prove the doubters all wrong one more time!
A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment. John Wooden
by MexiBruin on Mar 16, 2009 10:08 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Add Andy Katz and Jay Bilas to the list
Around the 1:48 mark, Katz points to our matchup if you’re looking for the 11 over 6 upset.
Also, I just saw Jay Bilas drool over VCU upsetting us.
by BruinsRUs on Mar 16, 2009 10:15 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Everyone on Around the Horn today too
Except JA Adande who tried to bring it up and was mocked by the other idiots with cry-baby sounds. This is unbelievable. Its almost like there is some sort of deep seated bias that pervades all of this east coast sports writers….oh wait…..nevermind
by bruinponcho on Mar 16, 2009 10:17 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
It's funny
We’re the underdog as a 6 seed. I’m guessing there won’t be a whole lot of congratulations for our “upset” if we win though.
by Tydides on Mar 16, 2009 10:55 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Well
If we get by the first weekend, we can’t use jet-lag as an excuse as we will be staying on the east coast for the week
by lil eg not cs on Mar 16, 2009 11:00 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
At least
Joe Lunardi thinks highly of us…Oh wait
by lil eg not cs on Mar 16, 2009 11:11 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
just win baby
the tournament is a great time to get it together. the big 10 and big east will be exposed and we’re gonna make a run that will surprise everyone. the tournament is wide open and anything can happen especially this year. louisville , the numbe rone seed overall lost to w. kentucky and had their pants pulled down and spanked by notre dame. plus i like that we’re in philly, i think some chase utley mojo will rub off on us
Across The Face
by rb bruin on Mar 16, 2009 11:43 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
good news, bad news
bad news first: VCU has become the “trendy” pick.
good news: i dont remember the last time a trendy pick has won this past year i.e. arizona cardinals in the super bowl, the rays in the world series, etc.
by TrueBlueAndGold on Mar 16, 2009 11:48 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Last time I can remember....
was VCU against Duke. A lot of people had VCU beating Duke in that game, if only because Duke was perceived as a really, really weak.
by CAJason80 on Mar 17, 2009 10:19 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Last trendy pick I remember
was Manhattan beating Floriday in 2004. But that was a 12 vs. 5 so at least that made sense.
by turs12 on Mar 17, 2009 10:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
The '08-'09 Edition
I will be cheering as hard as anyone for our team this week but I would be lying if I said I had as much confidence in them this season as I have had the last 3. Even in ‘05-’06 the team just felt much more confident and ready to make a push in the tourney. At times this season this team has felt that way, but mainly they’ve been a bit inconsistent – in large part in my mind because of their defensive intensity.
The biggest thing to me is team chemistry and it’s just a hard thing to create and to define. It’s been much discussed here in the context of this year’s team in the form of the different leadership styles of the key members, the freshmen, etc. It’s that intangible that is missing for me in this year’s team. I think LRM is missed as much as any player – KL and RW included. But the combination of players and personalities over the last 3 years just seemed to work better, or at least inspire more confidence in me personally. I always believed those teams would win in their tourney games, always believed they would find a way down the stretch – and they almost invariably did. The ‘95 team was the best UCLA team in that regard (that I watched play anyway), and I’m not just saying that because they won it all. They just had amazing team chemistry and a totally complimentary set of players.
This team doesn’t feel like that to me at all, unfortunately. I love the seniors – DC has always been one of my favorites – and I will be cheering for them to surprise the “pundits” with a run to the sweet 16 or beyond. I just wish I could silence the doubt in the back of my head.
Go Bruins – let’s “shock the world”.
by T_Rex94 on Mar 17, 2009 12:00 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Bring it on
In spirit of the Greek (anti-Trojan) tradition around here, I think we should borrow the following words from Leonidas when dealing with the hate and attacks from the MSM:
Molwn Labe- “Come and Take Them”
Just as these words came at his last stand against the Persian army (basically the world), so too can we echo the same sentiments in our fight against the world of college basketball. While we may have a tough road ahead of us, we should look at it as a potential road to another champioship. As a senior I’ve been spoiled with 3 great consecutive final 4s, but I know Howland and our team aren’t done yet. Let’s take this thing with class and style.
by podas okus Achilleus on Mar 17, 2009 12:09 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Reality Check about VCU
I know the pundits are hungry to create Cinderella, but the reality is VCU is not that strong a team and are ONLY in because they won their cupcake league tournament, which by the way is played in their hometown…BIG ADVANTAGE for a midmajor league to say the least. They have lost to teams that no serious team would (UNC-Wilmington, Delaware to name a few) and barely won the season by one game. The only real threat here is that any team that has to travel a full coast as UCLA does could lose to the worst team in the league. Eric Maynor and his team have been losing to some mighty untalented teams this year and last, but don’t tell the pundits that…they’re too busy sniffing for the next Cinderella, which btw, VCU won’t be. If they manage to find an exhausted jet-lagged UCLA and survive, they will not survive until the Sweet 16. Winning against a team that has a location disadvantage does NOT a Cinderella make.
by ballwatcher on Mar 17, 2009 5:01 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Tough Game, But We Can Do It
I agree with everyone above, that the naysayers are giving us the biggest assist of the year. We need this energy to feed off of, and it is possible that it could carry us into the second weekend. I predict our team comes out firing on Thursday, which is great. Go Bruins!
However, though I agree with a lot of the comments above that VCU may not be that good, I think we need to respect them as much as possible. There is an east coast bias, and I’m sure a lot of the easties saw VCU play a lot of games—and they probably are a decent team. I think a big reason people are picking VCU is because they know VCU is pretty good, and they know UCLA has played its worst basketball in big games. It is easy to assume we are better because they play in a small relatively unknown conference. And that is probably true. But I am erring on the side of respect this thursday. I like that we are the underdogs, we need that. I hope our team has that mentality, and I hope they avoid thinking of VCU as just some small conference school.
Go Bruins. Love the energy around here today.
by rfirpo on Mar 17, 2009 7:34 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Doubters?
Well, forget the MSM with their idiotic headlines. The truth is, we should beat VCU, but there’s no doubt in my mind that it will be a close game. However, I don’t think you can qualify anyone as a doubter for not thinking that we won’t make it past the second round. We would be the lower seed against a team that is essentially playing at home. Not picking us to win would just make you a realist, not a doubter. It would be a pretty big upset in my mind if we were to beat Villanova in the second round, that team is pretty solid.
So this year, I am just not expecting much. We are a 6 seed and will pretty much be the underdog in every game after the first round. Sure, we could make a run, but I wouldn’t call anyone a “doubter” for not believing that we will. It doesn’t make sense however to pick the upset by VCU. If everyone is expecting it…is it really an upset? In any case, those are the only people I would call doubters.
I for one would be very happy if we got to the Sweet Sixteen. It’s not what we have come to expect from a Ben Howland team, but we have to get real. In fact, we have to acknowledge the great job CBH has done this year. Would anyone have guessed that we would have been the best shooting team in the country before the season? I think CBH has done the best he could with his personnel. There are some things you can’t coach, and those things would probably have earned us a couple more wins, but I think he has done a great job with such a new lineup and some crucial players missing. I’m not the only one who thinks so either, Dan Wetzel still calls Ben Howland the Best Coach in the NCAA.
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
by tasser10 on Mar 17, 2009 12:53 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Even the Tark thinks we should get past VCU
But he doesn’t think we will get past Villanova.
by Gen2Bruin1987 on Mar 17, 2009 1:34 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I guess we are also going to be a major letdown
by turs12 on Mar 17, 2009 10:57 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Interesting Choice of Statistics Used for UNC vs. UCLA
For UNC, Mr. Evans chose the defensive efficiency rating (35th), however, he chose not to mention UCLA’s ranking (37th) in the same category in favor of two far more damning statistics. Still, the fact that only one team since 2004 has advanced to the Final Four with a defensive efficiency ranking higher than 20 does not bode well for us. Despite that, I think we have the capability to play top 20 defense if we put our heart and soul into it and I am hopeful that we will do exactly that
In any case, how can we be a “major letdown” to the vast majority of brackets if we go out in the first round as opposed to the second where, by seeding alone, we are expected to go out.? At worst that would be a minor disappointment. The only way we can be a “major letdown” is if, secretly, this guy recognizes that we are grossly underrated and have a far better chance than most of advancing far in the tournament. Consequently, I choose to take his assessment as a complement (as backhanded as it may be) to our potential rather than as a slight to our prospects.
by snorkeldorf on Mar 17, 2009 11:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
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