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Around SBN: NFL Safety Ryan Clark's Motivational Workout

Center Court: Ben Ball (Davidson College) Wooden Classic Open Thread

Coach's team square off against the Davidson Wildcats this afternoon in the 13th Annual Wooden Classic.

Ben Ball warriors had a tough game last Sunday. So they will be looking to come out today with the fire, intensity, and focus to make the greatest teacher in any sport proud of his program. And yes we are also going to be looking for how we are going to be feeding our big guy in the middle:


Photo Credit: Jack Rosenfeld

For more on Wooden Classic stories and the Wildcats go here and here.

The game will be televised locally on KLAC and nationally on WGN. If you are not at Pauley or cannot watch the game on TV you can follow the game via links provided in the official site.

The tip off is set for 2:30 am PST. If you are watching, listening, following, or tracking the game online, post your comments here.

This is our Ben Ball Warrior open thread for John Wooden Classic.

Fire Away.

GO BRUINS.

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Hmmm
According to the LAT WGN is supposed to carry this game and yet I don't see the game listed under the WGN coverage in our network (Comcast). Weird.

by Nestor on Dec 8, 2007 1:44 PM PST reply actions  

For DirecTV
WGN said it would broadcast it next week.  Only one way to find out.

by bruinbabe2000 on Dec 8, 2007 1:54 PM PST up reply actions  

UCLA...
....by 15.

by cardom on Dec 8, 2007 1:45 PM PST reply actions  

In Houston on HD Channel
On Comcast -- Mark Cuban's Network
sjh

by Class of 66 on Dec 8, 2007 1:49 PM PST reply actions  

Great Interview with Coach
I was so honored to be in school when he coached.
sjh

by Class of 66 on Dec 8, 2007 2:29 PM PST reply actions  

Big question will be
who plays AA's role of shutting down their top guy -- in this case Curry.
sjh

by Class of 66 on Dec 8, 2007 2:34 PM PST reply actions  

Bad start already...
...allowed a 3 then had a TO.

Davidson up 5.

by cardom on Dec 8, 2007 2:37 PM PST reply actions  

Davidson up 10-3.....
....looks like we made no adjustments over the break.... same old story.

by cardom on Dec 8, 2007 2:41 PM PST reply actions  

Not a great start again
We just do not start strong (at least we haven't this year). Gotta improve on that so we aren't constantly digging ourselves out of holes.

Curry's three was ridiculous.

by MbahABako on Dec 8, 2007 2:41 PM PST reply actions  

RW leading Pac-10 in assists
That's a surprising stat for you there.

by MbahABako on Dec 8, 2007 2:42 PM PST reply actions  

K-Love asleep on D
He still needs some work on the D-end. K-Love focused too much on ball, not enough man, got a backdoor cut thrown on him.

by MbahABako on Dec 8, 2007 2:43 PM PST reply actions  

cardom
You are new around here. So I will break this to you nicely. Don't f*king talk sh!t about our hoops team based on plays and one game. If you do it one more time you will be gone.

by Nestor on Dec 8, 2007 2:44 PM PST up reply actions  

Thanks for speaking up
Nestor! Seriously Cardom...enjoy the team.

by pocho on Dec 8, 2007 6:27 PM PST up reply actions  

We look like deer in the headlights...
...like WE'RE playing a #7 ranked team.

by cardom on Dec 8, 2007 2:44 PM PST up reply actions  

Negativity
Nestor- thanks also.  This is my 1st post, but I agree that negativity without reason is not helpful.  This same person who was kicked off suggested yesterday that UCLA should find a new coach for the women's soccer team.  Apparently 5 straight trips to the final 4 is not enough.  Attitudes like this would scare off any rational person looking to join the UCLA athletic staff.

by islandbruin on Dec 8, 2007 3:56 PM PST up reply actions  

No TV in Colorado
So appreciating the updates!
greg in denver

by gbruin on Dec 8, 2007 2:44 PM PST reply actions  

KL is Frustrated
We aren't getting the ball to him -- so he's pushing people to mke the lanes more open
sjh

by Class of 66 on Dec 8, 2007 2:44 PM PST reply actions  

k love no good on d
Way too many times have I seen his transition on defense go too slow... backdoor galore

by blinkshot on Dec 8, 2007 2:45 PM PST reply actions  

I noticed that during the Texas game
Howland actually subbed KLove in for offense, and then subbed Mata back in for defense during the last play when they got that dunk (ouch... still hurts remembering that...)

by jatteratious on Dec 8, 2007 2:48 PM PST up reply actions  

Negativity
No chicken little with people who have followed this team for a while. We know Coach Howland and have faith in the team.

Good call, Nestor.

by MbahABako on Dec 8, 2007 2:46 PM PST reply actions  

Yeap
Absolutely no room for chicken littles in Ben Ball. We have folks here who have been w us for 3 years. We are not going to let bandwagoners come in here and hijack game threads with negativity and attacking our players.

by Nestor on Dec 8, 2007 2:48 PM PST up reply actions  

Definitely
I had so many tell me that they just didn't even want to watch the second half of the Michigan State game.  I, on the other hand, was just waiting for that comeback :D  It's nice to be able to have faith like this

by jatteratious on Dec 8, 2007 2:49 PM PST up reply actions  

Besides
It's early in the year, guys are injured, some new ones are getting more PT and experience, KL has all of 8 D-1 games under his belt...  Can expect a few growing pains now, but it'll pay off when it counts in March.
greg in denver

by gbruin on Dec 8, 2007 2:51 PM PST up reply actions  

Davidson shooting lights out
5-8 from deep, 21-11 with 10:50 to go in the first hafl

by MbahABako on Dec 8, 2007 2:53 PM PST reply actions  

Westbook Struggling on D
Two threes on him when he bit on pump fakes. We really miss AA and we will see others step up to take his place as they mature.

And, Luc  getting back to form.

They will not make all those 3's all day.

sjh

by Class of 66 on Dec 8, 2007 2:53 PM PST reply actions  

We're killing them with rebounding
I'm only reading stats... but it looks like we've outrebounded them 7-2 so far.

by jatteratious on Dec 8, 2007 2:54 PM PST reply actions  

ANOTHER three
6-9 from deep for Davidson. We are getting run right now.

24-11 Davidson lead with 10:25 remaining.

Looks like the team will be seeing another Ben Howland asschewing at half time.

by MbahABako on Dec 8, 2007 2:54 PM PST reply actions  

Love looking very frustrated
Just pounded the ball into him. Immediate double team came and the ball was slapped away but UCLA remains with possession.

We should look to work K-Love in the highpost and suck his big man defender up with him. Perhaps drop it in to Shipp to post his guy up?

by MbahABako on Dec 8, 2007 2:57 PM PST reply actions  

I don't think anyone on this team better think of
leaving early if they play like this any longer.

by sumo390 on Dec 8, 2007 2:58 PM PST reply actions  

Davidson will cool off...
i'm not worried - yet

by class1984 on Dec 8, 2007 2:58 PM PST reply actions  

we need to go smaller, quicker
do we have the personnell?

by class1984 on Dec 8, 2007 2:59 PM PST reply actions  

We are getting smoked early
Lots of turnovers, lazy on defense. Not good at all. This team looks to be very lost on both ends of the floor. Howland will make great halftime adjustments but Davidson is absolutely KILLING us right now.

28-11 with 9:10 left.

by MbahABako on Dec 8, 2007 3:00 PM PST reply actions  

Is Keefe back?
I thought I saw him in stret clothes
sjh

by Class of 66 on Dec 8, 2007 3:02 PM PST reply actions  

You'd think this team would have learned
from the Texas game. Apparently I gave them too much credit.

by sumo390 on Dec 8, 2007 3:02 PM PST reply actions  

We are playing hard
learned what?

They are shooting lights out -- we aren't.

Our effort is there.

Collison is still coming back and so is Roll. KL is early in his freshman year -- and this team's never played with a real big man before.

We will get there. And, this game is far from over.

sjh

by Class of 66 on Dec 8, 2007 3:05 PM PST up reply actions  

Thanks 66
The first half has been frustrating but I don't have a lot of patience for band wagoning chicken littles on BN.

by Nestor on Dec 8, 2007 3:06 PM PST up reply actions  

Inexcusable call
That ref should fired on the spot

by SuperBruinMan on Dec 8, 2007 3:09 PM PST reply actions  

IS this game even televised?
What channel are you guys on?

I'm in Georgia....picked up Fox SPorts pacific, and they're running high school football.

by WhiteCrimes on Dec 8, 2007 3:10 PM PST reply actions  

lol kcal
no help here.....thanks, though.

by WhiteCrimes on Dec 8, 2007 3:12 PM PST reply actions  

Davidson's hot shooting
Has to slow down at some point in the second half, right?

by MbahABako on Dec 8, 2007 3:14 PM PST reply actions  

that's what i thought
about texas....that didnt happen either

by WhiteCrimes on Dec 8, 2007 3:15 PM PST reply actions  

Your thoughts?
What's your take on our slow starts in the last few games?

Lack of intensity?

Trouble guarding the perimeter?

by WhiteCrimes on Dec 8, 2007 3:16 PM PST reply actions  

This team is still gelling ...
Our starting pg is coming off an injury and one of our other key player - Roll - is still playing in his just second game. And our main guy inside is still just a freshman and we are missing AA.

We are doing just fine.

by Nestor on Dec 8, 2007 3:20 PM PST up reply actions  

nice to see
our defensive intensity up

by BruinFan96 on Dec 8, 2007 3:16 PM PST reply actions  

i can't see the game, but
how's collison's D?

by WhiteCrimes on Dec 8, 2007 3:19 PM PST reply actions  

Better
He's improving game by game, but I don't think anyone would say that he is where he was at last year. Just needs more time I'm hoping.

by MbahABako on Dec 8, 2007 3:22 PM PST up reply actions  

Great comeback
32-29, we are on a 15-0 run.

It's amazing -- Jekyll and Hyde on offense. We are either playing great or playing horrible.

by MbahABako on Dec 8, 2007 3:20 PM PST reply actions  

i think he looks OK,
but still a step slower than he was last year.  Understandable coming back from his injury

by BruinFan96 on Dec 8, 2007 3:21 PM PST reply actions  

ty
bruin fan

by WhiteCrimes on Dec 8, 2007 3:21 PM PST reply actions  

My namesake
is playing pretty solid in this first half. Great to see.

by MbahABako on Dec 8, 2007 3:22 PM PST reply actions  

well
Good news is we did our run in the 1st half so its a whole new ballgame to start the second

Good game-time adjustment by Howland to the smaller faster lineup. They were killing us shooting 3's off a screen so having a fast lineup has really let our guards play tougher defense on them and get some better looks on offense

by blinkshot on Dec 8, 2007 3:27 PM PST reply actions  

defense wins championships
when we are aggressive on defense and disrupt the other teams offense, getting easy scores off turn overs, thats when we play our best

by BruinFan96 on Dec 8, 2007 3:29 PM PST reply actions  

GREAT start to second half
Luc with a 3 and a great pass to Westbrook on successive possessions. Always can count on Ben Howland coached teams to show up in the second half.

I heart Howland

by MbahABako on Dec 8, 2007 3:43 PM PST reply actions  

Anyone else notice Mata
wearing a Den shirt while sitting on the bench a while back?

Giving some love to his peeps no doubt.  Definitely the People's Champion

by sausmaf on Dec 8, 2007 3:53 PM PST reply actions  

Yeah...we noticed Mata
was the only one that came out in a different shirt. I love that guy! Did anyone see the pretty girl on the big screen with the shirt that said:

Mata is
REAL
Hot!

by pocho on Dec 8, 2007 6:31 PM PST up reply actions  

Mata
Is one of my favorite Bruins and is quickly reaching into All-Time status. Just took a great, great charge.

by MbahABako on Dec 8, 2007 3:55 PM PST reply actions  

Lights out shooting RARELY lasts the whole game...
... that's why i wasn't too worried early on.

Fortunately, the Bruins capitalized on the misses!

by class1984 on Dec 8, 2007 4:00 PM PST reply actions  

RW is a pleasant surprise this year
I always knew he was a good athlete and explosive on offense.  But the job he is doing on Curry is really impressive.  It may sound blasphemous, but with his athleticism and quickness, he could e as good on D as AA.

by BruinFan96 on Dec 8, 2007 4:00 PM PST reply actions  

Blasphemy!
Ha.  But I sure do like the way he's heading.
greg in denver

by gbruin on Dec 8, 2007 4:04 PM PST up reply actions  

Sick behind the back pass by Love
To Luc but LRMAM blew the dunk. K-Love with a dunk on the next possession. Gotta love the defense producing the offense.

by MbahABako on Dec 8, 2007 4:04 PM PST reply actions  

RW had flashes of brilliance last year...
... i'm not terribly SURPRISED at RW's development.

Now, KEEFE has shown me ZIPPO since his arrival, I don't miss him at all.

And ROLL is way to inconsistant to be any kind of COUNT-ON factor.

THOSE TWO have the ability to SURPRISE me.

by class1984 on Dec 8, 2007 4:04 PM PST reply actions  

That right there
is Bruin basketball. Great D by Westbrook. Quick outlook by K Love, assist by DC

by SMitchell on Dec 8, 2007 4:07 PM PST reply actions  

oops
outlet*

by SMitchell on Dec 8, 2007 4:08 PM PST up reply actions  

WOOOOOOOOOOO
GREAT alley oop from DC to Shipp on the fast break.

Russell Westbrook is doing AWESOME on the defensive end. Just extremely impressive on Curry. He seems to have that same burn to win the defensive battle with his man that AA had.

by MbahABako on Dec 8, 2007 4:07 PM PST reply actions  

4 guys around him
and still gets the rebound.  Where have I seen that before?

by BruinFan96 on Dec 8, 2007 4:09 PM PST reply actions  

first time poster
long-time reader, first time poster...

I just want to say two things:

  1. I freakn love RW...the guy is aggressive on defense, aggressive on offense, and plays with no fear. The man has my respect.
  2. We are going to win this game comfortably. That being said, I have one concern: we are still doing a less than adequate job of getting the ball to Love. Howland needs to keep drilling it home in practice that getting the ball to Love inside will only lead to good things. Other than that, good work second half guys.
Go Bruins!

by BruinLaw on Dec 8, 2007 4:11 PM PST reply actions  

Just one minor quibble
If you were around back during the Stanford game at Maples last year, you'd know that we don't count games over till they're over. Bad Karma and all that.

Other than that, welcome to BN.

by Tydides on Dec 8, 2007 4:13 PM PST up reply actions  

JOSH SHIPP
here a little late. wooooooo!

by freesia39 on Dec 8, 2007 4:12 PM PST reply actions  

Are you kidding?
Happy birthday on the bank but Shipp comes back and nails a 3

by lil eg not cs on Dec 8, 2007 4:13 PM PST reply actions  

great work
After the slow start, it looks like the Bruins really took to heart the lessons they learned last week.

First, great work penetrating the zone. Lots of westbrook/shipp/mbah a moute penetrating then dishing it out for a relatively open 3. Also, Moute having a great game, something we really need as he can play in and has worked on his outside shot, making him much more versatile.

Good to see that the current lineup when meshed together has winner written all over it

by blinkshot on Dec 8, 2007 4:14 PM PST reply actions  

davidson only has 3's...
... gettin NADA inside.  They don't even try.

by class1984 on Dec 8, 2007 4:15 PM PST reply actions  

my bad
you're absolutely right...my bad, but I knocked on wood, so we should be good.

by BruinLaw on Dec 8, 2007 4:15 PM PST reply actions  

TO by RW
WOOT to by davidson, westbrook scoops it up, passes to collison, AND 1

by freesia39 on Dec 8, 2007 4:18 PM PST reply actions  

Westbrook and Collison...
play hot potato. I love the unselfishness of this team! - 3 pt. play!

by kevinthebruin on Dec 8, 2007 4:18 PM PST reply actions  

curry airballs
love gets the board, davidson player lands on love's ankle grr.

by freesia39 on Dec 8, 2007 4:18 PM PST reply actions  

look's like Collison
is trusting his knee a lot more.  Looks more confident as the game progresses

by BruinFan96 on Dec 8, 2007 4:20 PM PST reply actions  

I see the naysayers
who started the game by bashing our team and are now silent.

by kevinthebruin on Dec 8, 2007 4:20 PM PST reply actions  

that or
the fact that N kicked one of them out

by lil eg not cs on Dec 8, 2007 4:21 PM PST up reply actions  

Brad Holland, color announcer on this game...
was an AWESOME outside shooter when I was a freshman!  Corner shots were his layups... PRIOR to three point shot!  Dude was great from the outside.

by class1984 on Dec 8, 2007 4:21 PM PST reply actions  

Darn
Sorry I missed the game on TV.  I was in Brad's high school class at Crescenta Valley (and I'm slightly taller than him -- but didn't play on the team.)   He lead our football team to some sort of championship,  was the big deal on the basketball team, was the student body president AND he dated the home coming queen.  And, from all reports, was a pretty nice guy.  Go Brad!

by doublebonus on Dec 8, 2007 5:54 PM PST up reply actions  

shipp misses the 3
davidson turns the ball over. bruins ball!

by freesia39 on Dec 8, 2007 4:24 PM PST reply actions  

Luuuuuc
Nice to see 20 pts from him.  How'd he look?

by jatteratious on Dec 8, 2007 4:24 PM PST reply actions  

fantastic
like the luc of his freshmen year. and hitting his free throws, which is definitely welcome.

by freesia39 on Dec 8, 2007 4:25 PM PST up reply actions  

kevin love
cleaning up the westbrook miss. 72-63

by freesia39 on Dec 8, 2007 4:24 PM PST reply actions  

LOVE great follow
Just pure power to go up and straight up dunk it

by MbahABako on Dec 8, 2007 4:24 PM PST reply actions  

davidson turnover again
ucla running clock. collison missses, shipp rebounds!

by freesia39 on Dec 8, 2007 4:26 PM PST reply actions  

i hate keep away basketball
we got lucky with or on missed buzzer shot

by class1984 on Dec 8, 2007 4:27 PM PST reply actions  

73-63
luc misses the first. luc makes the second.

by freesia39 on Dec 8, 2007 4:27 PM PST reply actions  

nice to see
all our starers in double figures, and Love with a double double

by BruinFan96 on Dec 8, 2007 4:29 PM PST reply actions  

russell fouled
misses the first. makes the second.

by freesia39 on Dec 8, 2007 4:29 PM PST reply actions  

Mata-Real
I didn't watch the game; can anyone tell me why Lorenzo only scored 1 pt?

by hitch89 on Dec 8, 2007 4:31 PM PST reply actions  

Go UCLA!
can you believe people were trying to talk trash about our bruins in the first half? everyone here knew they were going to make a run in this game and knew that all those threes weren't going to drop for davidson. this is why we're the best team in the country; even when we're down, we still dominate good teams.

by sfatoo on Dec 8, 2007 4:33 PM PST reply actions  

Bruins need to SOLVE falling behind in first half.
I still want my 5 minutes of Hell I've mentioned in a previous post.  

Back to FOOTBALL...
I want June Jones interviewed
I want Rick Neuheisel interviewed and hired!

by class1984 on Dec 8, 2007 4:33 PM PST reply actions  

Go Bruins!
That was great! 30 point swing. Have a good Saturday, guys!

by kevinthebruin on Dec 8, 2007 4:33 PM PST reply actions  

Never give up...
That's why we don't start pouting a few minutes in.  Our team has the talent, and BH knows how to right the ship.  Great comeback after a rough start, and a great win over a dangerous team!!
greg in denver

by gbruin on Dec 8, 2007 4:35 PM PST reply actions  

After a great win
Do we have to go back to the coaching search right now, or can I enjoy this for the rest of the evening?!?!

Go Bruins!!

greg in denver

by gbruin on Dec 8, 2007 4:37 PM PST reply actions  

Didn't see it
And in fact only got a couple of scores early and late.

Were we playing bad in the first half, or were they just playing really well?  I assume a little of the former and a lot of the latter.

Anyway, we came out OK, and it's not like we were playing some junior high team.  Davidson has had close games against NC and Duke.  I think they are getting some good action early, and will be a force in the playoffs.

What (besides Coach Howland) was different about the second half?

by Fox 71 on Dec 8, 2007 4:56 PM PST reply actions  

Our defense was quicker during the second half
stephen curry cooled down a little bit in the second half too. russell covered him pretty well, coz stephen curry was 6-20 for his FGs, i think westbrook really got into his head because a couple of times in the 4th quarter, curry missed a couple of  open shots. we outrebounded them and beat them in the second chance points too. The most significant stat line though is that we're 21-30 in FTs compared to 1-4 for davidson because we attacked the paint more than they did,thus drawing more fouls. On top of all, Luc had 21 points, i think 7 of them in the run before the halftime.

by uclachem87 on Dec 8, 2007 5:21 PM PST up reply actions  

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