In Howland We Trust: Ben Ball Game Day Roundup

by Nestor on Mar 31, 2007 9:51 AM PDT in Basketball

I feel the same way I felt the morning of my bar exam almost eight years ago. I can't possibly process any more information on tonight's game. Not sure how much more info. I can take in concerning tonight's match-up. There is nothing coming out of the MSM this game day, which we can consider as new news.

I don't think the Bruins Nation, from Coach Howland to his players to rest of us cannot be any more prepared tactically, mentally, and physically for tonight's game. We trust our Coach:

Photo credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images via the LAT

But just to keep it honest since we have done this game day roundups all season, here are some tidbits I took in this morning. Dohn finally picks up on the Duke-UNLV circa 1991 story line:

NBA riches were waiting, but friendships, a fancy-free lifestyle and an opportunity for college basketball immortality brought them back. They were, by far, the most talented team in the nation, and by the time the Final Four arrived they were either loved or hated, with no in between.

They were Jerry Tarkanian's last great UNLV team. The Runnin' Rebels were undefeated, flashy, arrogant, and beyond all the glitz, they were downright good ... until Duke shocked everyone by rebounding from a 30-point loss in the title game a year ago to beat UNLV 79-77 in the 1991 national semifinals before defeating Kansas in the title game.

It is an eerily similar situation facing defending champion Florida. Although the Gators are not undefeated, coaches agree they are the most talented team, they carry a level of arrogance, and are widely despised because of their favored status.

Florida, the top seed in the NCAA Tournament, plays UCLA in today's second NCAA Tournament Final Four matchup at the Georgia Dome. Yes, the same UCLA program embarrassed 73-57 in last year's national title game by the Gators.

"I think Florida is probably the better team, but if the ball bounces right, UCLA will win," Tarkanian said. "If Florida is playing well, I don't think anybody can beat them. But if Florida doesn't play real well, and just plays real good, somebody can beat them."

I don't agree with Tark. I think if Bruins are playing well, playing Ben Ball, it will not matter how Florida plays. We will win the game if we play our style of basketball can impose our will on the Gator stars.

Dohn has more UCLA notes including this bit on AA's second chance:

Afflalo's second chance: The 6-5 Afflalo had a brutal offensive time when the Gators pummeled UCLA 73-57 in the 2006 national title game. He was unable to get open shots against 6-9 wing Corey Brewer, and suffered through a 3-of-10 shooting night and scored 10 points.

The two are expected to be matched up again today, but Afflalo said he learned a few things.

"He's long and athletic and he's skilled on both ends of the floor," Afflalo said of Brewer. "I have a clear memory of who he is. I knew him beforehand, I know who he is now. I'm a little more prepared to play. I believe it wasn't so much him, but my mind-set, and the way I approached the game and that passive nature is not going to get it done in this type of game."

We live in a time when individual accolades [cough*Kobe*cough (and I am a Laker fan)] are glorified over team victories. If there ever was a kid who deserves his time in the spotlight and get his due from the whole nation, it's AA. I have been saying extra prayers for AA this whole week. I can't put into words how badly I want this kid to go out on top. Considering what he has given us for last three years, there hasn't been a player more deserving of a perfect sendoff in Westwood than Arron Afflalo.

Elsewhere in the Daily News Steve Dilbeck has a column on how the Bruins will pull out a win. Robert Kuwada in the OC Register hits some of the same themes about Bruins being ready this time around:

The Bruins also figure to play a smarter game, with Coach Ben Howland and his staff getting six days to prepare for the Gators and ferret out ways to defend Noah and Horford as well as Brewer, the three-point shooter Lee Humphrey and point guard Taurean Green.

Despite that Donovan and the Gators had only a few hours longer than Howland to prepare for the national championship game a year ago, Florida was primed to a level that stunted the Bruins at both ends of the floor.

"They were really prepared. Everything that we threw at them, they had a counter for," Aboya said. "We were not as prepared as we needed to be. The plays that they had run before that, they changed it completely and we came out with the same game plan and that's why it was easy to defend us and counter everything we brought."

The Bruins tried many things -- they doubled in the post, had the 6-6 senior Cedric Bozeman defend the 6-foot Green. But Florida had them well-scouted and was well-prepared.

"Last year, we doubled at the wing and to counter that they weren't setting their screen at the wing, they were setting their screen right at the middle of the floor, so it was difficult for us to rotate over and they got easy layups and three-point shots out of that," Aboya said.

"We're prepared this time. We'll be ready."

Let's hope AA2 and rest of his team mates words about being prepared and being ready to compete match their performance on the court tonight.

Meanwhile on the other end of Southern California's traditional media spectrum, the LA Times finally decided to put full court press in covering the best athletic program in town (which plays by the rules). Bill Plaschke has another column full of mindless drivel. In his column he is picking the Bruins to win tonight after picking against us in six of our last seven NCAA victories. Whatever Bill. Go Cheney yourself and stick to sniffing Pom Pom's jockstraps over at South Central.

And then there is Helen Elliott declaring how the Bruins are going to be "Gator meat" tonight. (HT to wakinder).

I am not sure what kind of omen this is, but here is Diane Pucin's prediction for tonight's game after going over the match ups:

KEY -- Florida averages 84 points a game; UCLA gives up 59.5. So it would seem up to the Bruins to slow down the Gators. That was supposed to be how Kansas would beat the Bruins last week, by swarming over UCLA with its better athletes and deeper bench. The Bruins need Mata, Mbah a Moute and Aboya to be physical on defense and aggressive offensively. Afflalo must be able to drive around Brewer and the Bruins can't afford to commit 25 turnovers as they did against Kansas. The Gators didn't have to deal with Collison's quickness, three-point aim and defensive pressure last year.

PREDICTION -- UCLA 76, Florida 72.

Forgive me if I feel like I have to take a shower after reading the predictions of Plaschke and Pucin, given how these fools have covered our Bruins the whole season.

That is why I can't read any more game day stories. However, if you are looking to read more, more, and some articles, check out the game day roundup at BBR, which has collection of stories from writers outside LA. For more odds and ends on Ben Ball check out the linkages over at Bruin Hoop Scoop.

That's it from my end. I am not physically capable of getting any more fired up about this game. All there is left now is for our Ben Ball warriors to come out and play their game. There is nothing else we can do except to trust Coach Howland. Not a bad place to be if live and die with Bruin basketball.

GO BRUINS.

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Thousand Oaks Star has interesting article

on Coach Howland's grandfather -- a Presbyterian minister in Santa Paula. Here's the link.

http://venturacountystar.com/vcs/county_news/article/0,1375,VCS_226_5455705,00.html

by uclagradscdad on Mar 31, 2007 10:13 AM PDT reply actions

Thanks for all you do, N

Not just talking about fixing my html codes -- putting the site up every freaking day and getting the Game Day Threads going. Very happy to be here, as always.

Oh, and for anyone else saying you can't possible be more fired up... for every Bruin that had radio/ CD player access in the early 90s, in the early days of hip hop while it was still known in some circles as "house" or "new jack" or just plain "rap," get this new-old school anthem in your head (as borrowed from LL Cool J with admiration):

Don't call it a COMEBACK!
I been here for years
Rockin' my peers, puttin' suckas in FEAR
Makin' the tears rain down like a mon-SOON!
Listen to the BASS GO BOOM
ExPLOsion, overpowerin'
Over the competition, I'm towerin
Wreckin' shop, when I drop
These lyrics that'll make you call the COPS
Don't you dare stare, you betta MOVE
Don't ever compare
Me to the rest that'll all get sliced and DICED
Competition's payin the PRICE

I'm gonna knock you OUT! [HUUUH!!!]
Mama said KNOCK YOU OUT! [HUUUH!!!]
Mama said KNOCK YOU OUT! [HUUUH!!!]
I'm gonna KNOCK YOU OUT! [HUUUH!!!]
Mama said KNOCK YOU OUT! [HUUUH!!!]
Mama said KNOCK YOU OUT! [HUUUH!!!]

Don't you CALL this a regular JAM
I'm gonna ROCK THIS LAND
I'm gonna take this itty bitty world by STORM
And I'm JUST gettin warm
Just like Muhummad Ali they called him CASSIUS
Watch me BASH this beat like a skull
Cause' you know I had beef wit
Why do u riff with ME?!?
The maniac psycho
And when I pull out my jammy
Get ready cuz it might go BLAAAAW!
How ya like me now?
The river will not allow
You to get with, Mr. Smith, dont riff
Listen to my gear shift
I'm blastin, outlastin
Kinda like Shaft, so u could say I'm shaftin
Old English filled my mind
And I came up with a funky rhyme

Breakdown!

Shadow boxin when I heard you on the radio [HUUUH!!!]
I just don't know
WHAT MADE YOU FORGET THAT I WAS RAW????
But now I got a new tour
I'm goin inSANE, startin the HURRICANE, releasin' PAIN
Lettin' you KNOW that YOU CAN'T GAIN,
I mainTAIN, Unless ya say my name
Rippin, killin
Diggin and drillin a hole
Past the old goal

Shotgun blasts are heard
When I RIP and KILL, at WILL
The man of the HOUR, tower of POWER
I WILL DEVOUR.
I'm gonna tie you up and let you understand
that I'm not your average MAN
when I got a jammy in my HAND
DAAAAAMN!!!!!

Oooooohh!!
Listen to the way I slaaaaay, your crew
Damage [UHH] damage[UHH] damage [UHH] damage
Destruction, terror, and mayhem
Pass me a sissy so suckas I'll slay him
Farmers [What!!!] Farmers [What!!!]
I'm ready [we're ready!!!]
I think I'm gonna bomb a TOWN!!!!
GET DOWN!!!!!
Don't you NEVA, EVA, pull my LEVA
CAUSE' I EXPLODE...
And my nine is easy to load
I gotta thank God
Cuz he gave me the strength to rock
HARD!!

Knock you OUT! [HUUUH!!!]
Mama said KNOCK YOU OUT! [HUUUH!!!]
Mama said KNOCK YOU OUT! [HUUUH!!!]
I'm gonna KNOCK YOU OUT! [HUUUH!!!]
Mama said KNOCK YOU OUT! [HUUUH!!!]
Mama said KNOCK YOU OUT! [HUUUH!!!]

GO GET 'EM, BRUINS.

KNOCK 'EM OUT.

BRING 'EM ON.

MIM

And we will have our vengeance, in this game and the next.

by Meriones on Mar 31, 2007 10:16 AM PDT reply actions

Right back at ya ...

I have said it all along. UCLA is an obsession for me. And this is a hobby and it wouldn't be this worth while if not for the all the friends I have made via BN. Let's keep it rocking and rolling.

GO BRUINS.

by Nestor on Mar 31, 2007 10:18 AM PDT up reply actions

I second that

This is where I come to calm my nerves, deal with my excitement, and lick my wounds before, after or in the middle of Bruin games. I can't believe there was a time I used to have to wait all night for the morning paper to arrive at dawn just so I could read one or two stories.

I often check out the other schools' blogs and I don't think any are as active as BN. That apllies to both posted content and comments.

Thank you for this.

by UCngLA on Mar 31, 2007 10:26 AM PDT up reply actions

Ditto

This site is FAR more active than other schools' sites. It says a lot about the efforts of Nestor and the others who contribute.

In SoCal, we hear so much blah blah blah about the Toejam "family"--I think this site and the attention it gets shows how strong the Bruin family is across the country.

by Barnes2JJ on Mar 31, 2007 2:26 PM PDT up reply actions

Just want to wish you guys good luck

in tonight's game. I absolutely hate both Florida and Ohio State, so naturally I am cheering for you guys and Georgetown. I think that if you play the same way that you played against us, you will win. I don't care what Florida does, the best thing about defense-first teams like Southern Illinois and you guys is that you dictate the pace, and when you do that you have a great shot at winning.

Of course, you know all that and I'm just telling you old news. Regardless, good luck.

Rock Chalk Talk, the second happiest place on Earth!

by rockchalktalk on Mar 31, 2007 10:24 AM PDT reply actions

We really appreciate this RCT

I will remember this post. I have always had nothing but respect for KU basketball, their fans, and tradition. The way you guys carried yourself before and after Saturday only reinforced that perception.

Good luck to you next season. And thanks so much again for that post.

by Nestor on Mar 31, 2007 10:28 AM PDT up reply actions

Glad to see you around these parts, RCT.

Your guys played some great ball this year. We thank you for beating Florida early on -- if nothing else, I'm sure it helepd give us some valuable intel on the common enemy.

Thanks again for being a hardcore fan for your own without being a jerk to our own.

And thanks for the extra helping of luck.

MIM

And we will have our vengeance, in this game and the next.

by Meriones on Mar 31, 2007 10:40 AM PDT up reply actions

Outstanding, once again

Thanks for the post. Very classy.

by Barnes2JJ on Mar 31, 2007 2:23 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm seeing signs all over the place

Starz- watched Glory Road this morning. Like UCLA, Texas Western was not even considered to upset Kentucky. We're not getting much love these days to beat Florida.

HBO- after watching Glory Road, I switch over to HBO and guess what's on. That's right...UCLA Dynasty.

Here's hoping that the signs I'm seeing are right! GO BRUINS!

by bruin78 on Mar 31, 2007 10:33 AM PDT reply actions

Speaking of signs...

...wasn't tip-off time for OUR game originally listed as 5:47 p.m. Pacific Time...

... which translates into 8:47 p.m. local time????

THE BRUINS MIGHT TIP-OFF AT 13 TO 9 ATLANTA TIME???

If, if, if, IF!!!!!!! this holds, we'll be right on time.

BRING 'EM ON.

MIM

And we will have our vengeance, in this game and the next.

by Meriones on Mar 31, 2007 10:45 AM PDT up reply actions

Dear lord MIM....

You are a prophet. There hasn't been a coincidence that awesome since Ohio's winning lottery numbers reflected the score of the Big Game against Michigan. Now quick, tell me who wins the 2026 Final Four:

Duke and North Carolina called: They want Steve Lavin back. GO BRUINS!!

by Allofmybros on Mar 31, 2007 11:01 AM PDT up reply actions

Much, much better

than when I found a golf ball that said "MOJO"

by Fox 71 on Mar 31, 2007 11:25 AM PDT up reply actions

I have never seen...

Media "experts" place so much on a game as they have last year's Final. Florida is not 16 points better than us, and nor is this year's Florida squad "better" (I firmly believe that Noah has fulfilled his "potential" the NBA scouts were drooling over last year). You can tout the experience factor all you want, but they lost games against inferior opponents this year, and rumbled through a weak and totally overrated conference. The SEC SUCKED. They SUCKED. The second best team was UT. Not to mention that the Gators played horrible in the tourney and never looked more weak than those games against Purdue, Butler, and Oregon. I tell you what guys, this year's Bruin team is hardened, loose, and ready to rock. I have not looked forward to a game this much in a LONG time. This isn't just a fanboy blindly supporting his team, though: The Bruins have what it takes.

I'm pumped, fellas. Howzabout you?

Duke and North Carolina called: They want Steve Lavin back. GO BRUINS!!

by Allofmybros on Mar 31, 2007 10:57 AM PDT reply actions

Reference to BN

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/si_blogs/ncaa_tourney/2007/

Not sure if someone's posted this here yet...

by SuperBruinMan on Mar 31, 2007 10:59 AM PDT reply actions

Niiice find.

AND it's our own Dance Team?

I admit, it'd be even better if it were just 4 random girls lounging by poolside that weren't already part of the Nation. (They get up in front of dozens or hundreds or thousands of fans every week, every sport, to get the crowd riled up for our Bruins during timeouts??? They're NATION.) Still, it is a SWEEET picture.

I'm a bit partial to the brunette, but they're all lovely. Proud to have them wearing our colors.

MIM

And we will have our vengeance, in this game and the next.

by Meriones on Mar 31, 2007 11:24 AM PDT up reply actions

A most sincere Thanks

to Nestor and all of Bruins Nation: I have enjoyed following the Bruins with you day in and day out. I just want to echo the sentiments that you guys have already mentioned: No matter what happens tonight, I am proud of our kids, proud of our coach, proud of our season, and most of all, PROUD TO BE A BRUIN.

As John Wooden would say, Competitive Greatness is being your best when your best is needed. Enjoy a difficult challenge. I have no doubt that our Ben ball warriors will bring their very best tonight.

AA and co. deserve this. If its meant to be, its meant to be. God willing, WE WILL PREVAIL.

LET'S GO BOYS....LET'S KICK SOME GATOR ASS!!!!!!!

by godblesstyus95 on Mar 31, 2007 11:23 AM PDT reply actions

Before you start hatin' on Kobe...

Next time you are thinking about writing negative stuff on Kobe (yeah, I know you consider yourself a Laker fan, but...) be sure to read this article first (http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/sports/abox/article_1632413.php)

by goinfa on Mar 31, 2007 1:51 PM PDT reply actions