Calling Out The Chicken Littles
So once again our Ben Ball warriors will be taking on John Calipari's Memphis Tigers in the Big Dance. We will get to the Tigers soon enough. We already know about Calipari's UCLA snark before the Dance started couple of weeks ago. I am sure we are going to hear lot of the same doubting and hating of our Ben Ball warriors heading into Saturday as everyone will be hoping for the big bad Tigers to roll over and show up our warriors.
Don't be surprised if we hear more worrying and doubting from Chicken Littles in our own backyard. Frank Burlison called out those chicken littles after the Xavier game:
Sure, the sky -- and season -- came dangerously close to crashing on Bruin heads a week ago Saturday night in the Honda Center before they escaped Orange County with a second-round NCAA Tournament win over Texas A&M.
And, yes, Western Kentucky, a No. 12 seed, did slice away all but four points from the 21-point edge UCLA held at intermission Thursday night in a West Regional semifinal before the foul- and turnover-plagued Bruins recouped and won by "only" 10 points.
Couple those two games with three or four "near escapes" down the stretch against Pacific-10 Conference competition - escapes made possible, some believe, by a perceived officiating oversight or ineptitude - and faith in a coach and program that had a 96-16 record over three seasons was teetering.
So I suppose UCLA's performance against a very good, 30-win Xavier team, which resulted in an eased-up 76-57 victory, calmed some nerves -- for the time being.
Of course, the Bruins' opponent next Saturday night in the San Antonio Alamodome in the program's third consecutive Final Four appearance will be one of two very good teams, South Regional top seeds Memphis and Texas, who meet today in Houston.
So there will soon be reason enough to resume fretting over the disappearance of Josh Shipp's jump shot, the inconsistent play of guards Darren Collison and Russell Westbrook, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute's 37 different injuries and, of course, Howland's "over-controlling" of UCLA's offense.
And, come Saturday, Howland's Bruins will be prepared to do all they can keep that sky from crashing down one more time.
For all the Chicken Littles who want to know what our guys are all about:
Thanks to ewcorpuz for putting together yet another masterpiece.
It certainly got me fired up and helped me get in the right frame of mind heading into Saturday.
GO BRUINS.
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11 comments
Comments
Where to watch the games in Westwood?
by mark the bruin on Mar 31, 2008 7:09 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
oops wrong tread
by mark the bruin on Mar 31, 2008 7:10 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
UNC / UCLA
After UNC's Louisville game, where Louisville cut the lead to 0 points but UNC pulled away to win by 10: UNC is gritty, Tyler Hansborough willed the team to victory, UNC stepped up when they had to, UNC is on a mission.
by njbruin on Mar 31, 2008 8:20 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I wonder
by bluestreet on Mar 31, 2008 8:25 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
KANSAS / UCLA
In comparison, Kansas played a 16, a 8, a 12, and a (underrated) 10 = 46.
Perhaps I'm not hearing the analysts say "should have" when they describe who has the easiest road, and think its all hogwash, anyway - the best teams in each region will rise up at different points of the tourney and challenge those teams who eventually move on.
After playing their Easy rationale, the MSM turned and continues to proclaim UCLA vulnerable - aka Bruin blemishes by Gene Woj., TWO days after we've made the Final Four back to back to back. I really need to stop reading ESPN.com.
by boston bruin on Mar 31, 2008 9:17 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I hope other teams think we're "weak"
by mark the bruin on Mar 31, 2008 9:34 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
WWL
by lil eg not cs on Mar 31, 2008 10:07 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
To be fair
by dokein on Mar 31, 2008 10:45 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
no team
Yea, okay, L'ville is better than WKU. So? For one thing, I don't remember UNC opening a 20+ point lead on the Cards. Secondly, the tournament is about more than raw skills. Surely, people that cover basketball should know that as well.
by njbruin on Mar 31, 2008 12:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Are we busting out our visiting / underdog blues?
by boston bruin on Mar 31, 2008 9:06 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

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