Rejecting The Obnoxious "All Or Nothing" Narrative

by Nestor on Apr 1, 2008 4:04 AM PDT in Basketball Comment 51 comments

I wanted to build on Class of 66’s masterful post on reasonable expectations since we can expect a lot of this "all or nothing" narrative in the coming days from many outlets in the MSM (which may influence certain segments in the fanbase):

It was a topic of discussion two weeks ago, on and around Selection Sunday. If UCLA was to make it back to the Final Four for a third consecutive year, and lost, would it be branded a failure?

Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, the only one of the Bruins who will start in the national semifinals three years in a row, said that he expects a different result this time around and if they don't bring home a 12th NCAA championship then, yes, this season will have been a loss.

"Yeah, definitely," he said. "I personally feel that way and I know the rest of my teammates do, too. We've been there and we have the experience and everything.

"Anything less than a national championship would be a failure for us again. And, you know UCLA, they definitely expect a national championship again. Anything less than that would be a failure for the season."

I don't fault LRMAM or any of his team-mates for providing that kind of quote. LRMAM and other Ben Ball warriors are saying the right thing about how at UCLA we always expect a national championship.

However, what we should not tolerate is for anyone to attempt to brand this team as some kind of "failure" should the outcome not come out to our liking in San Antonio.

That is unacceptable and we will not tolerate that kind of spoiled sense of entitlement here on Bruins Nation. Let me echo what Coach Howland stated following the Xavier game this past weekend (emphasis added throughout):

[H]ere is what UCLA coach Ben Howland said when asked if the season would be a disappointment if the Bruins did not win the national title.
"That would be very arrogant for me to ever suggest that if you go to a Final Four and don't win it all, that it's a failure,'' he said. "I don't buy that for a minute. This is a very difficult thing to do. I know it's seemingly common place because it's three times in a row.''

Once again the coach is on the mark.

Just how difficult it is to close the deal in the Final-4? Well let's go through some of the Mt. Rushmorian names in college hoops. Shall we?

It took Coach Dean Smith at least 5 tries before he won a NC.

It took Coach Roy Williams 4 tries in the Final-4 to win a NC (he went 0-3 in the Final-4 as the head coach of the Jayhawks).

It also took Coach K 4 trips to the Final-4 before winning the NC at Duke. Coach Tom Izzo is only batting 1 for 4 in these appearances.

And guess what? None of those coaches and their Final-4 seasons that didn't end in a banner are deemed as "failures." Thankfully at least Robyn Norwood in the LA Times gets the point:

[I]f UCLA doesn't win the NCAA title, some people will anoint Howland the latest Coach Who Can't Win the Big One.

He shouldn't worry. The famous alumni of the Can't Win the Big One Club include North Carolina's Roy Williams, Syracuse's Jim Boeheim, Arizona's Lute Olson -- and before them all, North Carolina's Dean Smith.

As Smith famously said when he finally won his first title in 1982, "I'm not any better a coach than I was 2 1/2 hours ago."

Boeheim echoed those words the night he won the title in 2003.

So, it would be absurd and preposterous for anyone to set the table next few days as going to San Antonio is some kind of all or nothing proposition for Coach Howland and our warriors.

Sure our players will say the politically right thing as to how at UCLA we only hang NC banners. However, we shouldn't use their words to accept the MSM narrative that these Final-4s don't mean anything unless we win the NC.

Every single one of Coach Howland's Final-4 appearances have been special. They signify how Coach Howland has reestablished UCLA basketball as one of the elite program (if not the premiere one) in the post Wooden era of college basketball. And I don't believe that the window is closing for us after this year.

So before we get on with this week, let's not even think about accepting and advancing the obnoxious and arrogant MSM narrative about how San Antonio is an "all or nothing" proposition for our Ben Ball warriors.

I know with Coach Howland in charge no matter what happens in San Antonio this weekend, we are going to come back with another great team next year, which will give us everything they have, building on the incredible foundation that Coach Howland has established in his first five magical years in Westwood.

Now that's out of the way back to the excitement of getting all hyped for Saturday.

GO BRUINS

UPDATE: Didn't see this Roy Williams quote from yesterday, who also makes our point:

Williams on UCLA's accomplishments

"It's mind-boggling. On your staff, we're coming back on the bus and one of the guys said, Coach, this is four of the last seven years we've been in the Final Four. And I said, that is unbelievably hard, but Ben Howland has been there three years in a row. It's mind-boggling what Ben's done. It's extremely impressive. And, guys, this is hard to do. And to be able to do that three years in a row is just mind-boggling. I don't have enough adjectives, enough vocabulary to describe it."

And also note Coach Howland didn't inherit a program stacked with talent like Williams did at UNC and Self did at KU. I want to add one final note. Like many others I will be disappointed if things don't go our way this weekend. However, as mentioned above and through the comment threads our disappointment will do nothing to take away the incredible accomplishment under the Caretaker of Westwood. GO BRUINS. -N

0 recs | Comment 51 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

None of these words or phrases

should be typed on BN or any other Bruin blog from now until April 7th:

"Failure"

"Disappointed"

"Best coach to never win a championship"

"Buffalo Bills"

"Maybe next year"

Doing so only devalues what has been truly an extraordinary accomplishment, and what has been a truly successful and enjoyable season.

"You don't make it to the Final Four three straight times for no reason..Obviously coaching has something to do with it." Darren Collison

by godblesstyus95 on Apr 1, 2008 5:54 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Disagree with one of those

I will be disappointed in a general sense if we don't win. Also sad. But I won't be disappointed with the team. They have had a successful season under any definition. But I won't be able to help feeling disappointed if we don't win two more.

And there's another coach to add to the list -- Coach. His team lost in the final four in '62 and didn't make it to the final four in '63.

If we don't make it, I'll be disappointed for the guys on the team and for the brothers and sisters in the BN. But I won't be disappointed in the team at all.

by Fox 71 on Apr 1, 2008 6:16 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

"For" vs. "In"

Perfectly said, and compare that, as a fan, to our other favorite teams. This is a truly special bunch this year.

by bruinhopeful on Apr 1, 2008 10:43 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good Pull

Good memory re Coaches' pre-championship teams. I was recalling the same and you saved me the look-up.

by Calchas on Apr 1, 2008 11:40 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Stone Age UCLA BB

In 1962, a team led by Gary Cunningham, Pete Blackman, and some others lost to Cincinnati and Paul Hoge (sp?) in the semi-final game as I recall and then they beat the other semi-finalist in the consolation game.
In 1963, it may have been Stanford and Howey Dahlmar (coach) who won the PAC-X championship. There was a playoff at SMCC and we lost....
Of course, 1964 and beyond is in everyone's mind.
Bill

BillSouthBay

by Mensgym on Apr 1, 2008 3:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I remember 62 fairly well (relatively speaking)

As I recall, we got beat by two on a tip in by someone named Thacker. I had to look up things after that, and learned that we played Wake Forest in a consolation game and lost.

In 63, we got beat by Ariz St in the semis.

I looked waaaaay back, and we got beat in the first round in '50, '52 and '56 under Coach. So the notion that a guy hasn't coached a team to a national title is a bogus measuring device in my opinion.

by Fox 71 on Apr 1, 2008 5:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agree

Post by 66 and Nestor, and comment above, are all absolutely on the mark.

What impresses me as well is the fact that these 3 teams have all been different. The first year was mostly a guard oriented offense, although Ryan Hollins did come on strong late in the season. Last year was more definitely a guard oriented offense, despite the loss of Farmar. And this year the offense was obviously centered more around the big man.

This is what makes Coach Howland a cut above- he adapts to the players on the team, develops them, and gets the maximum effort and results possible.

Since each team is different, we have the chance to see a new work in progress each year. Since each year is never replicated, how could we be anything but happy with the Final Four results?

By the way, Coach Howland is clearly showing this ability to adapt more than any UCLA Coach since the Wizard (1st championships small/ guard oriented, then center oriented with Kareem, then forward oriented with Rowe and Wicks, then center oriented with Walton, finally the 1975 MJ, Richard Washington, David Greenwood team). This is so much fun to watch the resurgence with the Caretaker.

by islandbruin on Apr 1, 2008 6:19 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Good point, Mr "I"..

..which is why we can count on many more visits to the final dance. (Almost) more exciting than the prospect of winning a banner this year is the contemplation of how CBH will do it in the future; how he will mold his future players' talents into a successful team as he has done this year and in the past.

God, it's great to be a Bruin!

by whp68 on Apr 1, 2008 8:35 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: 1975

Was led by David MEYERS, not Greenwood. Greenwood came in fall quarter of 75 (same as me.)

by Calchas on Apr 1, 2008 11:45 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

David Meyers

Thanks- pardon the memory lapse.

by islandbruin on Apr 1, 2008 2:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

There is a difference

between hope and expectation.

We all hope to win.
We can only fairly expect to try our best.

To paraphrase Coach, Don't focus on winning. Focus on giving your best effort, and the winning will usually take care of itself.

And I am so thankful that, unlike recent years, we now have a coach and a team that works their assess off to give the best they can.

And if the winning doesn't take care of itself this weekend, I'll still love this coach and this team.

greg in denver

by gbruin on Apr 1, 2008 6:45 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

It's been said time and time again

that so many elements have to fall into the right places to make the final 4. If Davidson's last shot was 2 more inches to the right, Kansas would be out. If the ref had a slightly different vantage point in the Texas A&M game, he might have called a foul on Shipp on that shot.

I really, really want banner 12. But this season has been an enjoyable and highly successful one regardless of the outcome in San Antonio.

Please remember, Bruin fans. Both Dorrell and Howland "made a move" to achieve their respective objectives, and just look -- and appreciate -- the difference in the results.

by bluegold on Apr 1, 2008 7:03 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Being Spoiled=Unrealistic Expectations

Great posts, all. I used to take losing hard. Because I learned to take winning for granted. I was a ballboy during the early championship years ('64-'67). I went to every home game through 1973 (thanks to a dad who worked at UCLA for 35 years and had great season tickets to basketball and football games). For those of us who witnessed the incredible Wizard of Westwood dynasty, consider it a gift, something that will never be duplicated. Looking back, I really believe there was something magical, mystical and spiritual about the run. Reality is, it can't happen again. Ever. Given how the game/players/rules have changed, it's truly amazing that we've made it to consecutive final fours. Whatever happens next is icing on the cake. We can't live in the past. But we can celebrate the modern day success of Ben Howland's Bruins, no matter how it turns out in San Antonio. U-C-L-A fight, fight, fight.

by infoguy on Apr 1, 2008 7:15 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Disappointed v. Disappointment

Of course I'd be disappointed if....

The team can never be, however, a disspointment. 3 FFs straight is no small feat. Short of 3 consecutive titles, which 'aint gonna never happen' again in D1 college basketball, it's the most impressive accomplishment a team can accomplish.

I'm as proud of CBH and the players NOW as I would be when we win a title (this season or otherwise.)

by Rich1996UCLA on Apr 1, 2008 7:41 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

WWCD - What Would Coach Do?

I read all the posts on these boards, and hear what the student athletes are saying, but I always have to remember, WWCD?

I always want to avoid the usc syndrome of thinking the BCS Championship is their birthright, and don't you know, they always lord it over us during football season.

My hope for the Bruin basketball team is that they achieve to their highest abilities and talents, and if it is good enough, we will be there standing at the end. If not, well, Coach didn't Whine, Complain or Make Excuses when his teams did not live up to their expectations, and neither should we.

Go Bruins...

by brewintim on Apr 1, 2008 7:44 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

A Different Kind of Disappointment

No matter how it ends, I'll be a bit disappointed that I will not see this team again.

I hate the idea of saying good-bye to LMR. He is the foundation upon which the universe was put in order, and I will always remember him for that.

And, if KL, DC, RW, JS, LMM leave, I will truly miss them.

The idea that we have, at best, two games left with this amazing group of players, sobers me.

Whether we see them for 1 or 2 games, whether they leave with pieces of the net or not, I will miss them.

They have been inspirational in their effort and accomplishment and I am a better person for having followed them so closely this year.

sjh

by Class of 66 on Apr 1, 2008 8:09 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Indeed

by Menelaus on Apr 1, 2008 10:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why I Dislike the Lizard So Much

It was the lizard who created the mantra that anything less than a national championship was a failure at UCLA.

He popularized the idea that unless you won them all, like Coach did, you were considered a failure.

It was the most self-serving bastardization of Coach's concept of success imaginable.

The lizard was a failure. He and his teams never approached Coach's standard of success which was built on being the best one could be. The lizard and his teams never were.

By creating the "only a banner will satisfy them" or "only a banner will save your job" whines, he mischaracterized a tradition and its fan base -- all as a way of covering up his miserable failures as a teacher and leader.

And, now the MSM have picked it up -- without ever determining whether it is true.

I'm thrilled that Bruins Nation is setting the record straight about what our expectations are.

Actually, Nestor and others started setting them straight when we hired CRN. We want to win. But, to us success is measured in the consistent effort to excel.

We grade effort and applaud accomplishment. And, that's the way it ought to be.

sjh

by Class of 66 on Apr 1, 2008 8:16 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Sensible Post

This is one of the most sensible posts and follow-up comments I have seen on BN. The mere idea that anything short of a National Championship would be considered a failure is ridiculous. There is nothing that can happen this weekend that will take away from the success achieved by BH and his teams over the last three years. As Bruin fans we need to revel in not just the success this team has had since BH arrived, but also in the quality of the players as both athletes and people.

I was a student during the Wooden era and I remember what it was like to experience the 88 game win streak and multiple National Championships. But that was a different era. Not only was UCLA coached by THE GREATEST COACH, EVER, the Bruins attracted the best players and had, by far, the deepest bench. The Bruins were to the NCAA what Memphis is to Conference USA. Today, there is a much greater pool of elite talent. Overall the coaches are better. The style of play has changed (shot clock, three point shots, etc.). So too has the measure of success. Hanging another banner, while a great achievement, should not be the end all measure of success. Playing well, winning the conference and consistently playing deep into the tournament are the measures of an elite program. As Bill Walton so eloquently put it at the beginning of the season, the Bruins are back and all is right with the universe.

Win or lose, the word failure can not be used in conjunction with UCLA Basketball.

by Bruin77 on Apr 1, 2008 8:17 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Contradiction..or hype?

The MSM keep slugging the line, "UCLA is the first team to return to the final four three times since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985" implying that the paradigm was different pre-1985; that, somehow, the current format is more arduous. And yet they seek to trivialize UCLA's accomplishment by pronouncing that they will have failed if they do not win it all.

To me, it's kind of like them excoriating Sir Edmund Hillary for not climbing Everest twice.

God, it's great to be a Bruin!

by whp68 on Apr 1, 2008 8:44 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Easier back then?

The talking heads who suggest that winning it all was easier before 64 teams are forgetting a few factors. For the Wizard's run, there was only one team per conference. There was no 2nd chance to make a run post-season as there is now. Freshmen weren't eligible (UCLA won in 71 with Walton playing games against local junior colleges and JV teams at 5:30 before the main event at 8). The dunk was outlawed (a rule to try to "even" the playing field by reducing the advantage UCLA had in the post).

It was hard then. It is hard now. All the more reason to celebrate our successes, past and present.

by islandbruin on Apr 1, 2008 10:31 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good point (as usual)..

..the MSM is lazy and, once they latch onto a factoid, they cling to it like a snapping turtle. Anyone with a modicum of historical perspective (and these guys are largely not geezers so theirs is limited) can perform the more insightful analysis as is done here.

Just as with baseball's home run mark, the principle of ceteris paribus (all other things being equal) cannot be applied accurately to eras of a game.

As an aside, I speculated before that, while Lewis' and William's accomplishments (and, indeed, the entire string of John Wooden's 10 banners) was remarkable in the extreme, almost as remarkable is Kevin Love's performance this year.

Lew/Kareem and Bill Walton both were seasoned in their freshman year. The main constituents of their teams played together and practiced together before being unleashed on the "Big Show". They had a whole season to work out the kinks. This takes nothing away from them at all, but Kevin Love and crew are doing it "real time".

I am sure you remember, Mr Island, the wags who wrote that -- in 1966 -- UCLA had the number one rated team in the nation -- its freshman team.

God, it's great to be a Bruin!

by whp68 on Apr 1, 2008 11:44 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Frosh Victory Over Varsity

Not bad to defeat the 2 time defending champions in the 1st game played at Pauley. The varsity was ranked #1 in the preseason poll, and did not drop in the following poll even though they lost to the frosh team. I did not get to see that game, being in the class of 71, but I sure heard about it. I did see Walton's freshman team, which also included Wilkes and Greg Lee. It was a real sight to look around 2 hours before the varsity tip off and see every seat filled to the rafters on one side of Pauley and an empty arena on the other. The students came to watch the frosh teams and get good seats (1st come, 1st served) while the season ticket holders on the other side strolled in before the varsity tip. Those were the days. Nice to see the resurgence with Coach Howland.

by islandbruin on Apr 1, 2008 2:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Correct

Also, many of the haters forget that, unless you're Duke (Belmont haha), doubling the field from 32 to 64 doesn't add an extremely grueling opponent. For the top seeds, it means playing a 15 or 16 seed, usually an automatic bid from a relatively weak conference.

by truebluebruin on Apr 1, 2008 12:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Conference Champion perspective

The year Lute and Arizona won their ONLY championship (1997 - my freshman year), Steve-16 and UCLA won the Pac-10 championship. Meaning, by the rules Wooden competed under, Lute and Arizona would have never won their lone championship since they did not win the Pac-10 Championship the year they won their only title. I think this is a interesting perspective.

I like that the 2008 Final Four includes only those teams who won their conference's regular season and tournament championships. Also notice the Big East is not present.

by bruinliv on Apr 1, 2008 12:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Going to Final Four?

Is anyone else tempted ever so much to just drop everything and go to San Antonio??

by SmrtGuy82 on Apr 1, 2008 8:50 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm very happy with this season

No complaints here whatsoever. Three straight final four visits is astonishing, and if we don't win a title, them's the breaks. I have nothing but praise for Howland and his team and these past few seasons have been a godsend.

Go Bruins!

Save your receipts

by doublebonus on Apr 1, 2008 9:19 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Bruce Pearl

was giving Howland the same kind of props on the Dan Patrick show yesterday as Roy. Both Dan and Bruce are picking UCLA to win it all. I have to think our players are going to be in a better position to win Saturday. They've been there and I just think they're going to want it more come Saturday and that's going to be the difference. We're going to win on the boards, no doubt in my mind, and Love is going for 25-15. That's my prediction. Bruins on to the NC game.

by bruin95 on Apr 1, 2008 9:32 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

What a pleasure

it has been to read these posts. They are so well-reasoned, so well-expressed, so correct, intellectually and emotionally. Failure, after all the Bruins have done, after the consistent display of skill, effort, coaching, character and achievement? Ridiculous.

by Oldguy on Apr 1, 2008 10:00 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

The Best Program Ever

Think about all the highs we've had with this team for the past 3 years. They play ball the way it is supposed to be played with team work, toughness, making sacrifices, and most all having fun!

The core group of guys are solid citizens and I'm looking forward to 20 or 30 years down the line when the players can share how UCLA and Coach Howland influenced them on the court and most of all in life. I was too young to experience the Wooden years, but I've learned so much of that era from CBH and his players. There is a direct link between the Wooden players and Ben Ballers.

Winning a championship will be the ultimate, but the group of guys will always be champions to me.

BTW, if any of you guys are in the vicinity of the Texas, you have to do anything possible to get to San Antonio. I was at Anaheim and Phoenix and it was an experience of a lifetime. I truly believe that the Bruin fans helped the team in many ways. We need to come in droves to S.A. So bring any casual sports fan and convert them to the light-UCLA. We need to support these guys when they need us. Kinda interesting, the Alamodome will be in all shades of blue, thank goodness no red will be present.

Go Bruins!

by UCLA Champions Made Here on Apr 1, 2008 10:29 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Wish I could make it

I had actually considered booking a hotel and a flight to San Antonio over the summer. Besides the cost of all that + tickets, I didn't want to jinx the team by doing all of that far in advance. \

Also, I have an odd postseason jinxing effect when I actually attend games: Every postseason game I have ever attended, my team has lost, and in multi-game series, my team has gone on to lose the series. Not attending the Final Four is my sacrifice for the team's success, as I see it.

by bruinhoo on Apr 1, 2008 10:51 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

went the past 2 years

and i am not going this year. hopefully that means we win :)

saw a lot of Kansas fans at the past 2 final four games. guess they booked their trips a bit early.

by bruinliv on Apr 1, 2008 9:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Can You Believe This?

So here I've been living in Exile in Texas for more than 5 years AND now there is some value to being here AND I have to fly to Portland, Oregon, Thursday to spend the next month there?

I, too, encourage any and all who can make the trip to do so.

While watching the Phoenix games on TV, I mentioned in the game day thread that the crowd cheering on the Bruins was louder than those that attended some Pauley games.

San Antonio is my favorite Texas city. It is beautiful, the people (as with all Texans) are extremely friendly. A lot of good food and sights to see.

Turn San Antonio Blue!!!

sjh

by Class of 66 on Apr 1, 2008 11:29 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I have to respecfully disagree lol

I go to SMU and haven't met a sole I didn't like in Dallas, but at the A&M game I met an alum that nearly turned me off to the whole state. He was cranky bastard, a real weasel of a guy, turning around calling all the fans band wagoners and t-shirt fans, and complaining on every call.

After going up and talking to him, he told me "I've been to LA 22 times and I've never liked it". This was the classic stereotypical everythings bigger/better in Texas type person..and I'm happy knowing that he was sent home to his farm very very disappointed and upset..

O.A.

by Ollie on Apr 1, 2008 6:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Great diary and great comments...

I agree with everything. As one of the resident old guys here, I never thought I could feel so good about the program again. It's amazing how much damage Lavin caused and how well Ben fixed things.

The main thing I worry about is the reffing. Remember how they finished us with the two quick fouls on AA. If they don't let us play our defense, I worry the same thing will happen to DC or RW and then what will we do. Anyway refs, let the players play. And then I take the result, whatever that will be.

But I am so proud of our program no matter what happens, and it is such a pleasure to share this experience with such knowledge and passionate members of this wonderful community.

by waters96 on Apr 1, 2008 10:31 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

On all three main points.

First and foremost, wow, has this program bounced back from Lavin. I don't know if Nestor will remember this, but years ago I vividly remember making my then fiance' stand around Disneyland for about an hour as I participated in a conference call of disgruntled alums discussing what to do about it. (By the way, her tolerance of that was one of the reasons she's now Mrs. M). We are in a different world, thanks to Ben, that is almost unrecognizable compared to a few short years ago.

Second, my main concern is the officiating as well. I don't attribute it to incompetence and grand conspiracies as much as some, but I always worry about other conference officials calling these games tighter than UCLA is used to.

Finally, talk about proud. My pride spilleth over. As 66 said so eloquently above, I will really miss seeing these guys play.

by Menelaus on Apr 1, 2008 10:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

LOL

I had no idea you were doing that from Disneyland. I think I still have notes from that call.

by Nestor on Apr 2, 2008 4:47 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The irony is

that no one ever excoriates our rivals downtown for "only" winning the Rose Bowl last season.

I think we can beat Memphis, Kansas, or UNC, but if Saturday is this team's last game, there's no way anyone can legitimately say the season is in any way a failure.

I know this opens a whole different debate, but I think one of the reasons NCAA football is reluctant to abandon the bowls for a bracket-style tournament (besides money) is the fact that the bowls give several teams a way to end the season on a high note.

No one would say a team had a bad year if they "only" won a BCS bowl but did not achieve the championship. Only one team gets to leave San Antonio as a victor, so it's easy for shallow-minded commentators and fans to deride any of the other three members of the Final Four as a failure.

That said, I'd rather see the Bruins win and am looking forward to a great matchup on Saturday.

by FreewayBruin03 on Apr 1, 2008 11:11 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Final Four = BCS win

There are 4 BCS games, right? One in the West (Rose), one in the Midwest (Fiesta), one in the South (Sugar), and one in the East (Orange).

(Okay, I know Arizona isn't exactly the Midwest and Miami isn't exactly the East, but just play along.)

Essentially, making the Final Four is the college football equivalent of winning a BCS game. And being the West regional winner the last 3 years, UCLA is essentialy college basketball's reigning 3-time Rose bowl champion. Would the LA Times be calling that team a 'bust'?

The NCAA tournament's cruelty is that only one team ends it's season with a win. Although I oppose college football's bowl system, you are correct in that it at least allows many teams to end their season on a high note.

"You don't make it to the Final Four three straight times for no reason..Obviously coaching has something to do with it." Darren Collison

by godblesstyus95 on Apr 1, 2008 12:10 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I've been disappointed

in our final game the past two seasons, but in no way the season. Losing is disappointing and I was obviously upset we lost, but we made the Final Four. That's better than over 300 teams did.

For the most part, once you get to the Final Four, it's a crapshoot. All four teams are very good and all four teams can win the final two games. If we can continue to make Final Fours (not every year of course), I have no doubt we'll break through and win #12. Until then, let's appreciate how amazing it is to even make it this far.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Apr 1, 2008 12:09 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Great as he was . . .

Coach Wooden came to Westwood in '46, won the first banner in '64. Lighten up on Howland already. 3 trips to the charmed circle in 5 years . . . pretty damn good.

Solid points about the stupidity of MSS(ports)M
berating Bruin ball and propping up other, lesser accomplished programs. And, yep, I still think there are more NC banners in Pauley than you'll find draped around the Coliseum on any given Fall Saturday, too.

The Mad Bruin

by lostnacfgop on Apr 1, 2008 12:13 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Small Correction

Coach started in '48

by Gen2Bruin1987 on Apr 1, 2008 12:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

i too, agree

all this "best coach never to win..." jazz is trash, or as the french say, garbage. dean smith, boeheim, steve williams, et al- how long were they at their respective programs before they won anything? whatever, i guess the print monkeys have to figure out a way to fill a sports section with a week between games.
anywho, i hope we win, i think we can win, and i will be a little empty if we don't. similarly i'm sure the players will feel they came up a little short- but this is the kicker- we are in the talk now every year as a legit contender, and always come through in that respect. more and more, the best players in the state are coming to ucla and are developing into nba caliber athletes. i think that's all true blue bruin fans ask for, despite what the oil slick proclaims from the dummy pulpit.

Across The Face

by rb bruin on Apr 1, 2008 1:00 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

The Great Thing About CBH

Is that he knows he's done a great job, doesn't care if he gets criticized, and will drive himself to do his best, and get the most out of his team every year, regardless of whether they win it all. Go Bruins!

by 75NatChamps on Apr 1, 2008 1:42 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

The irony of Plaschke

Plaschke was just on ESPN Around the Horn and was the only of four (woody paige, jay mariotti, Kevin Blackistone) who picked UCLA to win, sighting the depth of experience and CBH's coaching as the reason that separates us from the other teams that will allow us to win it...

by uCla on Apr 1, 2008 2:18 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Wow

I have to applaud all wrote something in this diary and of course the diary itself that provided the spark (I include 66's well written original also). One of the best I have read since joining BN. Plenty of insight and thought, but the common thread is the appreciation we all have for this team and all they have accomplished both on the court and off.

Like everyone else, win or lose this weekend I am very proud of this team % coaching staff and proud to say I'm a Bruin.

Well done BN'ers (sic)

by artybruin on Apr 1, 2008 2:34 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Ooops

% = &

by artybruin on Apr 1, 2008 2:36 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Has anyone seen this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXRZZtAp60A

I died laughing for a good ten minutes

100andcounting

by dkao1 on Apr 1, 2008 3:08 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Laughed Out Loud So Loud...

... office-mates wondered what got into me!

And I didn't even have the sound on (if there is any)! Wow!

by class1984 on Apr 1, 2008 6:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

CBH last 2 years were not failures

For anyone to say the last 2 years were failures has to be a complete idiot. Let's see in 2006 we went to the NC game. First of all, no one expected us to win or seriously challenge for the Pac-10 championship that year. No one thought we'd make it to the title game (that was a break-out year, kind of like the Chicago WhiteSox a few years back or the Detroit Tigers recently). Last year in 2007 we lost in the Semifinal game, but still a great year. We had lost our star point gaurd (JF) and 2 great seniors in RH and CB, but still managed to have a spectacular year.

Let's see, both years we lost to the eventual champion in Florida who had the SAME monster team both years. They had 3 guys picked in the top 10 of the NBA draft and another 2 in the second round (yes Chris Richards, a back-up, was a second rounder). That team was incredibly stacked with talent. I don't think anyone in BN should be ashamed to say we lost to the better team both times (a la Sean Miller, Xavier's coach, what a class act btw) - we went as far as we possibly and realistically could those years.

Given the above, how the hell can anyone with a modicum of sensibility say we failed the past 2 years? i may have been upset at the time, but I do realize that CBH took us as far as he possibly could (and in my mind, at least 1 game farther than any other coach would have been able to do).

by shaq on Apr 1, 2008 5:42 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I am at peace

This season has been so amazing and rewarding, I can't bring myself to expect more, but I sure do hope for the players to get their ultimate reward. What an amazing bunch of kids.

I missed the game against Xavier, I was in Denver and my fiancee's family was hosting a dinner for us...so I had to go to the bathroom every 10 minutes or so while being my cordial self! I just blamed the frequent bathroom stops on the wine. It was great because I always came back with a smile! Got me some brownie points!

What a great thread this is! I'm glad to see that most people here appreciate the beauty and success of this team. For those who think it is championship or bust...I wouldn't want to be in your shoes. They kind of smell like a Trojan football fan's shoes to me. Not fun going through life being ungrateful. Never forgot the Lizard and rejoice in every good thing that Ben Howland has brought to UCLA basketball. A championship will just be the cherry on top of the caretaker's amazing cake.

by tasser10 on Apr 3, 2008 1:59 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs