Center Court: Ben Ball (California) Open Thread

by Nestor on Mar 8, 2008 11:14 AM PST in Basketball

We all know who we need to win this game for:

Photo Credit: Erkki's UCLA pics' photostream (flickr)

It's Lorenzo (and Matt's) last day as Seniors at Pauley. While its not official we are also going to be seeing KL, DC (and may be even RW should he blow up in the Big Dance) last time put on their UCLA whites in the Cathedral Coach Wooden built.

We are sure Bears are going to come out wanting to spoil the party. But for the reasons mentioned alone (not to mention the need to shore up a 1 seed out West) we have to win game. For more on the Senior Day game go here.

The tip off is set for 12:30 pm PST (ABC Regional). If you are not getting the game on television you can follow it via links provided at the official site.

As always, if you are watching, listening, following, or tracking the game online, post your comments here.

This is our Ben Ball Warrior open thread.

Fire Away.

GO BRUINS.

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Comments

SC currently up on the Furd

22-16. it was worse earlier, but the Furd has mounted a bit of a run.

by freesia39 on Mar 8, 2008 11:31 AM PST 0 recs

Gotta love that fan support

Last home game for sc, playing against a top-10 opponent, and entire sections of the upper level are empty @ Galen.

by bruinhoo on Mar 8, 2008 11:39 AM PST up 0 recs

39-31 USC at the half

They led 20-6 after 8 minutes.

by SuperBruinMan on Mar 8, 2008 11:55 AM PST up 0 recs

Damn,

That photo of Lo made me cry.
(35-31 USC.)

Love My Bruins

by Bruingirl83 on Mar 8, 2008 11:52 AM PST 0 recs

USC Leads Stanford

39-31 at the half.
(Go Furd.)

Love My Bruins

by Bruingirl83 on Mar 8, 2008 11:55 AM PST 0 recs

anyone worried

that we had so much trouble with stanford? I think its obvious ucla isnt playing at its best right now, but I just hope Shipp gets out of his shooting slump.

by chourobin on Mar 8, 2008 12:06 PM PST 0 recs

No

They're a top-10 team with two athletic, future lottery pick big men (Brook this year, Robin next year).

by Raisin on Mar 8, 2008 12:10 PM PST up 0 recs

AND

good coaching, a work ethic on the floor, a team approach to the game. There is a reason they are in the nation's top 10 teams.

Love My Bruins

by Bruingirl83 on Mar 8, 2008 12:20 PM PST up 0 recs

LMR

being interviewed on 570 AM right now.

by Raisin on Mar 8, 2008 12:14 PM PST 0 recs

Furd 37, USC 45

Love My Bruins

by Bruingirl83 on Mar 8, 2008 12:21 PM PST 0 recs

Will someone there text what's going on pre-game?

All reports of noise for Zo will be deeply appreciated.

sjh

by Class of 66 on Mar 8, 2008 12:28 PM PST 0 recs

Tailgaiting UCLA style?

Geezers at a table?

Why not show the kids camping out at night.

sjh

by Class of 66 on Mar 8, 2008 12:32 PM PST 0 recs

Oh Shit -- It's the Lizard

I know, Fox says turn off the sound.

Actually, he's saying good things about Howland and our tough D.

sjh

by Class of 66 on Mar 8, 2008 12:33 PM PST 0 recs

Lavin needs to complete his sentences

After saying "dominant program last three years", he should have added "unlike when I was the head coach here, and ran the program into the ground."

by islandbruin on Mar 8, 2008 12:37 PM PST up 0 recs

Today's video highlight link

Cal @ UCLA

previously known as Grok451

by Telemachus on Mar 8, 2008 12:33 PM PST 0 recs

Hardin is out

Klove should have big game. Everything is awesome except having to listen to Lavin

by Bruins095 on Mar 8, 2008 12:35 PM PST 0 recs

Heh

Did Lavin just say Anderson has "21 points and 10 rebounds on the year"?

That would be about 0.7 ppg and 0.3 rpg.

by SuperBruinMan on Mar 8, 2008 12:36 PM PST 0 recs

I love this commercial where the guy

dives out of the car.

sjh

by Class of 66 on Mar 8, 2008 12:36 PM PST 0 recs

What a sad,

But glorious day.

by trainwreck84 on Mar 8, 2008 12:39 PM PST 0 recs

ABC won't show cheering for Lo

someone, can you text us what it's like? and yell for me

sjh

by Class of 66 on Mar 8, 2008 12:40 PM PST 0 recs

Stanford's not playing well

Down 11 and only that close because of 16 points from a reserve guard.

by SuperBruinMan on Mar 8, 2008 12:41 PM PST 0 recs

sc threw a good full court press on them

reminds me of us, years ago

sjh

by Class of 66 on Mar 8, 2008 12:43 PM PST up 0 recs

Let down

after Thurs nights big game.

Can't let the same thing happen to us

"I just think, at the end of the day, UCLA is not a great job." Brian D'Oh!n, 12/07

by godblesstyus95 on Mar 8, 2008 12:52 PM PST up 0 recs

Damn, I hate ESPN!!!

We do not care about your Duke/UNC bullshit!

by trainwreck84 on Mar 8, 2008 12:41 PM PST 0 recs

Has our game started yet? We are getting talking

heads

sjh

by Class of 66 on Mar 8, 2008 12:43 PM PST 0 recs

pregame

Still pregame show. Bilas (Duke grad) just said UCLA is the best team in the country. Right on.

by islandbruin on Mar 8, 2008 12:44 PM PST up 0 recs

omg

jay "i hate ucla" bilas thinks we are no 1!

by nycbruin on Mar 8, 2008 12:43 PM PST 0 recs

time to whoop the bears

and build momentum going into tournament

by Bruins095 on Mar 8, 2008 12:46 PM PST 0 recs

Collison with the steal

to start the game, but Cal fouls him. to the line!

by freesia39 on Mar 8, 2008 12:47 PM PST 0 recs

collison makes them both

2-0 bruins. cal misses, mata-real with the rebound. big cheer. sniffle

by freesia39 on Mar 8, 2008 12:48 PM PST 0 recs

game on

DC at the line for 2. hits both

Mata w/the rebound on the other end. 2-0 UCLA

by bruinhoo on Mar 8, 2008 12:48 PM PST 0 recs

Luc has to hit

thos

by Bruins095 on Mar 8, 2008 12:48 PM PST 0 recs

airball by anderson

collison misses, rebound cal.

by freesia39 on Mar 8, 2008 12:49 PM PST 0 recs

luc comes up with the steal

nearly throws it away, josh reels it in.

blocked on our end. cal ball. cal scores. 2 all

by freesia39 on Mar 8, 2008 12:50 PM PST 0 recs

LMR

yeahhhhhhhhhhh

by Bruins095 on Mar 8, 2008 12:50 PM PST 0 recs

RW missesa 3

MATA REAL WITH THE BLOCK!

shipp misses the layup sigh.

boykin makes the basket, 4-2 cal. RW is down again. ankle again?

by freesia39 on Mar 8, 2008 12:51 PM PST 0 recs

crap

have to hold your breath ever game hoping there won't be any injuries.

by Bruins095 on Mar 8, 2008 12:51 PM PST 0 recs

RW out, aboya in.

shipp for 3, short. bah.

by freesia39 on Mar 8, 2008 12:52 PM PST 0 recs

cal scores again

6-2 cal. timeout

by freesia39 on Mar 8, 2008 12:52 PM PST 0 recs

DC

nice move

by Bruins095 on Mar 8, 2008 12:53 PM PST 0 recs

love is in

mata real is out. collison along the baseline, and the basket off the glass. 6-4 cal.

by freesia39 on Mar 8, 2008 12:53 PM PST 0 recs

another steal

SHIPP WITH THE DUNK! thank you luc richard!

by freesia39 on Mar 8, 2008 12:54 PM PST 0 recs

boykin hits a jumper

8-6 cal. love with the basket down low. 8 all.

by freesia39 on Mar 8, 2008 12:54 PM PST 0 recs

aboya picks up a foul

timeout again.

by freesia39 on Mar 8, 2008 12:55 PM PST 0 recs

What's the rule on

Shipp is off the court after scoring.

They put the ball into play before he got back on the court. Is that right?

sjh

by Class of 66 on Mar 8, 2008 12:55 PM PST 0 recs

SC 69, stanford 54

yeesh.

by freesia39 on Mar 8, 2008 12:55 PM PST 0 recs

I think Stanford left it

all on the court against us.

In the parts of the sc game I was watching, they didn't look like the same team.

And, sc's full court press bothered them

sjh

by Class of 66 on Mar 8, 2008 12:56 PM PST up 0 recs

How is Westbrook?

worried about him coming back in.

by Bruins095 on Mar 8, 2008 12:55 PM PST 0 recs

His Ankle?

Love My Bruins

by Bruingirl83 on Mar 8, 2008 12:57 PM PST up 0 recs

Now or Never

If UCLA doesn't score on their next possession, they might as well kiss the season good-bye. Just kidding. It is nice to be able to watch a game with some element of calm- these grinders recently (at Arizona, home to Stanford) have been nerve-racking.

by islandbruin on Mar 8, 2008 12:56 PM PST 0 recs

Calm?

So much for calm. Unbelievable finish. Props to Josh for figuring out to get it down when the 3 is not falling.

by islandbruin on Mar 8, 2008 3:15 PM PST up 0 recs

If any of you care..

USC 69, Furd 60, 3:00 left

Love My Bruins

by Bruingirl83 on Mar 8, 2008 12:56 PM PST 0 recs

Waiting for those One-More-Year chants

by sumo331 on Mar 8, 2008 12:58 PM PST 0 recs

get that junk

out of there. Klove!!!!!!!!!!!

by Bruins095 on Mar 8, 2008 12:58 PM PST 0 recs

love with a long jumper

nope. love with the rejection on the other end!

by freesia39 on Mar 8, 2008 12:59 PM PST 0 recs

Not sure we need those quick 3's from KL

sjh

by Class of 66 on Mar 8, 2008 12:59 PM PST 0 recs

He makes it sometimes

But it often feels like it's the only shot we'll get on that possesion.

by jaffa on Mar 8, 2008 1:08 PM PST up 0 recs

shipp for 3

nope again. he was open.

by freesia39 on Mar 8, 2008 12:59 PM PST 0 recs

Just waiting for Shipp

to hit a 3, get the confidence back.

by Bruins095 on Mar 8, 2008 12:59 PM PST 0 recs

Westbrook back in

sjh

by Class of 66 on Mar 8, 2008 1:00 PM PST 0 recs

shipp

i'm glad shipp is trying at least, before he wasn't even doing that

by uCla on Mar 8, 2008 1:00 PM PST 0 recs

shipp is out, luc is back in

cal makes both FTs, 12-8 cal

by freesia39 on Mar 8, 2008 1:01 PM PST 0 recs

What is the crowd noise like?

Love My Bruins

by Bruingirl83 on Mar 8, 2008 1:02 PM PST 0 recs

Westbrook

looks ok,

by Bruins095 on Mar 8, 2008 1:02 PM PST 0 recs

we're looking a little sluggish today

which we can't afford. come on guys. westbrook with the jumper! 14-10 cal. and cal hits a 3 on the other end, ugh. 17-10 cal

by freesia39 on Mar 8, 2008 1:02 PM PST 0 recs

we've been looking sluggish ever since destroying

arizona by 40pts.. we need to get back into that shape where players were fearless. its a testament to our team how we are able to win while playing such bad basketball overall.

by chourobin on Mar 8, 2008 1:03 PM PST up 0 recs

so does this prove we're not playing

good basketball this time of the year?

by chourobin on Mar 8, 2008 1:02 PM PST 0 recs

What?

What are you talking about?

Love My Bruins

by Bruingirl83 on Mar 8, 2008 1:04 PM PST up 0 recs

RW picks up offensive foul

bah. kareem is here.

by freesia39 on Mar 8, 2008 1:02 PM PST 0 recs

be patient

cmon everyone. Hasn't thursday taught us anything. Be patient, the bruins come through

by uCla on Mar 8, 2008 1:03 PM PST 0 recs

i also want a blowout though

or a fairly comfy lead so that matt lee can come in for his last game.

by freesia39 on Mar 8, 2008 1:04 PM PST up 0 recs

just spent 10 munites w/Comcast

After 66's post in the gameday thread mentioned that it was on PPV. It shows up on my digital menu, but Comcast won't let me order it. Crazy that I actually want to give Comcast $$, and they won't take it.

by bruinhoo on Mar 8, 2008 1:03 PM PST 0 recs

I'm watching on Comcast PPV

you probably got someone from sc on the line

sjh

by Class of 66 on Mar 8, 2008 1:04 PM PST up 0 recs

nah

the lady on the other end was actually nice and helpful, if otherwise not able to get the game to come up. Come to think of it, that is also a first for Comcast.

by bruinhoo on Mar 8, 2008 1:08 PM PST up 0 recs