It's finals week, and I've been taking frequent study breaks.  Aside from checking BN and BRO, I've been looking at some of the numbers related to our favorite Ben Ball team.  Of course, I eventually got to the W-L record for the Ben Howland era.  We all know how amazing it was for him to get us to the Final Four in just his third year, but I actually think the 18-11 his second year was pretty impressive too, considering the circumstances the previous year.  It just goes to show what an automatic impact so many of Howland's recruits have had, and will continue to have.

It's so nice to be able to celebrate more than just a holiday this time of year, because it is a lot of fun to celebrate Bruin basketball again.

But anyway, I digress.  I discovered something interesting when looking at BH's record here...

  11-17 (1st year)
  18-11 (2nd year)
  32-7 (3rd year)
+30-6 (4th year)
-------
=91-41
+ 8-1 (so far this year)
------
=99-42!!!

This means that the team's next win (presumably this Saturday) will be CBH's 100th UCLA victory!  How's that for a magic number, especially for this year, when we're hoping there'll be some magic around Westwood.

TGFBH and Go Bruin B-ball!

From the diaries. Join me in giving a warm welcome to Coach Duncan. Given how he recruited for the Ducks I think he will be a dynamite in Westwood. Welcome Coach Duncan. GO BRUINS. -N

From UCLA's Release:

Scott Duncan, who spent the last seven years as an assistant coach at the University of Oregon, has been hired as an assistant coach at UCLA, Bruin head coach Ben Howland announced today. Duncan replaces Kerry Keating, who was announced as the head coach at Santa Clara on April 9, 2007.

"I am very pleased that Scott Duncan has accepted the position of assistant coach," said Howland. "He comes with a great background in coaching and is very well respected as an outstanding recruiter. He is a very experienced coach, an outstanding person and I feel very fortunate to have him join the Bruin family."

Recognized as one of the nation's best assistant coaches and top recruiters, Duncan's hard work and dedication paid off this past season with Oregon reaching the Elite Eight and winning the 2007 Pacific-10 Conference Tournament. That investment continued to pay off with all four freshmen in the recruiting class of 2004 ranked among the nation's top 75. Duncan brings over 25 years of experience as a major college basketball assistant coach.

"When you think of college basketball, the one school that comes to mind to all kids is UCLA," Duncan said. "With all of its national championships, location, rich tradition and history of great coaches and players, UCLA is the pinnacle of college basketball. For someone like me, a person that has devoted his entire life to college basketball, to have an opportunity to work at a place like UCLA, I feel quite lucky and very fortunate."

I'm excited, and I hope he turns out to be a good assistant coach for our program. I trust coach's judge of character and what's a good fit, so we should be fine.

Dohn says on his blog:

"Bruins point guard Darren Collison sprained his left ankle toward the end of practice today. Here is the info from UCLA: Darren Collison suffered a grade one ankle sprain on his left ankle today during practice. He is probable for UCLA's first-round NCAA Tournament game vs. Weber State on Thursday." Man, I really hope it's not too severe.  We all know we neeeeeed him.

It's a "Grade I sprain," which is characterized by the following:

Mild tenderness and swelling

Slight or no functional loss (i.e., patient is able to bear weight and ambulate with minimal pain)

No mechanical instability (negative clinical stress examination)

Moderate pain and swelling

Go, fight, win.  UCLA, Fight Fight Fight.

Ben Howland is my homeboy.

Go Bruins!

Wow, what an amazing game. It's one of those games where you will always remember where you were when it took place. I will remember all the cheering and electricity and excitement in the air, all the car horns honking up and down the residential hill and in Westwood, and taste of Trojan defeat at the hands of OUR UCLA Bruins. How sweet it is. I don't think I have to tell anyone to.... Remember this day. I just love how all the detractors in the national media and all the shit spewed by "analysts" all around had to eat their words and reluctantly give us praise. I love how we are the reason for the whole BCS Championship decision making fiasco. I love Bruce Davis calling out Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit on TV after the game, and I loved the spirit of the team, the fans, and Coach D during and after the game. It is a glorious day in LA, and here is my way of saying thanks. After celebrating with a dear friend and fellow Bruin at Olive Garden, I decided to celebrate some more, with Photoshop. Hellllllllllll yeah! I am so excited I can't even think right now.