Huge (and a very tough) game for the hoops team this afternoon. Here is the gameday report from LA Times. Brian Dohn has a nice report on the increased (and pivotal) role of Aaron Afflalo. AA, Jordan, and DC will need to have huge games today to make up for our weakness inside. As I wrote earlier this week pretty worried about their inside game considering their bigs will potentially manhandle Hollins. If we can get the same effort from Wright (lets hope he is getting comfortable) combined with Mata's tenacity, and then Ced/Luc at 4 then we could be ok. We will see.
The game is on ESPN and starts at 12:00 pm EST. I believe the nutbag DUKE Vitale is going to be there ... so may want to turn down the volume if you don't want to throw up on the mentions of all the Amaker-K connections, and how Duke is OMG the greatest!
Anyways, the game getting some national attention. Here is Gregg Doyle from CBS Sportsline:
No. 14 UCLA at Michigan: This is a throwback game to a time when both programs were national giants. Both are on the way back, with a combined record of 14-1. If you like guards, you'll love Jordan Farmar and Arron Afflalo vs. Daniel Horton and Dion Harris. Pick: Cazzie Russell
Elsewhere, DUKE graduate Seth Davis
picks Michigan to beat us:
One team starts two freshmen and two sophomores, and the other starts two seniors and three juniors. Advantage upperclassmen, right? Well, yeah, especially with the Wolverines playing at home and shooting for their first 8-0 start in nine years. UCLA was impressive (especially defensively) in knocking off a very good Nevada team next week, but Michigan has too much experience and firepower to lose this one. Courtney Sims, a 6-11 junior, has finally blossomed into a bona fide post presence, and I think guards Daniel Horton and Dion Harris (averaging a combined 8.5 assists and 3.1 turnovers) are finally learning to coexist.
Seth's Pick: Michigan 77, UCLA 70
Reader's Pick: UCLA 70, Michigan 65
Let's hope the readers are right. We are now in
ESPN's Power 16. Although at this point of the season to me its still a little meaningless with our young team. Anyways, lets hope the boys can bring home this big win:
This is the game thread. GO BRUINS.
