We could have a nerve racking game tonight at Paulman. Bruins take on Washington State, a well coached team which has given us fits in last three games. From the BBR game preview:
The Bruins have won the last three games against the Cougars by a total margin of only eight points. Both conference games between the teams last year were determined in overtime.
Coach Ben Howland knows the upcoming game against the Cougars in Pullman is a dangerous one.
"Washington St. is a good team and well coached." Howland said. "We crushed them by a whole two points", he said with a grin "when we last faced them at home."
In the first meeting, WSU's 5'10 guard Josh Akognon single-handedly shot the Cougars back into the game after his team fell behind 17 points. Akognon hit 6 of 8 three pointers and scored all 25 of his points in the second half.
The Bruins knew little about Akognon before that game other than hearing how he had shot the lights out against Washington the week prior. Look for coach Ben Howland to be better prepared for him this time around.
We are going to need the Bruin Defense step up and shut down this kid and his team-mates. As the AP pre-game blurb notes its our defense that has carried us to an undefeated record so far on the road:
Coach Ben Howland knows the upcoming game against the Cougars in Pullman is a dangerous one.
"Washington St. is a good team and well coached." Howland said. "We crushed them by a whole two points", he said with a grin "when we last faced them at home."
In the first meeting, WSU's 5'10 guard Josh Akognon single-handedly shot the Cougars back into the game after his team fell behind 17 points. Akognon hit 6 of 8 three pointers and scored all 25 of his points in the second half.
The Bruins knew little about Akognon before that game other than hearing how he had shot the lights out against Washington the week prior. Look for coach Ben Howland to be better prepared for him this time around.
UCLA has held its four Pac-10 opponents to an average of 60.5 points on their respective home courts, and is now trying to start 5-0 on the road in conference play for the first time since the 1991-92 season -- when it won the first six en route to a league title and regional final appearance in the NCAA tournament.
Steve Springer from LA Times today also has more on our road warriors:
The impressive streak began on a snowy December afternoon in Ann Arbor, Mich., where the Bruins played then-7-0 Michigan in front of a sellout crowd at Crisler Arena.
There was a lot going against UCLA that day. The tipoff was at noon, eastern time, 9 a.m. body clock time for the Bruins. And the Wolverines promptly zoomed out in front, 8-0, UCLA missing its first eight shots.
But then, for the first of many times on the road, the Bruins seemed to feed off the harsh environment, rallying for a 68-61 victory. Subsequently, they beat Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon and Oregon State as the visitors.
"On the road, there are no distractions," UCLA freshman forward Luc Richard Mbah a Moute said. "All you have are your teammates."
Bruins are going to have their hands full tonight against a well coached team at Friel Court. So lets see if we can continue the stellar play on the road with a hobbled Jordan Farmar. If you want to take a look at the scouting report on Washington State make sure to check out their team page at Mid Majority. In other basketball related news this am, make sure to check out this Alfredo Aboya profile, courtesy of Brian Dohn. The profile is a yet another good read on one of the key members of Howland's stellar freshmen class. Anyways, gotta go ... huge game tonight. Remember the tip off time is a little different tonight ... its at 8:30 pm EST instead of 10:30 pm EST. GO BRUINS.
There was a lot going against UCLA that day. The tipoff was at noon, eastern time, 9 a.m. body clock time for the Bruins. And the Wolverines promptly zoomed out in front, 8-0, UCLA missing its first eight shots.
But then, for the first of many times on the road, the Bruins seemed to feed off the harsh environment, rallying for a 68-61 victory. Subsequently, they beat Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon and Oregon State as the visitors.
"On the road, there are no distractions," UCLA freshman forward Luc Richard Mbah a Moute said. "All you have are your teammates."