Normally I try to put together my game notes from Saturday around this time on Sunday. I will save that for tomorrow am (unless any of you want to beat me to it). For now I want to build on what tele and uclafan11 started and take in more of the emotions from yesterday:
Photo Credit: E. Corpuz
I think the following images after the flip (all courtesy of E. Corpuz) give us a little idea what everyone was experience inside Pauley yesterday.
Let's start with Diefenbachs meeting Coach Howland at the center court:
Photo Credit: E. Corpuz
Then there was PAA being escorted on to center court with the future First Parents of Cameroon:
Photo Credit: E. Corpuz
I think this image speaks for itself:
Photo Credit: E. Corpuz
Speaking of Presidents, there was our Floor General walking on the court for the last time as a Ben Ball warrior:
Photo Credit: E. Corpuz
And yet another image that pretty much speaks for itself:
Photo Credit: E. Corpuz
We knew JS was going to flash his classic smile when walking on with his parents:
Photo Credit: E. Corpuz
And then the Ben Ball warriors huddling with Pauley with these three seniors for the last time in Pauley:
Photo Credit: E. Corpuz
I wish I was there to take it all in but thanks to everyone here and E. Corpuz for allowing rest of us to give a little sense of what went on yesterday at Pauley.
As always we are going to take it one game at time and keep our focus on the next game which will be the winner between Washington State (#7) and Oregon (#10) next Thursday night around 8:30 pm PST. Still at least for today I think we should leave all the game analysis, micro thoughts on what went right, what went wrong aside, and just focus on appreciating what these three kids have given us last four-five years.
During last few years we have been blessed to see some great players in UCLA uniform but there is a reason why Coach Howland has been getting choked up during last few days talking about PAA, JS, and DC. While their successes at UCLA are beyond remarkable - 3 Final-4s, 3 Pac-10 titles, 2 Pac-10 tourney championships, career victories - it is what they have given this program off the court, the way they have represented the magical four letters with class, respect, and humilty, mean to us in more than words.
GO BRUINS.