Half is Good Enough in an Exhibition

Why is UCLA playing an exhibition in the middle of season?

Well, let's discuss.

It was not to make money. There was no crowd.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-in-reply-to="276168430661554176"><p>@<a href="https://twitter.com/juanlepe">juanlepe</a> Ha. Nice. Maybe 350 here. Maybe fewer.</p>&mdash; Baxter Holmes (@BaxterHolmes) <a href="https://twitter.com/BaxterHolmes/status/276170207930765312" data-datetime="2012-12-05T03:44:43+00:00">December 5, 2012</a></blockquote>

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Howland said it was to practice man, UCLA had troubles against San Marcos:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Another easy CSUSM bucket pulls the Cougars to within 1. Bruins are working on man-to-man D tonight. So far: ugly.</p>&mdash; Baxter Holmes (@BaxterHolmes) <a href="https://twitter.com/BaxterHolmes/status/276172686588268544" data-datetime="2012-12-05T03:54:34+00:00">December 5, 2012</a></blockquote>

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Was it to fix team chemistry or get an easy win? No.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Jesus. The Bruins are playing with ZERO passion. If we don't beat San Marcos by 40 there is a problem.</p>&mdash; Jordan Miller (@TheJordanMiller) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheJordanMiller/status/276175142655238144" data-datetime="2012-12-05T04:04:19+00:00">December 5, 2012</a></blockquote>

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And this quote sums it up.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>After about a half of play, it's clear that CSUSM has a chance of beating UCLA in this exhibition game, which is insane.</p>&mdash; Baxter Holmes (@BaxterHolmes) <a href="https://twitter.com/BaxterHolmes/status/276175952659234816" data-datetime="2012-12-05T04:07:32+00:00">December 5, 2012</a></blockquote>

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And because the game was so bad, Baxter Holmes went home, or at least stopped tweeting. That's how bad things were in the first half.

The second half, order was restored and UCLA dominated. Larry Drew took advantage and scored a season half high eight points, even drew some fouls. He took it to the basket nicely.

UCLA played its regular rotation with two exceptions. Kyle got a few minutes at point (versus one against San Diego State) and Tony Parker played major minutes. Adams and Shabazz hustled in the first half and Adams had five steals. Second half Powell had a few nice plays.

Really this does not matter. UCLA can play a half against a NAIA team and still win. But I doubt the first half effort is even good enough against a bad Texas team.