UCLA and Alabama need a win...
If you think that there discord in Tuscaloosa regarding Coach Grant, it pales in comparison with what tradition rich UCLA is going through right now. Bruin fans are a like Alabama fans. Losing is simply not an option. The Westwood Warriors have won a mere 11 NCAA Championships. When you win 10 championships in 12 years the bar is set almost impossibly high. John Wooden was the head coach of the Bruins when those 10 national championships occurred. He topped it off with 1 additional title. That is the greatest coaching run in the history of American sports. Alabama had Bear Bryant. UCLA had John Wooden. I have been a UCLA fan my entire basketball life. I have been an Alabama fan my entire life. This year I watched the Bruins play Gonzaga. There is no shame in losing to Gonzaga. The Bulldogs have a great program. Mark Few would be on my short list for any future coaching vacancy at the Capstone. In all honesty, it surprised me the Bruins lost that game on their home floor.
Things were bad enough in the Bruin camp. Then came that little 24-0 run the Wildcats put on blue and gold. UCLA scored 7 points in the first half. The Bruin nation exploded in anger. Steve Alford, coach of UCLA, found himself on the coaches hot seat in much the same manner as Anthony Grant. Keep in mind that UCLA has 3 Parade-All Americans on the floor. It's one thing to get beat without talent. It's entirely another to get beat with outstanding talent. As one Los Angeles writer suggested, "The Alabama game was the lightweight in a murderer's row for the Bruins. It has now become the most important game on the UCLA schedule." UCLA's attempt to sign five star recruits has been fairly successful. Not as good as Kentucky, and the UCLA fundamental base was weak when Alford started this new approach. UCLA has had very few upper classmen to anchor their team as the super stars matured.
Last season, my wife and I drove to Los Angeles to spend a couple of months with our daughter. It also gave me a chance to attend our game with UCLA. The Tide lost,but Trevor Releford left an indelible mark on the UCLA fans. He got a standing ovation for his terrific game. We all know that basketball is a second class citizen in our state. In Los Angeles the Bruins basketball team is just like Kentucky is in the Deep South. For the Crimson Tide to schedule a home and home with Alabama says a lot about Mal Moore and Anthony Grant. The scheduling of this game has brought a firestorm of dismay among the Bruin faithful. It is a game that winning will mean nothing to the UCLA program but a loss might end their NCAA hopes. How ironic is that? This weekend's game is between two teams that need a win in the worse way. In our state an Alabama loss would be (probably) the end to the NCAA's. In Los Angeles, a loss to Alabama would be demeaning. As I pointed out to a Bruin supporter - it has happened before, and it happened in Los Angeles."
On Friday, I'm trying to put some thoughts together about the game. I'll have much more detailed report over the weekend. Here are the four areas which will determine the winner:
1. Who is going to shoot the ball better from the field. Bama has a slight overall edge, but the edge may be just from the Kentucky game.
2. Bama shoots free throws better. This will be a game where each side will need to make their free throws.
3. UCLA has turned the ball over fewer times than Alabama. The number is small but important. Alabama has been looking shaky lately.
1. But this game is going to boil down to which team gives up the fewest offensive rebounds to their opponent. UCLA has a big edge in this area. Grant is going to play big if he hopes to break even on the boards. It wouldn't surprise me if Kessens, Taylor, Cooper, and Hale get some minutes together at the same time. Cooper and Hale give the Tide some opportunities to make some three pointers against Bruin defenders.
If you think that there discord in Tuscaloosa regarding Coach Grant, it pales in comparison with what tradition rich UCLA is going through right now. Bruin fans are a like Alabama fans. Losing is simply not an option. The Westwood Warriors have won a mere 11 NCAA Championships. When you win 10 championships in 12 years the bar is set almost impossibly high. John Wooden was the head coach of the Bruins when those 10 national championships occurred. He topped it off with 1 additional title. That is the greatest coaching run in the history of American sports. Alabama had Bear Bryant. UCLA had John Wooden. I have been a UCLA fan my entire basketball life. I have been an Alabama fan my entire life. This year I watched the Bruins play Gonzaga. There is no shame in losing to Gonzaga. The Bulldogs have a great program. Mark Few would be on my short list for any future coaching vacancy at the Capstone. In all honesty, it surprised me the Bruins lost that game on their home floor.
Things were bad enough in the Bruin camp. Then came that little 24-0 run the Wildcats put on blue and gold. UCLA scored 7 points in the first half. The Bruin nation exploded in anger. Steve Alford, coach of UCLA, found himself on the coaches hot seat in much the same manner as Anthony Grant. Keep in mind that UCLA has 3 Parade-All Americans on the floor. It's one thing to get beat without talent. It's entirely another to get beat with outstanding talent. As one Los Angeles writer suggested, "The Alabama game was the lightweight in a murderer's row for the Bruins. It has now become the most important game on the UCLA schedule." UCLA's attempt to sign five star recruits has been fairly successful. Not as good as Kentucky, and the UCLA fundamental base was weak when Alford started this new approach. UCLA has had very few upper classmen to anchor their team as the super stars matured.
Last season, my wife and I drove to Los Angeles to spend a couple of months with our daughter. It also gave me a chance to attend our game with UCLA. The Tide lost,but Trevor Releford left an indelible mark on the UCLA fans. He got a standing ovation for his terrific game. We all know that basketball is a second class citizen in our state. In Los Angeles the Bruins basketball team is just like Kentucky is in the Deep South. For the Crimson Tide to schedule a home and home with Alabama says a lot about Mal Moore and Anthony Grant. The scheduling of this game has brought a firestorm of dismay among the Bruin faithful. It is a game that winning will mean nothing to the UCLA program but a loss might end their NCAA hopes. How ironic is that? This weekend's game is between two teams that need a win in the worse way. In our state an Alabama loss would be (probably) the end to the NCAA's. In Los Angeles, a loss to Alabama would be demeaning. As I pointed out to a Bruin supporter - it has happened before, and it happened in Los Angeles."
On Friday, I'm trying to put some thoughts together about the game. I'll have much more detailed report over the weekend. Here are the four areas which will determine the winner:
1. Who is going to shoot the ball better from the field. Bama has a slight overall edge, but the edge may be just from the Kentucky game.
2. Bama shoots free throws better. This will be a game where each side will need to make their free throws.
3. UCLA has turned the ball over fewer times than Alabama. The number is small but important. Alabama has been looking shaky lately.
1. But this game is going to boil down to which team gives up the fewest offensive rebounds to their opponent. UCLA has a big edge in this area. Grant is going to play big if he hopes to break even on the boards. It wouldn't surprise me if Kessens, Taylor, Cooper, and Hale get some minutes together at the same time. Cooper and Hale give the Tide some opportunities to make some three pointers against Bruin defenders.
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