Final: UCLA 88, Western Kentucky 78

Is it over? OMG that was the longest 10 minutes of my life! I think the kids want to kill off the older donors to open up seats for the Pauley renovation.

UCLA is so fortunate to have a terrific frontcourt. And not enough praise can be said for James Keefe. James has worked so hard coming out of his RS year. UCLA would be heading back to Los Angeles without him. Great game James.

So we're sure its 340 and not 645?

This is what happens when the stupid refs start listening to tools in the media trying to say we've gottten away with calls. Refs feel pressure, start calling the STUPIDEST fouls, get our team in foul trouble, and change the game. What a load of bullspit. Stop watching ESPN people, grow a brain.

Memo to Howland, PLEASE have the team practice making solid passes. Passing should be the focus of their next practice.

Luc has been a walking turnover. You can tell his ankle is killing him but perhaps it is time to let others play those minutes. You have to admire him for sucking it up, but you have to differentiate between heart and hurting his team; right now he is hurting the team.

After Collison fouled out, it looked like Westbrook was limping & hobbling a bit, as if he twisted his ankle.

Is Westbrook okay?

Did Shipp give Collison strep throat because he looked sick tonight?

Hi fellow Bruins. Firstly, thank you Brian for an awesome BLOG. This is the best in Bruin forums. Now, what a great win. But, I am concerned. That was a huuuuuge letdown in the second half. Looked like they thought they bad the game in the bag and had a lot of mental lapses. We need to get a "killer instinct" for the rest of the tournament. If not, then we're going to have a hard. Props to James Keefe tonight!!!

Wow, what a roller coaster. Keefe not only had a career night, he saved the season single-handedly. Incredible. Just goes to show that this team finds a way to win, no matter how the calls are going, nor how well the other side is shooting. Brazelton could have hit 3s from half court at one point. Anyway, on to Xavier.

On the press, I think the team was hindered by the fact that DC was on the bench midway through the second half with Josh there too, so the ball handling fell off considerably. Thanks to K Love for shoring up the middle and fending off defenders. A&M was the bruiser team that they had to face, WKY the pressing, 3 point shooting team, and they outlasted both. What to expect from Xavier??

Anyone who thinks that referees can't impact the course of a game should have been watching tonight... You could literally see UCLA get gunshy about playing aggressive defense in teh second half because they couldn't belch without getting called for it. But they let W. Kentucky pretty much do what they wanted, despite the fact that they played the entire second half in a full-court, hand-check heavy press.

If this was some sort of officiating "make-up game" then they sure made up for any past, present, and future calls. That was truly pitiful.

Geez, can you guys quit whining about the fouls? Ugh, it's something that good teams worth thru. The fact is, the players DID do a lot of reaching. Just lazy defense, thinking WKU was going to quit.

UCLA is a rough and tumble team. It's been that way for at least 3 years now. the Bruins dish it out with the best of them. Just be grateful for the win and move on.

Btw, you guys think just because Brian and Jill report about the favorable calls that they are the ones asking? Ever think the national media is asking and Brian and Jill are just reporting here for your consumption? To blame either for what other reporters are asking is pretty silly.

Wow! This team needs to shoot the ball better. The Bruins have not shot the ball well in quite a while. I know they shot over 50 percent, but the Bruins can only score on layups or dunks. The jump shooting is awful and it may be the Bruins downfall in this thing. They are even missing 4 feet from the rim! Hard to believe they have gotten this far with no outside game.theBruins are in the elite 8, but the offense is just not aggressive enough. Dribble, dribble by DC, then look for a late shot.....if not into Love, then a poor jump shot. Anyone agree with me out there? It drives me crazy. Incoming Holiday must be wondering what he is getting into with Coach's offensive scheme.

All I have to say is, THANK GOD FOR LOVE!

absolutely!! I keep yelling that during these games. Love is a force. Thank god for Keefe tonight as well. Bruins were pushed physically and had to adjust after playing A&M. Too many turnovers, fatigue and foul trouble, but they advance again. Now time to face tough Xavier team. Bruins need to rest up and prepare for a battle.

The fouls were definitely a huge factor tonight. Some ticky tack fouls put the guards in foul trouble when they were needed the most, trying to break the press. Hopefully the "non-calls" can be put to rest and the focus can be put back on how bruins keep finding ways to win.

- even when ucla was up by 21 at half, i was still feeling not happy with their performance. something just isnt clicking, they look sluggish, confused, fatigued...it needs to get fixed like NOW. what happened to the aggressive, confident, killer instinct hit squad thats bursting at the seams with energy? i didnt see that team the entire game

- its nice to see shipp hit a couple 3s, but i was happier to see him aggressively drive to the paint more confidently. i think thats really his game and any 3s are just bonus

- keefe! =)

- cant they get more touches for love without him having to rebound for his touches? if they front him, then he doesnt get the ball. why is it so simple to cover him? like run some double screens and pick 'n rolls or something... i dunno something more sophisticated than, oh someones fronting him, lets pass it around the horn until the shot clock runs out...

- i hope they stop defensing opponents' speed with useless reach-ins, and getting into foul trouble

- collison is not allowed to have anymore off gamez!

- i had 5 more heart attacks yet again

go bruinz! *keels over*