Mistakes plague the Bruins
A loss is a loss is a loss, but the UCLA men's basketball team exited the locker room on Sunday night at the Galen Center looking like a different team than when they were crushed by the Trojans at Pauley Pavilion on Jan. 16.
After that 67-46 debacle, the Bruins were more shell-shocked than anything, almost dumbfounded by the biggest loss ever to the Trojans at Pauley Pavilion. They were sheepish, ashamed, almost sullen.
On Sunday night, after a 68-64 USC win that was decided with less than a minute left, Malcolm Lee was angry. Maybe a little dejected, but more irritated than anything.
"It's frustrating because that first game, they just came and just took it - this game, I felt that we fought, but we had a lot of mistakes on our end that were controllable," Lee said. "We can only do the things that we can control, and we didn't do a good job on them."
And the award for understatement of the year goes to...
UCLA committed 20 turnovers and shot just 24-for-61 from the field, a 39.3 percent clip, and just 7-of-26 on 3-pointers.
When USC seemed vulnerable on the perimeter, the Bruins missed the wide-open shot.
When the Trojans gave up the post, UCLA flubbed the layup.
When there was a chance to close the gap, the Bruins widened it.
Now UCLA stands at 6-6 in Pac-10 play and 11-13 overall, wondering how a 21-rebound advantage could translate to a loss, how effort and will and desire could spell L-O-S-S.
"It's easier said than done, I guess," Nelson said. "We definitely came out and played as hard as we could tonight. We have to continue to correct our mistakes as much as possible."
There certainly were mistakes, turnovers of every flavor.
Vanilla, as in simply poor passes.
Chocolate, as in blatant offensive fouls.
Strawberry, as in having the ball ripped from their hands.
"One individual can hurt the whole team, but if we're all not working as a unit, that's when we start to get more turnovers collectively," Roll said. "Late in the game, they're running sets and they're running critically the little things - sealing here, getting a back-cut there. The little things, they turn into big things at the end of the game."
Never were the little things more glaring than a three-minute stretch at the end of the game.
Down by four points after a Tyler Honeycutt free throw with 3:51 left, UCLA missed five shots and turned the ball over three times as the Trojans increased their lead to 11.
"It can be a lot of things - if a guy doesn't set a pick, if someone's not sealing right, if the passer needed to know that they needed to break a play," Lee said. "Everybody scouts us; just like we know USC's offense real well, they know our offense real well. They were just overplaying a lot, and they did a real good job to force the turnovers. The momentum got on their side and the crowd got on their side."
Wow, tell us how you really feel BB
Probably the worst game the Trojans have played all season...
The Bruin showing at the game really was pathetic. Of all the readers of this blog, how many went?
Jerime Anderson should transfer. Or is he hiding an injury cause his level of play is not consistent with Howland PG's.
Does anyone else see or feel that Lee is Uncoordinated sometimes or half of the time on the floor?...
Brentwood Bruin dont even pull that card man. Some of us bandwagoners as you call us have been to games since we were four years old man. But maybe since some of us have just graduated college, we realize we cant spend our money on cable television, Ucla games, laker games, and we gotta make car payments, rent, loan payments for the college education we received. Have you heard of the recession? I went to the home game and we lost by 21 points, why the hell would I spend what little I have to continue to watch the collapse when they havent been putting effort in? I didnt even get one of the t-shirts that all the "season ticket holders got". Your comment was very presumptuous and offensive. What you stated is pure bush league for calling the fans out, you dont know shit about people' situations.
Plus it was Valentine's Day night and a three day weekend. Howland NEEDS to get a couple more good recruits...McCallum, Jones, etc. This is a huge year for him. The current freshmen other than Nelson and Honeycutt are way over their heads as is Anderson who really doesn't belong at this level. How did Howland not see this. Lane looked completely shellshocked out there last night and Dragovic looks like he couldn't care less. What was he 2 for 14 total against USC this year? Should he sit him and play it for next year or keep pushing and try to win the Pac-10 tournament?
The Trojans were embarrassed by their own sad performance.
http://www.dailynews.com/sports/ci_14403308
Anonymous 12:06 PM,
Are you trying to tell me that only 3 dozen people with degrees from UCLA can afford a $30 ticket?
"Plus it was Valentine's Day..."
While I've never spoken to VB in person, from his writing I find it hard to believe he could sweet-talk a woman into going out on a date with him.
30+ alum signed up for the UW UCLA game next weekend. I hope even more come out!
True!
@ "Brentwood Bruin" Yeah, I'm sure you are not yet another 'sc fan posing as a Bruins' fan to go on a tirade against UCLA...Rrriiight...I sure do believe you. I'm not excusing our team for the loss--we need to step it up and compete, especially against our rivals (although 'sc still doesn't have a national contending program to speak of). But it never ceases to amaze me how bored 'sc fans are that they feel the need to constantly come to our forums to talk s#!t. It is readily apparent that 'sc alumni (and bandwagon fans) are insecure and they feel the need to jump at any opportunity to spread misinformation and general s#!t talking about UCLA to feel better about their inferior education.
@Anon at 12:06pm: Another 'sc troll trying to pose as a UCLA fan. I'm telling you these 'sc fans have no life.
"30+ alum signed up for the UW UCLA game next weekend. I hope even more come out!"
Happy that a whole 30 alumni might show up. That's just pathetic.
@ Anon at 7:09pm: AGAIN, AS I WROTE ABOVE... "Yet another 'sc troll trying to pose as a UCLA fan. I'm telling you these 'sc fans have no life." Cowards, you guys always hide under fake monikers, acting as if you are UCLA fans and making fools of yourselves. :D
spedjones said:
Happy that a whole 30 alumni might show up. That's just pathetic.
As ONE group... that doesn't include those who are already going on their own. Not sure what else you're expecting.
Sheesh.