UCLA at USC: Halftime update

UCLA’s offense looks about as good as it has all season, and enters halftime with a comfortable 47-26 lead over USC. The Bruins opened the game with seven straight points, and haven’t really allowed eased off yet at the Galen Center.

They’re outshooting the Trojans by a wide margin (58.6 percent to 33.3) but most impressive are their 13 assists on 17 field goals. Continue reading “UCLA at USC: Halftime update” »

UCLA at USC: What to Watch

UCLA (19-7, 9-4) at USC (12-14, 7-6)
Tipoff:
12:30 p.m., Galen Center
TV/Radio: Fox Sports Net/AM 570

At a glance: Ben Howland is just 13-9 against USC, and another loss would mark the third time he’s suffered a season sweep against the Trojans. USC has only swept the Bruins six times in the past 52 years.

Also at stake is UCLA’s chance at a Pac-12 championship. Should they lose on Sunday, the Bruins would fall into fourth place in the conference — trailing Oregon and Arizona (tied at 11-4) as well as Cal (10-5). Continue reading “UCLA at USC: What to Watch” »

Travis Wear out with foot injury

Forward Travis Wear isn’t expected to play tomorrow at USC. The Daily Bruin’s Chris Kalra ran into him at Pauley Pavilion today, where the junior — wearing a boot — said he had sprained his right ankle badly. How long Wear might be sidelined is unclear. A UCLA spokesperson said Wear injured his right foot at the beginning of Saturday’s practice and did not return.

Wear is averaging 11.6 points and 5.4 rebounds this season, and had a career-best stretch of seven double-digit scoring games earlier this season. That streak ended when he suffered a concussion in late January, an injury that sidelined him during a 78-60 loss at Arizona State.

His twin brother David started in his stead for the Jan. 26 road game, but struggled to five points on 2-of-12 shooting.

Adrià Gasol looks to step out of shadow

The love blossomed on a warm summer day in Calafell, a small beach town less than an hour’s drive west of Barcelona.

His grandmother owned a house there, not far from shores so white and pristine they once earned a European “blue flag” designation for cleanliness. Five years ago, the summer before his freshman year of high school, it was where Adrià Gasol truly found basketball.

You know the name: the one found on five different NBA All-Star rosters, two Olympic silver-medal teams and a FIBA World Championship. Continue reading “Adrià Gasol looks to step out of shadow” »

NFL Combine drills start Saturday

The NFL Combine’s first set of workouts took place Friday, and former UCLA tight end Joseph Fauria participated with 17 bench press reps — tied for 10th at his position.

Saturday is when the real fun begins, as offensive linemen and tight ends do their field work. Running backs, quarterbacks and receivers will also compete in the bench press. Here are the rest of the Bruins in Indianapolis this weekend, with ratings and analysis from their profiles on NFL.com.

DL Datone Jones — 85.6 — “Going forward, Jones needs to do a better job of anchoring, or disengaging once his intial surge is halted. However, his immense physical talent and extremely productive senior season should make him an early selection.”
Pro comparison: Cory Redding Continue reading “NFL Combine drills start Saturday” »