I guess UCLA will win this one right
@Russ Smith ?
ASU missing 4 guys UCLA missing Chris Smith I expected an easy win. I will say this, ASU played very hard but that first half the officiating was insane, the reason that half was so unwatchable was in large part the refs seemed to decide when it was 14-6 UCLA that this was a one sided game and we're not going to call anything on ASU. The next 6 fouls were all on UCLA, while ASU was trapping and reaching all over the court. On offense Christopher kept doing the same move over and over drive into the defenders chest knock him back, euro step, often twice, they didn't call him for it until the 2nd half. There was a sequence in the first half where Verge walked and missed, Christopher walked and missed a layup and then Verge walked again and missed and ASU got the putback. You could hear the UCLA bench screaming call the walk call the walk.
My comments on the UCLA board at the half were Mick is going to read UCLA the riot act for not playing hard, and then spend the rest of the half riding the refs. ASU played very hard but due to being short handed they took a ton of bad shots which is why UCLA got the early lead. Neither team shot well and Tyger played his worst game as a bruin, couldn't make a shot, turnovers, and couldn't guard Verge.
On the T by Hurley he was screaming what did I do, what did I say, we were all laughing on the UCLA boards. If you watched the game 3 times in the first half a ref either ran into or had to stop to avoid running into Hurley, he was on the court the entire game. That they allowed him to go that long before giving him a T for yelling at them was great restraint IMO. Mick is a yeller too but more at his own team. The irony was IMO after the T, the refs had just had enough and the 2nd half seemed like UCLA got the benefit of the calls, ASU not only got called for walks, reaches and carries, they got called on some I thought were just bad calls, it was like the refs in the Rams game being mad at D Hop.
Tough game to watch, without Smith UCLA just doesn't have enough offense unless Juzang and Kyman start to make shots. you can't turn the ball over that much. I love Christopher but this game highlighted his NBA issues, he can't shoot, he's got to work on that aspect of his game. He is likely still a lottery pick but man wide open 3 from the corner is 3-4 feet long, in todays NBA you can't rely on bullying your way to the basket, he's very much like Tyreke Evans right now I don't think that works anymore in the NBA you have to be able to make jumpshots.
I love Verge he is so tough. I liked Ostin had no idea he had that kind of hops. Feel bad for Remy hope he comes back and beats USC tough kid.
