At the risk if jinxing UCLA tonight

[Russ Smith]

My rationale for why UCLA wins.

Florida beat LSU twice this year, by 9 and by 16. In the 9 point win Tyrus Thomas got in foul trouble and spent much of the game on the bench. In the 16 point loss Thomas didn't play, and Darrell Mitchell was hobbled by an ankle injury and played terribly. LSU won the SEC, Billy Donovan himself conceded LSU was the best team in the conference, that they'd beaten them short handed both times. When the SEC media and coaches voted they picked Glen Davis POY in the conference. So when UCLA took apart LSU and exhausted Davis, they beat the best team and best player in the SEC.

And now the same media that picked Davis POY, is telling us Noah is better and UCLA can't stop him?

I think it will be closer, Florida has better shooters than LSU did. I think they certainly CAN win, but in the end I think UCLA will.

harrick on radio prior to the LSU game had this explanation for Howland'd defense. What they do is they force you through moving feet and effort, to run your offense 2 feet further away from teh basket. You get setup, you run your stuff, but it doesn't "feel right". your post guys get the ball but they're 2 feet further from the rim and they either miss the shot, or put it on the floor and get swarmed by the help. The guards run their sets, get their shots, but the shot is 2 feet further away, with a hand in the face, and they can't seem to get comfortable shooting it. Everyone knows something is wrong, they just can't put their finger on what it is. Best explanation I've heard on what UCLA does on defense.

Think it will be a great game but I'm picking UCLA by 5.

 

[Renz]

I really don't care who wins. As a UA grad, I am no UCLA fan, but I usually root for the PAC-10 in situations like this. I like Billy Donavan though, so I wouldn't mind seeing Florida win.

The one thing I do need is more photos of Joakim Noah yelling and pounding his chest. I just can't get enough.

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[Russ Smith]

FYI the rumor on a UCLA board is that John Wooden was hospitalized today, nobody seems to know why. He wasn't scheduled to be at the game for that very reason, the travel is too tough on him. But if it's true it's a potential distraction or source of motivation for the UCLA kids to win one for Wooden.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Nice jinx.

 

[arthurracoon]

yea, you jinxed em.

 

[ajcardfan]

I thought Florida would probably win, although I wanted UCLA to pull it off. I'm disappointed the game wasn't much of a contest. Gotta hand it to the Gators though. They had an awesome run to end their regular season and just got better with every tournament game.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

UCLA got their asses beat from the opening tip in every facet of the game. The Bruins were outcoached, outplayed and outhustled. Most shocking to me was how the Gators beat the Bruins to every loos ball which I hadn't seen from UCLA since the USC game. They simply just ran into a buzz saw tonight. These things happen and UCLA will be a Top 5 team next season if nobody gets the urge to go NBA. I'd be willing to guess Howland gets another crack next year in Atlanta with this core but you just never know. Getting to the Final Four requires not only a tremendous amount of skill but a lot of luck too.

 

[Dback Jon]

Nice Jinx, Russ.....

Great game by Florida!

 

[boisesuns]

Ugh. Can't stand Florida, and don't mind UCLA so much even though they beat Memphis. Then again i'm a trasplant to Memphis, and I wasn't really upset about them getting beat.

This was a great tourney to watch.

 

[Russ Smith]

UCLA got their asses beat from the opening tip in every facet of the game. The Bruins were outcoached, outplayed and outhustled. Most shocking to me was how the Gators beat the Bruins to every loos ball which I hadn't seen from UCLA since the USC game. They simply just ran into a buzz saw tonight. These things happen and UCLA will be a Top 5 team next season if nobody gets the urge to go NBA. I'd be willing to guess Howland gets another crack next year in Atlanta with this core but you just never know. Getting to the Final Four requires not only a tremendous amount of skill but a lot of luck too.

yep the better team won. It's a bit easier to take when it's that onesided because you don't sit there and analyze every decision or every non call. if UCLA loses by 2 I'm whining about them not calling 2 travels and a 10 second call on Florida in the same possession, even when they call timeout and there's 25 on teh shotclock proving it was a violation. But even when that play happened the lead was 12 and UCLA wasn't showing much chance of comeback.

Noah impressed me, much better player than I realized. he's a bit of jerk, blowing kisses at the UCLA cheerleaders etc, but they won the game so you gotta accept a young kid doing that stuff. I didn't like Taurean Green's dance at the end either but again, he's a 20 year old kid you gotta accept a bit of emotion.

Congrats to Florida they played a hell of a game, easily the best game anybody played against UCLA all year.

We'll be back, Farmar is the only kid I worry about in terms of the going early to the NBA but nobody is projecting him in the first round and I'm pretty sure he'll be back. He said something last night about the guys coming back next year and I hope he includes himself in that. Not worried about Afflalo jumping, he showed again last night he's not athletic enough he needs to keep improving his total game to make up for that.

Still a great run by a team I had pegged losing in the elite 8.

 

[Dback Jon]

None of the non-senior UCLA players are ready for the NBA - all could use at least one more year.

If LSU, UCLA and Florida don't lose any players to the draft, we could be looking at those three in the final four again.

 

[Russ Smith]

None of the non-senior UCLA players are ready for the NBA - all could use at least one more year.

If LSU, UCLA and Florida don't lose any players to the draft, we could be looking at those three in the final four again.

UNC is going to be awfully talented next year. People keep saying Texas too but I'm betting Aldridge goes NBA. Durant will be good but I think they lose key guys.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Has UCLA shown up yet?






Man, that was an UGLY game.

 

[Russ Smith]

Has UCLA shown up yet?






Man, that was an UGLY game.

Brutal. But I did get a new avatar out of Aboya's dunk over Noah.

If that kid ever slows down and figures out the game look out, ridiculously athletic. but he's a 21 year old freshman so I'm not sure how much better he's going to get. Like Luc he's only been playing the game a few years.

 

[Assface]

Woo hoo, go Florida!

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

If LSU, UCLA and Florida don't lose any players to the draft, we could be looking at those three in the final four again.

I have a feeling LSU and Florida are going to lose a lot of players. With the way Noah has been talking you'd think he already has an agent.

I do agree that if both teams return everyone they'll be Top 5 along with Kansas and UNC. Although I'm guessing no more of than two of the five teams make the Final Four next year.

 

[Russ Smith]

Woo hoo, go Florida!

Congrats. Will be interesting if those kids all come back or not. Noah doesn't need the money, if they come back they can be back in the final 4 next year.