Congratulations to UCLA..

[Arizona's Finest]

...and by extension Russ Smith

I know how exciting it is to have a team in the Final Four and I have made no secrets that you are one of my favorite posters when it comes to Cardinal football and College Basketball.....

And you should be excited because this seems like a harbinger of things to come rather than a "good year" for your team. And you can tell by the mentality of your team and its players. Matching up with Howland twice a year is going to be a serious issue for UA going forward and i dont think it will be as easy to go in their and swoop up some SoCal recruits (budinger nonwithstanding of course) as it was previously so.

In terms of this tournament. Well i loved Farmar going in but he has not shown me much as of yet. That could be the system or his lack of experience but i expected more. But as for Affalo and Mboute Boute, those guys are stepping up and i have never seen a team that contests EVERY shot like the Bruins do. Howland was an exceptional hire and i think you guys definitly made the right hire. I'm just hoping it doesnt turn out like another SoCal schools recent football hire.......

So thanks to the Bruins for representing our conference and good luck the rest of the way. I'm intigued to see how Howland defends Thomas and Davis, with the strength of UCLA being on the pereimeter but i wouldn't doubt Ben's already got a plan for that.

Too bad ASU couldn't get his protege in Dixon

With Shipp back next year and if your team returns in tact, you guys will be a handful. I like our chances next year though, especially when you consider Affalo seems to be certain to leave if he plays well these next two games. Should be interesting though......

 

[Russ Smith]

thanks.

I agree about Farmar, in fact generally when a team unexpectedly makes a final 4 you expect the downside is one or more underclassmen will bolt to the NBA to hit while the iron is hot. The iron is not hot because UCLA is winning on defense they're shooting horribly. Afflalo is still scoring but his shot has been off too, 2-9 against Memphis(both 3's). But he's a tough as nails defender just locking people up. Both have said they're coming back and I see no way Farmar would even think about it based on his tournament, he's 15-43 in the 4 games, 45 total points, 17 assists, 15 turnovers.

Obviously they had a nice seed that gave them a nice draw, weakest 3 seed, weakest 1 seed etc. But to get to the final 4 shooting as poorly as they've shot is pretty interesting. UCLA was #4 in the country in defensive efficiency this year, but #8(I think) in offensive efficiency, they've just been awful in the tournament on offense.

Eventually they're either going to have a good shooting game, or lose. LSU blocks a lot of shots so my guess is UCLA is going to have to make some jumpers Saturday if they want to move on.

FYI an interesting recruiting rumor. Howland said on radio that Walt Hazzard has given him permission to unretire #42 for "one specific recruit", but he declined to say who saying he's not allowed to. Kevin Love wears #42 for his current HS team in Oregon and as a junior, Howland can't talk about him. So this is fueling rumors that Love told Howland he's going to be a Bruin, but it's just speculation at the moment.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Congrats to the Bruins. You guys deserve it after the Lavin years.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Props to the Bruins (and their fans) !!

 

[Dback Jon]

As a big Ben Howland Fan, I am enjoying this UCLA run as well!

UCLA owes NAU in many ways!!

 

[sundevilscott]

I agree, Congrats to UCLA! Now win it all.

 

[Russ Smith]

I agree, Congrats to UCLA! Now win it all.

That is the plan, just hope we can pull it off.

 

[Matt L]

thanks.

I agree about Farmar, in fact generally when a team unexpectedly makes a final 4 you expect the downside is one or more underclassmen will bolt to the NBA to hit while the iron is hot. The iron is not hot because UCLA is winning on defense they're shooting horribly. Afflalo is still scoring but his shot has been off too, 2-9 against Memphis(both 3's). But he's a tough as nails defender just locking people up. Both have said they're coming back and I see no way Farmar would even think about it based on his tournament, he's 15-43 in the 4 games, 45 total points, 17 assists, 15 turnovers.

Obviously they had a nice seed that gave them a nice draw, weakest 3 seed, weakest 1 seed etc. But to get to the final 4 shooting as poorly as they've shot is pretty interesting. UCLA was #4 in the country in defensive efficiency this year, but #8(I think) in offensive efficiency, they've just been awful in the tournament on offense.

Eventually they're either going to have a good shooting game, or lose. LSU blocks a lot of shots so my guess is UCLA is going to have to make some jumpers Saturday if they want to move on.

FYI an interesting recruiting rumor. Howland said on radio that Walt Hazzard has given him permission to unretire #42 for "one specific recruit", but he declined to say who saying he's not allowed to. Kevin Love wears #42 for his current HS team in Oregon and as a junior, Howland can't talk about him. So this is fueling rumors that Love told Howland he's going to be a Bruin, but it's just speculation at the moment.

weakest 3 seed?

 

[Russ Smith]

weakest 3 seed?

That's what the "experts" are saying, not saying I agree but that seems to be the consensus, UCLA had the easiest path to the final 4.