- Joined
- May 14, 2002
- Posts
- 88,578
- Reaction score
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Pretty good game, WSU plays so fundamentally sound they're a tough team to play. Surprising that UCLA got so many easy shots. Started the game 5-5, 2 layups, 2 dunks and a wide open 3. Then hit a dry spell, and WSU led by 1 at the half. At the half on Bruinzone I posted that we'd win the game because it was readily obvious the rim UCLA was shooting at in the first half was "tight" we had two 3's a 15 foot jumper go all the way down and pop out, and a couple of chippies did too. Since I knew WSU would be on that rim in the 2nd half, seemed logical.
Sure enough the 2nd half was all UCLA, pounding the ball inside for easy shots while WSU got one shot after another that rolled off or just missed. At least 10 guys on Bruinzone independently commented on the rim so it was real obvious, very tight rim if you didn't swish the shot, it woudl come out more often than not.
Very physical game,3 different WSU players sprained ankles, 2 diving out of bounds for loose balls, one landing on a UCLA players foot. After the game Tony Bennett was visibly upset with the refs. They really let them play calls were missed both ways. He was clearly mad about a charge call in the 2nd half and a foul on a rebound that he thought was a loose ball but they called WSU fouling Shipp. Oddly he wasn't angry when Derrick Low decked Afflalo shooting a 3 causing a complete airball( first half) and leaving Afflalo sprawled on the floor wondering where the call was. When refs let them play it works to UCLA's advantage, this was no different.
UCLA was up 10-12 with about 7 minute left when Howland went into his milk the clock shrink the game mode that I don't like. Sure enough every time down we'd start running a play at about 15 seconds and inevitably get a forced shot to beat the shot clock. WSU cut it to 4 and had a putback that would have made it 2 but they missed it(thank you tight rim).
UW beat USC so UCLA has to be ready to play UW on Saturday but they've clinched the conference title and top seed in the conference tourney. Barring a total blowout loss in the first round of the tourney it would appear UCLA is headed for a #1 seed in the West, with most of the top teams losing recently if UCLA wins even one game in the Pac 10 tourney they probably get a 1 seed.
Sure enough the 2nd half was all UCLA, pounding the ball inside for easy shots while WSU got one shot after another that rolled off or just missed. At least 10 guys on Bruinzone independently commented on the rim so it was real obvious, very tight rim if you didn't swish the shot, it woudl come out more often than not.
Very physical game,3 different WSU players sprained ankles, 2 diving out of bounds for loose balls, one landing on a UCLA players foot. After the game Tony Bennett was visibly upset with the refs. They really let them play calls were missed both ways. He was clearly mad about a charge call in the 2nd half and a foul on a rebound that he thought was a loose ball but they called WSU fouling Shipp. Oddly he wasn't angry when Derrick Low decked Afflalo shooting a 3 causing a complete airball( first half) and leaving Afflalo sprawled on the floor wondering where the call was. When refs let them play it works to UCLA's advantage, this was no different.
UCLA was up 10-12 with about 7 minute left when Howland went into his milk the clock shrink the game mode that I don't like. Sure enough every time down we'd start running a play at about 15 seconds and inevitably get a forced shot to beat the shot clock. WSU cut it to 4 and had a putback that would have made it 2 but they missed it(thank you tight rim).
UW beat USC so UCLA has to be ready to play UW on Saturday but they've clinched the conference title and top seed in the conference tourney. Barring a total blowout loss in the first round of the tourney it would appear UCLA is headed for a #1 seed in the West, with most of the top teams losing recently if UCLA wins even one game in the Pac 10 tourney they probably get a 1 seed.
