UCLA/WSU on Saturday the Appleby effect

[Russ Smith]

Well UCLA beat UW by 14 and shut out starting guard Ryan Appleby in his last regular season game at Pauley. But as usual with Appleby he managed to extract a toll on the opposition. By the end of the game 2 UCLA starters, Luc Richard-Mbah a Moute and Darren Collison were limping noticeably. Collison missed the last 18 minutes after Appleby hip checked him on a screen. Luc got hurt later in the game reportedly when Appleby undercut him( I didn't see it but UCLA fans who were at the game said that's what happened).

Current forecast is Collison is uncertain for Saturday's showdown with WSU, he tried to come back in last night but couldn't go and came out quickly. Given he was already recovering from food poisoning and had missed 2 days of practice, a hip pointer is not exactly good news. He said he could barely walk after the game and isn't sure he'll be able to play Saturday.

Luc was walking like an old man who needed a walker at the end of the game, he has some knee issues to begin with and apparently the undercut bruised a knee. He'll play Saturday but it's unknown now how much the knee will effect him.

Pretty thin team right now the game is in Pauley and UCLA is playing really well but if Collison can't go or is greatly impaired I think you have to assume WSU will win, they're really good and a guy like Collison makes a big difference defensively. Against a team like WSU you get very few easy buckets and DC is one of those guys who can get a few from his defense and speed.

I think at full strength UCLA wins but right now I'm inclined to think WSU will win.

 

[Russ Smith]

What an amazing game! UCLA took a big lead, Collison and Luc were playing and showed no ill effects of the injury. UCLA led by as much as 20, and were up by ~ 14 with 2 minutes to go.

For the next 2 minutes WSU put on a ridiculous 3 point shooting show, they hit 7 in a row at one point, most by Derrick Low who was scoreless in the first half and had 24 in the 2nd half. They'd hit a 3 then foul and UCLA would make the FT's and then WSU would hit another 3. they got the lead all the way down to 3, then UCLA made 2 FT's to go up 5, WSU finally missed 2 more FT's final margin 7.

Westbrook had picked up his 4th foul just prior which seemed to make him back off Low a half step which might explain why he suddenly got so hot, but Harmeling and Rochestie were hitting too. Was pretty amazing to watch I kept telling myself the lead was too big to worry but it got pretty dicey.

UCLA played their best game of the season Kevin Love was a monster 27 and 14 with 4 assists.