 |
| #21 Oregon Ducks visits #24 UCLA Bruins. |
No. 24 UCLA Basketball Hosts No. 21 Oregon on Saturday
 |  Kyle Anderson |
Jan. 18, 2013
UCLA's Game Notes
| Oregon's Game Notes
LOS ANGELES - The No. 24 UCLA basketball team (15-3, 5-0) will host No. 21 Oregon (15-2, 4-0) in a Pac-12 showdown in New Pauley Pavilion on Saturday at 1 p.m. The Bruins' home contest will be televised nationally by CBS and can be heard on the radio on AM 570. UCLA has won its last 10 games and has opened conference play with a 5-0 record for the first time since 2003-04, the first season in which Ben Howland served as UCLA's head coach.
GAME INFORMATION
Venue: New Pauley Pavilion (13,800)
Tip-Off Time: 1:05 p.m. PT
Television: CBS
TV Talent: Spero Dedes (play-by-play), Doug Gottlieb (analyst)
Radio (UCLA Sports Network from IMG College): AM 570 (KLAC)
Radio Talent: Chris Roberts (play-by-play), Don MacLean (analyst)
SIRIUS Satellite Radio: Channel 134
SIRIUS XM Radio: Channel 196
BRUINS DEFEAT OREGON STATE
Shabazz Muhammad scored 21 points, while Kyle Anderson and Travis Wear each netted 17 points in UCLA's 74-64 win over Oregon State on Thursday evening. The Bruins led at halftime by a 37-26 margin and pushed their cushion to as many as 20 points early in the second half to secure their 10th straight win.
STRONG START
The Bruins have opened their Pac-12 schedule with a perfect 5-0 mark for the first time since 2003-04, the first season at UCLA for head coach Ben Howland. UCLA last won its first six conference games in 1993-94, when the Bruins opened Pac-10 play with a 7-0 mark and finished the year 13-5 in Pac-10 action.
WHO'S ON DECK
The Bruins will play at Arizona next Thursday night and at Arizona State next Saturday afternoon. Arizona is scheduled to play at Arizona State at 11:30 a.m. (PT) on Saturday, Jan. 19. The Bruins split a pair of regular-season meetings against Arizona last season before losing to the Wildcats in the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 Tournament at Staples Center (Los Angeles). UCLA won both regular-season contests against Arizona State in 2011-12.
PAC-12 SUCCESS
UCLA improved its Pac-12 record to 5-0 on Thursday night with a 74-64 win over Oregon State. Last weekend, the Bruins became the first Pac-12 team to win both games at the "mountain" schools since Utah and Colorado formally joined the conference in 2011-12 - no team had accomplished that feat in nine previous road trips to Utah/Colorado between eight schools last season and USC this month.
TRAVIS TRIUMPHS
Travis Wear has averaged 12.3 points per game and 6.2 rebounds per game as a redshirt junior this season. The resident of Huntington Beach, Calif., scored a career-high 23 points in UCLA's victory at Colorado (Jan. 12), recording 15 points in the second half. He had a stretch of nine consecutive points in the game's final 5:08. He has scored in double figures in each of UCLA's last six games, dating back to a 22-point effort against Missouri (Dec. 28).
EFFICIENT SCORER
Travis Wear has shot 51.7 percent (91-176) from the field this season, the highest percentage of any UCLA player and 11th-best in the Pac-12. Wear has also made 80.0 percent of his free throws (36-45). He has scored in double figures 12 times this season and in 32 of 48 career games at UCLA.
DOUBLE-DOUBLES
Freshman guard Kyle Anderson has registered five of UCLA's eight double-doubles this season and ranks in the top five in the Pac-12 in that category. The resident of Fairview, N.J., is the only Pac-12 player to rank in the top seven in the conference in rebounds per game (8.9) and assists per game (3.6) - he also ranks seventh in the Pac-12 in steals per game (1.6) and fourth in assist turnover ratio (1.8).
AT THE LINE
Kyle Anderson has made 41 of 47 free throws (.872) in UCLA's last 12 games since opening the season making 13 of 26 (.500) in the first six contests. Anderson made all six free throws in UCLA's 78-75 win at Colorado last Saturday, including four free throws in the game's final 1:01.
GIVING AN ASSIST
Through games played Thursday (Jan. 17), senior Larry Drew II leads the nation in assist turnover ratio (4.71) and ranks fourth, nationally, in assists per game (8.1). Drew II has logged at least eight assists in 12 of UCLA's 18 contests and has committed two or fewer turnovers in 14 of 18 contests. Overall, Drew II has totaled 146 assists and 31 turnovers in 18 games while averaging 5.7 points per game.
LEADING SCORER
Freshman swingman Shabazz Muhammad leads UCLA with 18.4 points per game, the fourth-highest scoring average in the Pac-12 and the top scoring average for any Pac-12 freshman. Muhammad has scored in double figures in 14 of 15 games played and has tallied 20 or more points in seven games. The resident of Las Vegas has logged two double-doubles. He scored a season-high 27 points in wins over Fresno State (Dec. 22) and Missouri (Dec. 28).
NATIONAL HONOREE
Freshman Shabazz Muhammad secured Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week honors, as announced by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) for the week of Dec. 24-30. He also earned Pac-12 Player of the Week honors that week after having scored 27 points in the Bruins' 97-94 overtime win over then-No. 7 Missouri. Muhammad made 10 of 19 field goals, including three of six 3-point attempts, against the Tigers.
WIN STREAKS
Under 10th-year head coach Ben Howland, UCLA has recorded four winning streaks of 10 games or longer. The Bruins last won 10 or more games in 2008-09, posting a 10-game winning streak. In 19 seasons as a college head coach, Howland's teams have won 10 or more consecutive games eight times (includes five seasons at Northern Arizona, four seasons at Pittsburgh). Two of Howland's teams at UCLA logged 14-game winning streaks.
PROTECTING THE BALL
UCLA enters Saturday's game versus Oregon having compiled a 1.57 assist turnover ratio, the highest ratio in 10 seasons under head coach Ben Howland. UCLA's 2008-09 squad posted a 1.23 ratio and last year's team logged a 1.20 ratio. Senior guard Larry Drew II leads the nation in assist turnover ratio (4.89). The Bruins have had just one game this season (Nov. 20, vs. Georgia in Brooklyn, N.Y.) with more turnovers than assists.
UNCHARTED TERRITORY
Freshman Kyle Anderson finished three assists shy of a triple-double against Fresno State (Dec. 22), posting season-highs of 20 points and 17 rebounds that night. UCLA's only previous triple-doubles took place in Dec. 1995. Toby Bailey finished with 23 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists against Stephen F. Austin on Dec. 18, 1995. Jelani McCoy tallied 15 points, 11 blocks and 10 rebounds against Maryland on Dec. 9, 1995.
MORE ON DREW II
Senior Larry Drew II recorded a career-high 13 assists (with just two turnovers) in UCLA's 82-56 win against Cal State Northridge (Nov. 28). He has dished 10 or more assists in five games this season - 12 against James Madison (Nov. 15), 13 versus Cal State Northridge (Nov. 28), 11 against San Diego State (Dec. 1), and 10 in wins against Fresno State (Dec. 22) and Missouri (Dec. 28).
CLOSE CALLS
The Bruins have gone 6-1 in games decided by five points or fewer. UCLA overcame a nine-point deficit in the final five minutes to defeat Missouri, 97-94 in overtime (Dec. 28). Other victories have come against Colorado (78-75), Utah (57-53, Jan. 10), Texas (65-63, Dec. 8), Georgia (60-56, Nov. 20) and UC Irvine (80-79, overtime, Nov. 13). In 10 seasons as head coach, Ben Howland has led UCLA to a 54-32 record in games decided by five points or fewer.
INJURY REPORT
Sophomore Nick Kazemi remains sidelined with a sprained left MCL and is expected to miss 1-2 more weeks. He sustained the injury during practice on Oct. 26, 2012.
___________________
UCLA's Game Notes
| Oregon's Game Notes LOS ANGELES - The No. 24 UCLA basketball team (15-3, 5-0) will host No. 21 Oregon (15-2, 4-0) in a Pac-12 showdown in New Pauley Pavilion on Saturday at 1 p.m. The Bruins' home contest will be televised nationally by CBS and can be heard on the radio on AM 570. UCLA has won its last 10 games and has opened conference play with a 5-0 record for the first time since 2003-04, the first season in which Ben Howland served as UCLA's head coach.
GAME INFORMATION
Venue: New Pauley Pavilion (13,800)
Tip-Off Time: 1:05 p.m. PT
Television: CBS
TV Talent: Spero Dedes (play-by-play), Doug Gottlieb (analyst)
Radio (UCLA Sports Network from IMG College): AM 570 (KLAC)
Radio Talent: Chris Roberts (play-by-play), Don MacLean (analyst)
SIRIUS Satellite Radio: Channel 134
SIRIUS XM Radio: Channel 196
BRUINS DEFEAT OREGON STATE
Shabazz Muhammad scored 21 points, while Kyle Anderson and Travis Wear each netted 17 points in UCLA's 74-64 win over Oregon State on Thursday evening. The Bruins led at halftime by a 37-26 margin and pushed their cushion to as many as 20 points early in the second half to secure their 10th straight win.
STRONG START
The Bruins have opened their Pac-12 schedule with a perfect 5-0 mark for the first time since 2003-04, the first season at UCLA for head coach Ben Howland. UCLA last won its first six conference games in 1993-94, when the Bruins opened Pac-10 play with a 7-0 mark and finished the year 13-5 in Pac-10 action.
WHO'S ON DECK
The Bruins will play at Arizona next Thursday night and at Arizona State next Saturday afternoon. Arizona is scheduled to play at Arizona State at 11:30 a.m. (PT) on Saturday, Jan. 19. The Bruins split a pair of regular-season meetings against Arizona last season before losing to the Wildcats in the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 Tournament at Staples Center (Los Angeles). UCLA won both regular-season contests against Arizona State in 2011-12.
PAC-12 SUCCESS
UCLA improved its Pac-12 record to 5-0 on Thursday night with a 74-64 win over Oregon State. Last weekend, the Bruins became the first Pac-12 team to win both games at the "mountain" schools since Utah and Colorado formally joined the conference in 2011-12 - no team had accomplished that feat in nine previous road trips to Utah/Colorado between eight schools last season and USC this month.
TRAVIS TRIUMPHS
Travis Wear has averaged 12.3 points per game and 6.2 rebounds per game as a redshirt junior this season. The resident of Huntington Beach, Calif., scored a career-high 23 points in UCLA's victory at Colorado (Jan. 12), recording 15 points in the second half. He had a stretch of nine consecutive points in the game's final 5:08. He has scored in double figures in each of UCLA's last six games, dating back to a 22-point effort against Missouri (Dec. 28).
EFFICIENT SCORER
Travis Wear has shot 51.7 percent (91-176) from the field this season, the highest percentage of any UCLA player and 11th-best in the Pac-12. Wear has also made 80.0 percent of his free throws (36-45). He has scored in double figures 12 times this season and in 32 of 48 career games at UCLA.
DOUBLE-DOUBLES
Freshman guard Kyle Anderson has registered five of UCLA's eight double-doubles this season and ranks in the top five in the Pac-12 in that category. The resident of Fairview, N.J., is the only Pac-12 player to rank in the top seven in the conference in rebounds per game (8.9) and assists per game (3.6) - he also ranks seventh in the Pac-12 in steals per game (1.6) and fourth in assist turnover ratio (1.8).
AT THE LINE
Kyle Anderson has made 41 of 47 free throws (.872) in UCLA's last 12 games since opening the season making 13 of 26 (.500) in the first six contests. Anderson made all six free throws in UCLA's 78-75 win at Colorado last Saturday, including four free throws in the game's final 1:01.
GIVING AN ASSIST
Through games played Thursday (Jan. 17), senior Larry Drew II leads the nation in assist turnover ratio (4.71) and ranks fourth, nationally, in assists per game (8.1). Drew II has logged at least eight assists in 12 of UCLA's 18 contests and has committed two or fewer turnovers in 14 of 18 contests. Overall, Drew II has totaled 146 assists and 31 turnovers in 18 games while averaging 5.7 points per game.
LEADING SCORER
Freshman swingman Shabazz Muhammad leads UCLA with 18.4 points per game, the fourth-highest scoring average in the Pac-12 and the top scoring average for any Pac-12 freshman. Muhammad has scored in double figures in 14 of 15 games played and has tallied 20 or more points in seven games. The resident of Las Vegas has logged two double-doubles. He scored a season-high 27 points in wins over Fresno State (Dec. 22) and Missouri (Dec. 28).
NATIONAL HONOREE
Freshman Shabazz Muhammad secured Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week honors, as announced by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) for the week of Dec. 24-30. He also earned Pac-12 Player of the Week honors that week after having scored 27 points in the Bruins' 97-94 overtime win over then-No. 7 Missouri. Muhammad made 10 of 19 field goals, including three of six 3-point attempts, against the Tigers.
WIN STREAKS
Under 10th-year head coach Ben Howland, UCLA has recorded four winning streaks of 10 games or longer. The Bruins last won 10 or more games in 2008-09, posting a 10-game winning streak. In 19 seasons as a college head coach, Howland's teams have won 10 or more consecutive games eight times (includes five seasons at Northern Arizona, four seasons at Pittsburgh). Two of Howland's teams at UCLA logged 14-game winning streaks.
PROTECTING THE BALL
UCLA enters Saturday's game versus Oregon having compiled a 1.57 assist turnover ratio, the highest ratio in 10 seasons under head coach Ben Howland. UCLA's 2008-09 squad posted a 1.23 ratio and last year's team logged a 1.20 ratio. Senior guard Larry Drew II leads the nation in assist turnover ratio (4.89). The Bruins have had just one game this season (Nov. 20, vs. Georgia in Brooklyn, N.Y.) with more turnovers than assists.
UNCHARTED TERRITORY
Freshman Kyle Anderson finished three assists shy of a triple-double against Fresno State (Dec. 22), posting season-highs of 20 points and 17 rebounds that night. UCLA's only previous triple-doubles took place in Dec. 1995. Toby Bailey finished with 23 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists against Stephen F. Austin on Dec. 18, 1995. Jelani McCoy tallied 15 points, 11 blocks and 10 rebounds against Maryland on Dec. 9, 1995.
MORE ON DREW II
Senior Larry Drew II recorded a career-high 13 assists (with just two turnovers) in UCLA's 82-56 win against Cal State Northridge (Nov. 28). He has dished 10 or more assists in five games this season - 12 against James Madison (Nov. 15), 13 versus Cal State Northridge (Nov. 28), 11 against San Diego State (Dec. 1), and 10 in wins against Fresno State (Dec. 22) and Missouri (Dec. 28).
CLOSE CALLS
The Bruins have gone 6-1 in games decided by five points or fewer. UCLA overcame a nine-point deficit in the final five minutes to defeat Missouri, 97-94 in overtime (Dec. 28). Other victories have come against Colorado (78-75), Utah (57-53, Jan. 10), Texas (65-63, Dec. 8), Georgia (60-56, Nov. 20) and UC Irvine (80-79, overtime, Nov. 13). In 10 seasons as head coach, Ben Howland has led UCLA to a 54-32 record in games decided by five points or fewer.
INJURY REPORT
Sophomore Nick Kazemi remains sidelined with a sprained left MCL and is expected to miss 1-2 more weeks. He sustained the injury during practice on Oct. 26, 2012.
___________________
Bruins to play 'very important' game against Oregon
By Peter Yoon
ESPNLosAngeles.com
January, 18, 2013
6:16 PM PT
LOS ANGELES -- Every once in a while, even Ben Howland will let the coach speak fall by the wayside.
Howland steadfastly views one game at a time and tries to approach each game with the same amount of vigor, but on special occasions he'll acknowledge that some games are bigger than others.
One of those comes Saturday, when Howland's No. 24 UCLA Bruins (15-3, 5-0 Pac-12) play the No. 21 Oregon Ducks (15-2, 4-0) in a nationally televised litmus test that will give an indication of how seriously the Bruins must be taken as a contender for both the conference title, and a high seeding in the NCAA tournament.
"This game is very important," Howland said Friday during a conference call with reporters. "Look at both teams -- they are 29, we're 31 in the RPI. They're 4-0, we're 5-0. I don't think it's lost on anybody that this is obviously an important game."
Conference title ramifications and RPI improvement are one thing, but perhaps the biggest factor at stake here is the judgment in the court of public opinion. This will be a featured Saturday afternoon game on CBS across the country. UCLA doesn't get many of these opportunities, mostly playing night games on the West Coast that most of the nation misses.
Because of that, there remains some skepticism in the college basketball world about the validity of UCLA's current 10-game win streak. Oregon, on a six-game win streak, is a proven commodity with victories over No. 7 Arizona and a road win at UNLV, so this is a chance for UCLA to show that its streak, which includes a victory over No. 17 Missouri, is no fluke.
"Oregon is very good," Howland said. "Oregon is the best team we've played since Missouri. ... They've got excellent personnel, depth, size, the ability to shoot. ... They've got a lot of good pieces, and that's why they're going to be an NCAA tournament team and do really well in the tournament come March."
Glass cleaners
One key to stemming the Ducks will be to keep them off the glass. Oregon has outrebounded opponents by 9.2 per game, leading the conference and ranking No. 7 in the nation in rebound margin.
It won't be easy for the Bruins, who have been outrebounded in five of their past six games and have given up 35.9 rebounds per game to rank No. 10 in the Pac-12 in rebounding defense.
"This team tomorrow that we're playing in Oregon -- that's where they are really good," Howland said. "They are out-boarding their opponent by nine rebounds a game. They are top two in the conference, along with Arizona. I've always believed that rebound margin is such a huge factor in being a really good team."
It hasn't been too much of a factor for UCLA so far. The Bruins have won all seven games this season in which they've been outrebounded, including an overtime victory over Missouri, which won the battle of the boards, 50-36.
Come to play
Motivation shouldn't be an issue for the Bruins in the high-profile clash with Oregon, but it might have been a factor in UCLA's slow start Thursday against Oregon State.
The Bruins fell behind, 14-9, in the first five minutes before taking control of the game. Howland said Thursday night that Oregon State's quick start "woke us up," and reiterated Friday that the Bruins must come ready from the opening tip to play every night.
"You have to be ready to play every opponent at your very best," Howland said. "Anybody can beat anybody on a given night. We've already learned that lesson this year and we don't want to suffer through another lesson again."
That lesson was a 70-68 loss to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on Nov. 25.
Parker improving
Center Tony Parker had his best stretch of the season during the first half of Thursday's victory over Oregon State. He scored four points and had two blocked shots in three minutes of the first half and got to the free-throw line on two separate occasions.
The second half didn't go quite as well as he had a shot blocked and mishandled a couple of passes down low, but the signs of improvement were encouraging to Howland.
"He's getting better," Howland said. "Tony is improving and Tony is going to be, I think, a real force for us and so I'm excited about how he is developing."
___________________
UCLA expecting tough test from Oregon
Howland steadfastly views one game at a time and tries to approach each game with the same amount of vigor, but on special occasions he'll acknowledge that some games are bigger than others.
One of those comes Saturday, when Howland's No. 24 UCLA Bruins (15-3, 5-0 Pac-12) play the No. 21 Oregon Ducks (15-2, 4-0) in a nationally televised litmus test that will give an indication of how seriously the Bruins must be taken as a contender for both the conference title, and a high seeding in the NCAA tournament.
"This game is very important," Howland said Friday during a conference call with reporters. "Look at both teams -- they are 29, we're 31 in the RPI. They're 4-0, we're 5-0. I don't think it's lost on anybody that this is obviously an important game."
Conference title ramifications and RPI improvement are one thing, but perhaps the biggest factor at stake here is the judgment in the court of public opinion. This will be a featured Saturday afternoon game on CBS across the country. UCLA doesn't get many of these opportunities, mostly playing night games on the West Coast that most of the nation misses.
Because of that, there remains some skepticism in the college basketball world about the validity of UCLA's current 10-game win streak. Oregon, on a six-game win streak, is a proven commodity with victories over No. 7 Arizona and a road win at UNLV, so this is a chance for UCLA to show that its streak, which includes a victory over No. 17 Missouri, is no fluke.
"Oregon is very good," Howland said. "Oregon is the best team we've played since Missouri. ... They've got excellent personnel, depth, size, the ability to shoot. ... They've got a lot of good pieces, and that's why they're going to be an NCAA tournament team and do really well in the tournament come March."
Glass cleaners
One key to stemming the Ducks will be to keep them off the glass. Oregon has outrebounded opponents by 9.2 per game, leading the conference and ranking No. 7 in the nation in rebound margin.
It won't be easy for the Bruins, who have been outrebounded in five of their past six games and have given up 35.9 rebounds per game to rank No. 10 in the Pac-12 in rebounding defense.
"This team tomorrow that we're playing in Oregon -- that's where they are really good," Howland said. "They are out-boarding their opponent by nine rebounds a game. They are top two in the conference, along with Arizona. I've always believed that rebound margin is such a huge factor in being a really good team."
It hasn't been too much of a factor for UCLA so far. The Bruins have won all seven games this season in which they've been outrebounded, including an overtime victory over Missouri, which won the battle of the boards, 50-36.
Come to play
Motivation shouldn't be an issue for the Bruins in the high-profile clash with Oregon, but it might have been a factor in UCLA's slow start Thursday against Oregon State.
The Bruins fell behind, 14-9, in the first five minutes before taking control of the game. Howland said Thursday night that Oregon State's quick start "woke us up," and reiterated Friday that the Bruins must come ready from the opening tip to play every night.
"You have to be ready to play every opponent at your very best," Howland said. "Anybody can beat anybody on a given night. We've already learned that lesson this year and we don't want to suffer through another lesson again."
That lesson was a 70-68 loss to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on Nov. 25.
Parker improving
Center Tony Parker had his best stretch of the season during the first half of Thursday's victory over Oregon State. He scored four points and had two blocked shots in three minutes of the first half and got to the free-throw line on two separate occasions.
The second half didn't go quite as well as he had a shot blocked and mishandled a couple of passes down low, but the signs of improvement were encouraging to Howland.
"He's getting better," Howland said. "Tony is improving and Tony is going to be, I think, a real force for us and so I'm excited about how he is developing."
___________________
UCLA expecting tough test from Oregon
LOS ANGELES – Ben Howland, like so many other coaches before him, is a loyal fan of the common sports mantra of "taking things one game at a time." The longtime UCLA coach has seen firsthand what happens when teams get overlooked through the course of a long, strenuous season.
So he has drilled this tune into his players' heads this season, just like he has in seasons past. But as the Bruins handled Oregon State on Thursday night, it was clear that his players knew what lie ahead, even beyond their Saturday matchup with Oregon.
Starting on Saturday afternoon against the Ducks, UCLA will embark on a three-game stretch that includes three of the conference's top four teams: Oregon, Arizona, and Arizona State (based on overall record).
That, Shabazz Muhammad said on Thursday, is when the Bruins can finally prove themselves.
That process begins on Saturday, though, as UCLA will take on an Oregon team that recently beat previously undefeated Arizona on its home court. Oregon, which almost spoiled that victory with a near-loss to USC on Thursday, also is aware how important this game is.
"This game is very important," Howland said. "Both teams, they're 29 and we're 31 in RPI. They're 4-0. We're 5-0. I don't think it's lost on anybody that this is obviously an important game. ... Oregon is very good. Oregon is the best team we've played since Missouri. You look at their record and their wins – they beat Arizona ... they beat UNLV on the road ... they've got excellent personnel."
The Ducks most effective weapon is their balance, as they have five players that currently average in double figures. And that doesn't even account for Rice transfer Arselan Kazemi, who has established himself as one of the conference's premier rebounders.
"Any one of (Oregon's) players can go off and get 20 on a given night," Howland said.
KILLER INSTINCTS
While UCLA appeared to have put away Oregon State in impressive fashion on Thursday, never allowing the lead to drop into the single digits for the final 24 minutes of the game, Howland wasn't very happy with his team's killer instinct going forward.
"It's just having that killer instinct and not getting loose or comfortable and keeping that same level of drive and intensity," Howland said.
True to Howland's point, the Bruins – despite being 5-0 in-conference – have won just one of those games by a margin of more than 10 points (Cal on Jan. 3).
QUICK HITS
Howland was impressed with freshman Tony Parker's performance on Thursday in which he scored four points in five minutes and expressed optimism that Parker's role would continue to grow. ... After suffering from a bad headache before Thursday's game, Norman Powell is fine and will suit up against Oregon.
Contact the writer: rkartje@ocregister.com
So he has drilled this tune into his players' heads this season, just like he has in seasons past. But as the Bruins handled Oregon State on Thursday night, it was clear that his players knew what lie ahead, even beyond their Saturday matchup with Oregon.
 |
| UCLA coach Ben Howland said the Bruins' game against Oregon is 'very important' for both schools. REED SAXON, AP |
That, Shabazz Muhammad said on Thursday, is when the Bruins can finally prove themselves.
That process begins on Saturday, though, as UCLA will take on an Oregon team that recently beat previously undefeated Arizona on its home court. Oregon, which almost spoiled that victory with a near-loss to USC on Thursday, also is aware how important this game is.
"This game is very important," Howland said. "Both teams, they're 29 and we're 31 in RPI. They're 4-0. We're 5-0. I don't think it's lost on anybody that this is obviously an important game. ... Oregon is very good. Oregon is the best team we've played since Missouri. You look at their record and their wins – they beat Arizona ... they beat UNLV on the road ... they've got excellent personnel."
The Ducks most effective weapon is their balance, as they have five players that currently average in double figures. And that doesn't even account for Rice transfer Arselan Kazemi, who has established himself as one of the conference's premier rebounders.
"Any one of (Oregon's) players can go off and get 20 on a given night," Howland said.
KILLER INSTINCTS
While UCLA appeared to have put away Oregon State in impressive fashion on Thursday, never allowing the lead to drop into the single digits for the final 24 minutes of the game, Howland wasn't very happy with his team's killer instinct going forward.
"It's just having that killer instinct and not getting loose or comfortable and keeping that same level of drive and intensity," Howland said.
True to Howland's point, the Bruins – despite being 5-0 in-conference – have won just one of those games by a margin of more than 10 points (Cal on Jan. 3).
QUICK HITS
Howland was impressed with freshman Tony Parker's performance on Thursday in which he scored four points in five minutes and expressed optimism that Parker's role would continue to grow. ... After suffering from a bad headache before Thursday's game, Norman Powell is fine and will suit up against Oregon.
Contact the writer: rkartje@ocregister.com
No comments:
Post a Comment