I didn't expect UCLA to win. I was shocked they were able to force OT. Then they pulled it off. BYU is next. One game at a time now. I hope Juzang feels better on Saturday.
I know you took some heat Mgibby but your logic was based on facts that we had all seen over the last few games. I think that last basket Jaquez got before half time and the ensuing issues within MSU played in UCLA’s favor. Then in the second half, those first 3-4 minutes UCLA was able to get into the lane and get good looks, not always scoring but definitely exposing MSU. A great win for sure.
Right there ... I have had little faith and deserve some crow. I deserve a lot of I told you so’s for this game. UCLA played great and the coaching was pretty solid. Also the msu player squabbling with izzo was beautiful to watch. Coaching style or no, that wasn’t a good look for izzo at the half
I don’t recall anyone expecting or predicting a win. So, no need for I told you so. We had some players step up big time. We are capable of winning tomorrow. But, I am not making a prediction. I will save my I told you so’s after Cronin has time to build the program with his recruits. Last night, he pulled all the right strings and made excellent adjustments at the half.
Yes and yes. Definitely thought the comeback was too good to be true and MSU would hit that shot at the end of regulation. Then saw them call that Bernard tipped it and assumed they would get a buzzer beater. Amazing.
This was the 11th time this season Jaime played at least 35 minutes in a game. Also somehow this wasn't the most minutes he's played in a single game - that honor goes to the 3OT game against Pepperdine, where he played all 55 minutes.
You know how you know it's your night? You drive to the basket and miss a bunny, then after an offensive rebound, you hit a three. Then in crunch time, you miss a free throw, but grab your own board, and a few seconds later, you take a pass for a layup and an and one to tie the game. When your failures lead to instant successes, it's your night.
With the way they were playing for most of the game, I didn't think UCLA would come away with a win, either. But MSU squabbled with each other, squandered their big lead, and then couldn't do much of anything in OT. The Bruins' lack of consistency is still evident--they have to find a way to put together two good halves in a game. Hope they continue playing hard and don't run out of gas against BYU.
I did not even bother to turn the game on, and only checked the score at halftime when Bruins were down by 11, before going to bed around 10:30 cdt (9:20p cdt start times are rough, midnight or later finishes even rougher), so I will gladly accept any scorn from TMB community in exchange for a Bruins win.
Ultimately, regardless of the back and forth and disagreements we might have and what we think UCLA basketball and overall UCLA athletics should be... it’s safe to say we all have the same desire and that’s for UCLA to win every time. So no need to eat crow- but it’s great you’re taking it for the team and not watching lol
all I want for (belated) Christmas is for UCLA to bust the brackets. I want them to go further than the sports writers give them credit for. #Please #IsThatTooMuchToAsk
Since we are it- all I want is for UCLA to win a NC, I mean I’d that too much too ask. I don’t know if it’s just me, but year after year whether it’s football or basketball I see teams who are consistently been bad teams, all of the sudden make big pushes in the CF rankings and get themselves into relevant bowl games, make a deep run in March. While for as long as I remember, UCLA is still living there fluke 10-2 football season or the 05-08 seasons Final Fours. Sometimes I wonder, if it’s too much to ask. Talking about getting credit, UCLA won and no one gave them credit, if MSU would have won, these pundits would have burned the midnight oil with it on TV.
Bro, I think they have a good chance for another win and busting even more brackets. BYU looks formidable on paper (#20 NET ranking, #6 RPI, and #23 in AP poll), however, just like UCLA, they had their struggles against Pepperdine and were soundly beaten by U$C in December. Anything can happen during March Madness--Bruins need to catch fire like OSU did during the Pac-12 tournament. Hope Juzang's ankle isn't a problem, though.
I saw BYU on a couple of games and they are a good team but I was more fearful of MSU than BYU. If UCLA plays like they did in the 2nd half and OT defensively, I think they will win the game. Also, I think it’s safe to say that UCLA has two guys who can score “at will” Jaquez and Juzang. Everyone else, struggles offensively, which is why they need to be on point defensively.
What a pleasure to get up this morning after 3 hours of sleep, make a cappuccino, and feel totally content after a huge Bruins (and Avalanche!) win and go back to slowly scroll through the game thread and relive the night. We got destroyed at work and I didn't even get to see the score after halftime. Then my wife texted me that the game was going to OT, so I stole a couple moments to watch the first minute and last minute of OT. The good news is I work again on Saturday afternoon, so if me missing the games while working is the karma we need, I have us covered.
It's so great to see our team gut one out against a perennial power with a legendary coach that beat Michigan and Iowa this season. It shows what our Bruins can do when they commit to defense and execute on the offensive end and play up to our potential. It's one thing to be inconsistent, but at least the ceiling is high and that gives us a shot in every game. I don't expect a deep run in this tourney, but the building blocks are there and good things are possible, which is a gratifying improvement from previous years where the opposite was true. Crossing my fingers that Juzang's ankle isn't so bad and we'll have our best game ready for BYU. Go Bruins!
Walton is beautiful! I think the mushrooms have had lingering effects. The Beavers that I saw at the end of the season were a quality team. They have some talented bigs and a decent point guard.
Pac-12 will be 3-0 with the Colorado win. The Big Ten is 2-3 at this point. I decided to tune out at half time of the Michigan St. game. I am in the Central time zone and to watch what appeared to be an almost certain loss until close to midnight did not make much sense to me. But I am all in to the end tonight no matter what is happening. To think what might have been with Smith healthy and Hill on the team not to mention Nix playing this season. He is only a late 1st to late 2nd round pick in the mock drafts. Would have been smarter to play at UCLA instead.
I didn't expect UCLA to win. I was shocked they were able to force OT. Then they pulled it off. BYU is next. One game at a time now. I hope Juzang feels better on Saturday.
I know you took some heat Mgibby but your logic was based on facts that we had all seen over the last few games. I think that last basket Jaquez got before half time and the ensuing issues within MSU played in UCLA’s favor. Then in the second half, those first 3-4 minutes UCLA was able to get into the lane and get good looks, not always scoring but definitely exposing MSU. A great win for sure.
Right there ... I have had little faith and deserve some crow. I deserve a lot of I told you so’s for this game. UCLA played great and the coaching was pretty solid. Also the msu player squabbling with izzo was beautiful to watch. Coaching style or no, that wasn’t a good look for izzo at the half
I don’t recall anyone expecting or predicting a win. So, no need for I told you so. We had some players step up big time. We are capable of winning tomorrow. But, I am not making a prediction. I will save my I told you so’s after Cronin has time to build the program with his recruits. Last night, he pulled all the right strings and made excellent adjustments at the half.
i did not predict a win (in fact, a loss by 20), but i predicted the winner would defeat BYU. And I'm standing by that.
Yes and yes. Definitely thought the comeback was too good to be true and MSU would hit that shot at the end of regulation. Then saw them call that Bernard tipped it and assumed they would get a buzzer beater. Amazing.
Love the way Clark plays. He plays with no fear and Jaime played all 45 minutes. Wow.
This was the 11th time this season Jaime played at least 35 minutes in a game. Also somehow this wasn't the most minutes he's played in a single game - that honor goes to the 3OT game against Pepperdine, where he played all 55 minutes.
You know how you know it's your night? You drive to the basket and miss a bunny, then after an offensive rebound, you hit a three. Then in crunch time, you miss a free throw, but grab your own board, and a few seconds later, you take a pass for a layup and an and one to tie the game. When your failures lead to instant successes, it's your night.
That's just using your UCLA education to make calculated plays.
Jaquez had the 3rd best tourney debut for a Bruin points-wise, behind only Reggie Miller and Lew Alcindor.
With the way they were playing for most of the game, I didn't think UCLA would come away with a win, either. But MSU squabbled with each other, squandered their big lead, and then couldn't do much of anything in OT. The Bruins' lack of consistency is still evident--they have to find a way to put together two good halves in a game. Hope they continue playing hard and don't run out of gas against BYU.
I did not even bother to turn the game on, and only checked the score at halftime when Bruins were down by 11, before going to bed around 10:30 cdt (9:20p cdt start times are rough, midnight or later finishes even rougher), so I will gladly accept any scorn from TMB community in exchange for a Bruins win.
I couldn't watch the game due to my son's volleyball practice.
Scorn upon you, Tx! lol ;-)
I'm sure we'll all happily eat crow if that's the consequence of the Bruins advancing.
Ultimately, regardless of the back and forth and disagreements we might have and what we think UCLA basketball and overall UCLA athletics should be... it’s safe to say we all have the same desire and that’s for UCLA to win every time. So no need to eat crow- but it’s great you’re taking it for the team and not watching lol
all I want for (belated) Christmas is for UCLA to bust the brackets. I want them to go further than the sports writers give them credit for. #Please #IsThatTooMuchToAsk
Since we are it- all I want is for UCLA to win a NC, I mean I’d that too much too ask. I don’t know if it’s just me, but year after year whether it’s football or basketball I see teams who are consistently been bad teams, all of the sudden make big pushes in the CF rankings and get themselves into relevant bowl games, make a deep run in March. While for as long as I remember, UCLA is still living there fluke 10-2 football season or the 05-08 seasons Final Fours. Sometimes I wonder, if it’s too much to ask. Talking about getting credit, UCLA won and no one gave them credit, if MSU would have won, these pundits would have burned the midnight oil with it on TV.
Bro, I think they have a good chance for another win and busting even more brackets. BYU looks formidable on paper (#20 NET ranking, #6 RPI, and #23 in AP poll), however, just like UCLA, they had their struggles against Pepperdine and were soundly beaten by U$C in December. Anything can happen during March Madness--Bruins need to catch fire like OSU did during the Pac-12 tournament. Hope Juzang's ankle isn't a problem, though.
I saw BYU on a couple of games and they are a good team but I was more fearful of MSU than BYU. If UCLA plays like they did in the 2nd half and OT defensively, I think they will win the game. Also, I think it’s safe to say that UCLA has two guys who can score “at will” Jaquez and Juzang. Everyone else, struggles offensively, which is why they need to be on point defensively.
What a pleasure to get up this morning after 3 hours of sleep, make a cappuccino, and feel totally content after a huge Bruins (and Avalanche!) win and go back to slowly scroll through the game thread and relive the night. We got destroyed at work and I didn't even get to see the score after halftime. Then my wife texted me that the game was going to OT, so I stole a couple moments to watch the first minute and last minute of OT. The good news is I work again on Saturday afternoon, so if me missing the games while working is the karma we need, I have us covered.
It's so great to see our team gut one out against a perennial power with a legendary coach that beat Michigan and Iowa this season. It shows what our Bruins can do when they commit to defense and execute on the offensive end and play up to our potential. It's one thing to be inconsistent, but at least the ceiling is high and that gives us a shot in every game. I don't expect a deep run in this tourney, but the building blocks are there and good things are possible, which is a gratifying improvement from previous years where the opposite was true. Crossing my fingers that Juzang's ankle isn't so bad and we'll have our best game ready for BYU. Go Bruins!
HUGE shout out to the referees for making this the most enjoyable game to watch this season. They weren't perfect, but pretty close.
Weird how we stop dealing with PAC-12 refs and things get way better.
Great article, Dmitri! You capture the emotional essence of that amazing, heart-attack causing, game.
Oregon State just hammered Tennessee. Maybe the Beavers deserve a little credit!
Bill Walton knew it would happen. He had Oregon State in the Final Four.
He also had UCLA, Southern Cal, Oregon, and Colorado making the Final Four as well.
Walton is beautiful! I think the mushrooms have had lingering effects. The Beavers that I saw at the end of the season were a quality team. They have some talented bigs and a decent point guard.
Given what Colorado is doing to Georgetown, maybe the PAC-12 was better than they were given credit for
Pac-12 will be 3-0 with the Colorado win. The Big Ten is 2-3 at this point. I decided to tune out at half time of the Michigan St. game. I am in the Central time zone and to watch what appeared to be an almost certain loss until close to midnight did not make much sense to me. But I am all in to the end tonight no matter what is happening. To think what might have been with Smith healthy and Hill on the team not to mention Nix playing this season. He is only a late 1st to late 2nd round pick in the mock drafts. Would have been smarter to play at UCLA instead.