UCLA Bruins and USC Trojans in the Pac-12 Tournament: A Preview
By Derek Hart
Feb 8, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guards Nick Young (left) and Jordan Farmar attend the NCAA basketball game between the UCLA Bruins and the Southern California Trojans with their children Nick Young Jr. and Kali Farmar at Galen Center; Young was a former Trojan standout while Farmar starred for the Bruins. UCLA defeated USC 83-73. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
2014 PAC-12 MEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
DATES: March 12-15, 2014
PLACE: MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, NV
RECORDS:
UCLA: 23-8, 12-6 in the Pac-12
USC: 11-20, 2-16 in the Pac-12
SEEDINGS: UCLA is 2nd, USC is 12th
USC’s FIRST GAME:
#5 Colorado Buffaloes, Wednesday, March 12, 2:30 p.m. PT
UCLA’s FIRST GAME:
#10 Oregon State / #7 Oregon, Thursday, March 13, 6:00 p.m. PT
Everything’s fairly cut and dry with regards to this conference tournament and the two schools from L.A. that are participating in it.
That’s particularly the case with the team that will play first in Las Vegas, as no one but the most die-hard, “Fight On!” Trojan hoops fans (what few there are) are giving Andy Enfield’s team much of a chance.
Sure, they did something that their crosstown rivals couldn’t do – beat Washington State – but even that didn’t prevent them from finishing in the conference cellar.
In an excellent illustration of how lowly regarded ‘SC is in hoops, the face of their team and clear cut MVP who led the Trojans in scoring and rebounding, Byron Wesley, was completely shut out of the All-Pac-12 team despite finishing sixth in the conference with his 17.6 points per game.
Feb 8, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Bryce Alford (20) and Southern California Trojans center D.J. Haley (33) battle for the ball at Galen Center. UCLA defeated USC 83-73. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
I reckon that the USC students, fans, and especially the alumni are more looking forward to spring football practice, the spring scrimmage at the Coliseum on April 19, and the subsequent football season.
There is one thing in the Trojans’ favor as far as this tournament:
They have nothing to lose.
And if they play like such, they’ll have a slight chance against Colorado on Wednesday.
AS FOR THE BRUINS:
I wouldn’t be surprised if some pundits call them the worst 23-win team in the country.
After what happened in the Palouse against a 10-20 Wazzu team, it would be deserved.
Actually, in all honesty it’s extremely difficult for me to figure out this UCLA squad, even after an entire regular season.
On one hand, these Bruins, in Steve Alford’s first year at the helm in Westwood, did finish in second place as my predictions of this team’s fortunes – winning between 20 and 25 games, including 12 to 14 in the Pac-12 – proved to be accurate.
Four UCLA players, led by Jordan Adams (17.5 points per game) and Kyle Anderson (14.9) averaged in double digits, with Anderson finishing fourth in the conference in rebounding (8.7 a game).
And their 82 points per contest as a team was second in the Pac-12 only to Oregon (82.3) and tenth in the nation.
But…
You can’t ignore their stumbles, and they were bad ones as the Bruins looked like ruins in the four conference road games that they lost; with their talent, there was no way they should have lost to Utah, Stanford, and Oregon State as well as Washington State, which was the last straw for many UCLA fans.
Indeed, the Bruins’ record should have been 27-4 or 26-5 with a top-20 ranking in the polls.
Which means they have underachieved to the point, and it’s always disappointing anytime a team underachieves.
As such, I really can’t say what will happen to this UCLA hoops squad this week.
January 5, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans guard Byron Wesley (22) goes for a rebound against UCLA Bruins forward Kyle Anderson (5) during the first half at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
They could go on a tear and make the tournament finals on Saturday, but they could also lose to Oregon State/Oregon – whoever earns the right to face the Bruins – on Thursday and make an early exit.
Ditto for the NCAA Tournament, where UCLA is still assured of being one of the 68 teams but is starting to look as if they may well go the “One and Done” route just like last year, the way things are going.
I couldn’t figure out these Bruins all season, and I’m not going to now.
I’ll just see how things will unfold in Vegas for those guys.