Root, root, root for which home team?

Thursday night my team of the present will meet my team of the past.

Pittsburgh, Pa., is my hometown. I grew up within a walk of the University of Pittsburgh. My father taught at the law school and had basketball season tickets. During the harsh Pennsylvania winters of my childhood, Pitt basketball was a vital respite. My fondest memories of the team were during what is now considered the dark age of the program, before Ben Howland arrived.

This basketball season was a throwback to those days. The Den rekindled my passion for college basketball. Finally there was something to rival my nostalgia for weeknight Pitt games with my brother and father. UCLA had a fantastic season, as we all know, and I finally had “my team.” I flew home in a UCLA jersey to make it official.

But because my father still has those season tickets, and I was a little bored over winter break, I actually saw a few more Pitt victories this year. I must admit I cheered for the Panthers, seeing no problem with rooting for a second team, 2,300 miles away from UCLA.

Maybe I just told myself this would never happen. No, the selection committee would never be so sly as to slate a matchup between UCLA and Pitt. And if they did, something would surely interfere to save me from the ultimate sports quandary.

Then the bracket came out. I was worried but didn’t lose all hope. I secretly wished for a Wright State miracle, or a VCU upset. But in the end, fate had its way ““ I am forced to choose a side.

Many would call it a futile attempt. How can I abandon a decade of Pitt fandom? Could I possibly lock myself in my room, here at UCLA, and root against the Bruins? Won’t I see some silver lining regardless of the outcome?

The doubters are wrong. After a moment of deliberation I came to an easy decision.

It’s UCLA: I am 100 percent behind the Bruins.

My memories of Pitt basketball are just that, memories. The love I have for the Bruins today easily overwhelms my history as a Panther supporter.

Now that I’ve committed, I’m desperate for a UCLA victory.

I need Arron Afflalo to burn Antonio Graves. I need Mata and Luc to double Aaron Gray the way they suffocated D.J. White. And, if all else fails, I need Levance Fields to miss two more clutch free throws. I’m looking forward to the action Thursday night, as I will certainly be captivated. If the Bruins prevail it will be a glorious spring break home in Pittsburgh, and I’ll be wearing UCLA clothes every time I leave the house. If not I’ll be spending a week in misery surrounded by the enemy.

I hope I made the right choice.

E-mail Allen at sallen@media.ucla.edu.

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