ESPN’s College GameDay crew will roll into Westwood for the first time in five years when UCLA hosts Arizona on Saturday.
On Feb. 2, 2008, The Worldwide Leader in Sports brought its satellite truck, portable stage and bevy of basketball analysts to campus for the very same Pac-12 rivalry game.
The event didn’t disappoint, as future No. 5 overall NBA draft pick Kevin Love wowed the national television audience in an 82-60 win with 26 points and 11 rebounds. Future No. 4 overall draft pick Russell Westbrook wasn’t far behind, scoring 21 points.
The Bruins wouldn’t mind seeing history repeat itself.
When ESPN announced its return in August, it looked to be a heavyweight battle between highly ranked conference contenders, but some of the luster has been lost since.
UCLA hasn’t appeared in the national rankings since Jan. 20, and while Arizona sits at No. 11, a fall is surely coming no matter the outcome of Saturday’s game. The Wildcats lost an 89-78 decision to the USC Trojans on Wednesday.
When the score was announced in Pauley Pavilion during Wednesday’s win over Arizona State, a mix of groans and cheers filled the air.
Fans were excited to see their rival knock Arizona (23-5, 11-5 Pac-12) down a rung in the Pac-12 standings but knew nothing makes a team hungrier than a bad loss.
“They don’t want to lose twice in L.A.,” freshman Jordan Adams said. “We’re going to have to match their intensity.”
Coach Ben Howland agreed.
“Arizona is going to come in here rip-roaring and ready to go,” he said. “They’re a great team who will represent our conference very well in the tournament.
“This would be a great opportunity if we can play well enough to win on Saturday. We know it’s going to be tough. They’re very good.”
The Wildcats should have plenty of motivation from the teams’ previous meeting this season.
UCLA toppled then-No. 6 Arizona at the McKale Center in another nationally televised contest.
Freshman Shabazz Muhammad led the way in that Jan. 24 contest with 23 points. He had 22 on Wednesday despite playing on a sprained left ankle. The Bruins (21-7, 11-4) are 11-1 when Muhammad has more than 20 points.
Fellow freshman guard Kyle Anderson said the team’s fate doesn’t lie in Muhammad’s hands alone, especially late in games.
“We’re going to be there for whoever takes that last shot,” he said. “We just want everybody to know that so when they have the chance to take the last shot, they do it with confidence.”
UCLA has a chance to retain a share of first place in the conference on Saturday but it may have to do so shorthanded.
Redshirt junior forward Travis Wear has not played in the team’s last two games because of a sprained right foot.
Howland said on Wednesday Wear was “day-to-day” but seemed more confident in Muhammad’s availability as Muhammad “assured him” he would be okay.