Less than a month ago, the Good Ship Bruin sailed down the river
and came to a fork.
The metaphorical impasse was a home game against USC. The Bruins
had swept the Washington schools the previous weekend and, at 4-5,
were finally playing with purpose and direction.
UCLA wasn’t exactly cruising, but at least they had
plugged up a few of the holes in the boat.
Then came the fork.
In front of a packed Pauley Pavilion, the Bruins blew a 10-point
lead and lost to the Trojans at home for the first time in 11
years. Seven straight losses have followed, and it appears the
Bruins have done worse than simply steering left at the fork when
they should have gone right.
Now 4-13, the Good Ship Bruin has crashed into the fork itself.
Tonight at the Sports Arena when UCLA again plays USC (8-9, 4-5
Pac-10), the Bruins have a chance to at least get their boat back
in the water.
“This would be a great way to end the streak,”
senior Jason Kapono said. “I don’t think that anyone
will have it go through his mind that we’re four and
whatever.”
The Bruins were reminded again and again at practice Tuesday
that their cross-town rivals began this record-setting skid. When
asked whether or not the ‘SC loss was a turning point, UCLA
players blamed only their own poor play.
“Who knows?” sophomore Cedric Bozeman said.
“Maybe it would have been a momentum swing, but you
can’t look back at it like that.”
No matter what the Bruins say, however, fans are apt to look
back at the 80-75 loss and wonder what could have happened. On the
other side of town, the Trojans haven’t exactly used the
historic victory as a launching pad.
Since the win, USC is just 2-5, including a 40-point loss to
Pennsylvania. But Trojan head coach Henry Bibby is enjoying this
year’s much younger team.
“I think I’m coaching a little tougher this
year,” he said. “We have these guys for two or three
years and we want to shape and mold these guys into the team we
want.”
UCLA head coach Steve Lavin can probably relate. In a
season-long search for a viable starting lineup, he has essentially
thrown continuity out the window, juggling both the starting five
and substitution patterns.
“Sometimes the starters play well but the bench
doesn’t, but sometimes our starters will come out flat and
the bench will play well,” Lavin said.
Although they will not be leaving the Los Angeles area, the
Bruins are looking forward to getting away from the pressures of
playing at Pauley Pavilion.
“We feel a lot more comfortable on the road,”
sophomore Andre Patterson said. “It’s easier for guys
to get pumped up.”
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Patterson said his ankle feels about 90 percent. He practiced
both days this week.
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A Bruin loss would mark the first time since the 1940-41 season
that USC has beaten UCLA in football and swept the Bruins in
basketball.