The final conference road swing of the season appears to be the
most crucial one for UCLA.
With the prospect of making the NCAA Tournament dangling in
front of the Bruins, the dual possibility of either securing a
berth or falling off the bubble could hinge on the outcome of their
trip to the Bay Area.
“These games are must-win,” freshman Arron Afflalo
said. “We can’t lose in conference anymore. It’s
a great opportunity for us. We’re playing teams who we expect
to beat.”
Currently fourth in the Pac-10 standings, UCLA, which will play
sixth-place California tonight and third-place Stanford on Sunday,
is hoping for a road sweep to distance itself from the middle of
the conference pack. Two wins in the Bay Area would put the Bruins
(13-8, 7-6 Pac-10) in good position to get back to the NCAA
Tournament for the first time since 2002.
“It’s a big weekend,” freshman Jordan Farmar
said. “We’re all right there next to each other, so
whoever has a good weekend can separate themselves.”
Only Arizona State has swept Cal (12-10, 5-7) and Stanford
(13-9, 7-5) in the Bay Area this season, yet UCLA is confident it
can also win both games. Despite starting three freshmen, the
Bruins have been one of the better road teams in the conference,
winning four of their seven conference games away from Pauley
Pavilion. But UCLA is only 3-3 in conference games at home, with
two of those losses coming at the hands of California and
Stanford.
“(We) do play well on the road,” UCLA coach Ben
Howland said. “I’m not sure why, and believe me,
I’ve given it some thought. I think these kids probably
thrive on the fact that it’s us against the world when
you’re on the road.”
To extend its success away from home tonight, UCLA will have to
do something it hasn’t done in four years ““ win at
Cal’s Haas Pavilion. The Bears, who defeated the Bruins 76-62
in Berkeley a year ago, also had their way with UCLA last month in
Los Angeles.
Two days after Stanford handed the Bruins their first loss of
the season at home, Cal surprised them by employing a two-three
zone defense, limiting UCLA to a season-low 51 points.
“(The first game) was a combination of everyone playing
bad at the same time,” Farmar said. “Nobody stepped up
and took charge. I doubt we’ll play like that
again.”
Critical to beating Cal will be stopping their two big men,
David Paris and Rod Benson. Paris exploded for a career-high 20
points on 10 of 11 shooting, abusing junior Michael Fey in the
post. Benson scored 14 points and snatched 14 rebounds, helping the
Golden Bears dominate the Bruins on the glass.
“(Paris) hurt us facing up; he hurt us shot-faking,
stepping through. … He hurt us a lot of different ways, his
drop-stepping and taking it right at Michael Fey,” Howland
said. “A lot of his points were on Michael, and Michael has
to be prepared to defend him well this weekend.”
Cal will also be bolstered by the return of guard Richard
Midgley, who did not play in the game at Pauley Pavilion, but is
the team’s best threat from beyond the arc.
But the Bruins will catch a break when they meet up with
Stanford on Sunday. The Cardinal’s leading scorer, Dan
Grunfeld, went down with a season-ending knee injury this past
Saturday. UCLA has lost two straight in Maples Pavilion but has
historically played well in Palo Alto, twice beating the Cardinal
on its home floor while it was ranked No. 1 in the nation.
“Going up to Stanford, I think that would be a key win for
us as far as moving up in the Pac-10,” senior Dijon Thompson
said. “Worst-case scenario, we want a split (on the road
trip), but a sweep would be very nice. Especially to make up for
our two losses here.”