In one play on Saturday, Russell Westbrook neatly summarized the Bruins’ weekend in the Bay Area.
With UCLA up 16-9 over Cal, Westbrook took the inbounds pass with a Golden Bear applying full court pressure. Assisted only by a Kevin Love screen at mid-court, he split a pair of Cal defenders and streaked up court. He was heading straight for the hoop, and there was nothing the Cal defense could do about it. Taking only two dribbles from half-court, Westbrook took off from just inside the paint and posterized Jamal Boykin as he slammed it home.
Just like Westbrook’s coast-to-coast jam on Saturday, the Bruins this past weekend were not going to be denied.
Facing the biggest front-court in the conference, UCLA’s big men reined in the behemoth Lopez twins on Thursday, then handled the raucous crowd of Haas Pavilion to earn the first two victories of the conference season.
The Bruins’ two wins were neither blowouts nor distressingly close, but they did show the maturity of the No. 5-ranked squad.
In Palo Alto, the stifling defense that has been the calling card of Ben Howland’s team was lacking until about 15 minutes to play as the lead changed more times than in a dot race at an Oakland A’s game.
Initially the Bruins gave up a few easy baskets and had trouble keeping 7-footers Brook and Robin Lopez off the offensive glass. For one of the few times so far this season, Kevin Love did not look like the premier rebounder on the court as UCLA uncharacteristically gave up second-chance points and plenty of offensive looks to the Cardinal.
However, the Bruins still managed to hold on to a small lead for the first few minutes of the second half until one of Josh Shipp’s treys from way downtown gave the Bruins their first double-digit lead, which they would not surrender.
On Saturday, the Bruins came out from the start with high intensity on the defensive end, forcing turnovers from the beginning and snagging a quick 10-point lead to start the game. Cal center and freak athlete DeVon Hardin was limited from the tip-off, barely making an impact until it was too late for the Bears.
Love provided a strong inside presence, posting his first double-double in Pac-10 play and drawing in the Bears’ defense to open up outside looks.
Though the Bears brought the game to within two points in the second half, the Bruins never looked nervous. They held serve when it mattered and made defensive stops to kill Cal’s runs.
The Bruins were favored in both games this past weekend, but opening the conference season on the road against two teams with tournament potential is never easy. Not only have the Bruins made it clear that they’re the team to beat in the Pac-10 with two wins by a combined 21 points, but Westbrook also sent a statement of his own ““ just get out of his way.
E-mail Feder at jfeder@media.ucla.edu.