Every so often, there is just an overwhelming number of hot topics enveloping the UCLA sports scene. Spring quarter is well underway and multiple UCLA sports are engaged in postseason competition, while other sports are still in the meat of their conference schedules. We will be talking NBA Playoffs and Pauley Pavilion in this edition of Battle of the Columnists.
The NBA Playoffs got started this past weekend. Who’s your pick to win it all?
Ruffman: Unfortunately, my beloved Sacramento Kings just missed the playoffs by 14 games, so I have very little stake in the playoffs. Honestly, (and please feel free to call me a hater) I just hope the Lakers don’t win. That being said, I’ll go with the Thunder because they are just so immensely talented.
Peck: When my Suns missed the playoff cut I threw my support behind the Oklahoma City Thunder. This is their year, and I am hard-pressed to find something not to like. And they’ve also got arguably two of the best players to come out of the old Pac-10 in recent years in James Harden and Russell Westbrook.
What are you most excited about regarding the opening of Pauley Pavilion next year?
Ruffman: My most profound memory of Pauley Pavilion was watching the Bruins get embarrassed by a subpar Oregon team in what would be the last game John Wooden saw there. I’m looking forward to getting that taste out of my mouth and seeing a team that has seven McDonald’s All-Americans play like it.
Peck: I think I’ll mainly be looking forward to the fact that the team won’t be playing its home games across the street from USC, but other things ““ namely a John Wooden statue and a presumably futuristic food court ““ have got me pretty excited as well.