Men’s basketball leads Utah 49-32 after defensively dynamic half

UCLA had a surprise brewing for Utah.

Earlier in the week, interim coach Murry Bartow said his team simply was better statistically in a zone defense compared to man-to-man.

But after sticking with a zone defense for the first 10 games of Pac-12 play, the Bruins started in man-to-man defense for the first few minutes of Saturday’s game.

Utah turned the ball over nine times against the different strategy, and while the Utes adjusted to the defensive change, the Bruins raced out to a 49-32 halftime lead.

UCLA didn’t stay with the same defense for much longer than four minutes at a time, switching back into a zone around the 16-minute mark.

The change caught Utah off guard, as sophomore guard Jaylen Hands poked away a pass to redshirt junior guard Prince Ali, who finished a fast-break layup.

That began four straight defensive stops by UCLA, and it continued to flip between zone and man-to-man throughout the half.
Switching back to man-to-man with 12 minutes left in the half led to a shot clock violation and a traveling turnover in what was arguably UCLA’s best defensive effort all season.

While the Bruins dazzled on defense, their offense shot lights-out and protected the ball – two areas they have struggled with for most of the season.

UCLA shot 21-of-30 from the floor, including 4-of-9 on 3-pointers.

Hands, who entered the game shooting less than 40 percent overall and 32 percent from beyond the arc, made all five of his shots and both of his 3-pointers for a game-high 12 points. The sophomore also tallied five assists and no turnovers.

Sophomore guard Kris Wilkes and redshirt freshman Jalen Hill joined Hands in double figures. As a team, the Bruins dished out 13 assists and turned the ball over only four times.

Divided: North and South Campus

Divided features topics that generally separate UCLA students into halves, revealing how similar or different we actually are. This week, we interviewed five students, three from North and two from South Campus to see just how much they know about each other. From stereotypes to campus maps, we asked the students to explain everything they know about the opposite side of campus.

Week five: Hill programming, UCLA Lab School transparency, affordable housing controversy

This Week in the News serves as The Quad’s space for reflection on current events at and around UCLA. Every week, Daily Bruin staffers will analyze some of the most significant stories to keep readers up to speed.

It’s the end of the fifth week and students are focused more on midterms than anything else. This week also calls our attention to an array of other things, such as the appointment of a new dean of the music school and a housing controversy still rampant.

RAs, programming offices comment on scarce student turnout at Hill events

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(Kanishka Mehra/Daily Bruin)

Both resident assistants and the UCLA Resource Scholarship Center struggle to keep Hill residents engaged in programming amidst their busy schedules. While attendance fluctuates depending on the nature of the event and the population of the floor, RAs find that they see the same group of students at many of the events that they plan.

With a quarterly budget of $150, RAs have some flexibility to plan events of varying magnitudes, ranging from karaoke nights to gingerbread house making. Students say they prefer to attend events where they know that they’ll see their friends.

The UCLA Scholarship Resource Center commented specifically on students’ failure to commit to previously scheduled appointments. Despite advertising efforts and a partnership with Residential Life, the center continues to struggle to attract more students.

If the student population remains disinterested in residential events, perhaps the efforts and funds dedicated to executing them would be better utilized elsewhere.

Ongoing lack of transparency at UCLA Lab School leaves parents concerned, frustrated

After the UCLA Lab School, which enrolls students from pre-K through sixth grade, placed a math teacher of 18 years on administrative leave twice in the past year without explanation, parents are demanding answers.

Kevin North, the teacher who was placed on leave, was not the first faculty member to be suspiciously suspended and now parents are concerned about the stability of their children’s education. Some had to hire private tutors or enroll their kids in math enrichment programs to make up for North’s unexplained absence.

Parents say the school’s administration made no effort to consult them prior to the decision, but if they had, they would have heard only positive things about both expelled faculty members. North himself only discovered that both allegations against him were due to classroom misconduct Monday, four months after he was first placed on leave.

Because the school’s actions do not align with the parents’ perceptions of those put on leave, they are left questioning the school’s motives. Furthermore, they feel they have a right to transparency, especially when it comes to their children’s safety and education.

In a letter to the Daily Bruin, Georgia Ann Lazo, the principal of the school, clarified that she personally notified the teachers of the reasons behind the decision to put them on leave and has communicated weekly with the parents whose children are affected.

Above all, Lazo prioritizes the privacy rights of her employees and students, which might suggest that some have misinterpreted prudence as a lack of transparency.

 

Westwood Forward endorses The Agora citing potential as affordable student housing

It has been three months since The Agora, an affordable housing project, was first proposed and the debate surrounding it is still as contentious as ever.

On a meeting Jan. 31, both the UCLA Graduate Students Association and the Westwood Forward’s student leadership committee voted in support of the project, while the the Holmby Westwood Property Owners Association opposed it. Recommendations from the city attorney’s office will repeal the vote.

The controversy is not entirely uncalled for since some believe that The Agora isn’t carrying out its original mission with integrity. Project planners seem to be using the term “affordability” very loosely – residence in a triple-occupancy dorm with a 14P meal plan is only $200 more than residence at The Agora. Furthermore, construction of The Agora requires the destruction of PodShare, an affordable housing community that rents out beds for $840 per month.

LAFD reports now-cleared chemical explosion at Boyer Hall, 1 minor injury

An acetone explosion in a South Campus laboratory injured one UCLA employee Tuesday afternoon. The employee only suffered superficial injuries and the LAFD and UCPD were able to clear the incident quickly.

Interestingly, exactly a year before this chemical explosion, fire alarms rang throughout Ackerman Union after a chemical smell originating from the Engineering V building filled the air. Students were evacuated but the smell turned out to be nontoxic.

Eucalyptus tree falls onto Broad Art Center, nearby trees to be inspected

This post was updated Feb. 10 at 8:25 p.m.

A tree fell outside of Broad Art Center on Friday afternoon, resting partially on the building.

Nurit Katz, executive officer of UCLA Facilities Management, said an eucalyptus tree had fallen around 1 p.m., and that Facilities Management responded at 1:12 p.m.

Katz added the tree had been uprooted because of heavy rains loosening the soil.

Facilities Management blocked off the pathway connecting the building to the Charles E. Young Research Library to ensure student safety, she said. No damages were reported.

Katz said Facilities Management had found a second nearby tree that was starting to uproot.

An arborist removed both trees by Saturday at 4 p.m., Katz added.

Activities in the Broad were not affected.

Gabriela Freid, a third-year art student, said she was in class and did not hear anything when the tree fell, and that only one student in her class noticed.

“The fire marshal came in and told us we shouldn’t walk outside that exit,” Freid said.

Andrew Kim, a fourth-year student, said he was in the building when the tree had fallen but was not concerned.

“It’s pretty windy nowadays, so it’s expected that trees are falling,” Kim said.

Katz said an arborist soon will assess other nearby eucalyptus trees as well.

Concert review: King Princess leans into her rebellious and provocative persona with rock vibes

King Princess disappeared into a thick plume of smoke, Juuling to the deep thrum of the bass.

Establishing herself in the pop world, the 20-year-old alternative artist burst onto the scene in early 2018 with her single “1950,” which she describes as an ode to unrequited queer love. Her unapologetic public image, complete with a foul-mouthed lexicon and unshaved armpits, quickly garnered her a receptive audience, particularly within the LGBTQ community. Performing at the Fonda Theatre on Thursday night for the “Pussy is God” tour, the young singer added a raspy edge to her growing repertoire by incorporating bluesy guitar solos into her softer, low-key songs.

Before King Princess took the stage, Australian artist Banoffee appeared in darkness, garbed in a fluorescent green cardigan. Banoffee amped up the energy in her electropop set, giving an engaging performance – the singer relinquished vocals altogether in her final song, allowing her looped vocals to reach a final dramatic climax in repetitions of “I’m Not Sorry.” Following Banoffee, an unnamed drag queen pranced onstage to enthralled cheers, miming out a brief skit to early-2000s vocal acrobats like Christina Aguilera and JoJo.

Despite headlining the show, King Princess casually strolled onstage with the air of a garage band vocalist, lightly engaging the audience with a brief, expletive-laden greeting. Ordering her setlist with little rhyme or reason – a perfect reflection of her rebellious persona – the artist began with the groovy “Useless Phrases” before transitioning smoothly into the rhythmic “Cheap Queen” with a few plucks of bass. Donning a white tank and velvety, blue pants over her small frame, the singer cheekily proclaimed her ability to make grown men cry, all while twirling her curly bob.

Her set then moved to more melancholy moods, singing about the sudden reappearance of a past lover in “Best Friend” in what was possibly the poignant peak of the night. Though her starting croons held the levelness of a healed heart, the ending lines were laced with an edge of anger indicating otherwise. Sheathed in a halo of blue light, King Princess closed her eyes, tensing her shoulders at the crux of the song. Similarly, the following tune “Waiting on This House to Burn Down” approaches a crumbling relationship with a shrug and a careless flick of a Juul.

After a brief fake-out of her song “Holy” – the singer laughingly said the vocals were too high – King Princess launched into her breakout hit “1950.” The live version proved to be less demure than its mellow studio counterpart, intertwining Jack White-esque licks beneath the expected E-major piano chords that guide the song’s melody. Transformed into a fiery rock ‘n’ roll anthem, King Princess’ voice could scarcely be heard over the crowd bellowing every lyric. The song, placed oddly in the middle of the show rather than as the finale, worked far better in its alternative rock reworking, adding a pulse to a lyrically insightful song.

Tuning her guitar, she then jumped into the bluesy “Prophet,” red and purple tones highlighting the suggestive movements of her hips. After playfully winking at audience members, the artist began an impromptu Q&A, taking questions from raised hands in the audience. Hinting at the release of her new album, King Princess ended the session by denying a fan use of her Juul, jokingly alluding to contracting strep throat. Proudly introducing her provocative song “Pussy Is God,” the singer said, “This isn’t question time – it’s time for a big pussy song.” She delivered as promised, her sultry vocals complementing the sexual content of the song.

As her final song of the night, King Princess performed “Talia,” reworking in a similar way as “1950” by adding a bluesy-rock vibe to an originally synth-driven song. The crowning moment came with the added instrumental, an intense drum-guitar playoff culminating in King Princess’ pleading vocals, their raspiness more indicative of grief than stylistic flair. The two encore songs, “If You Think It’s Love” and “Ohio,” brought the concert to a calm close.

Bowing out with a cheeky smile, King Princess captured the rock-edged tones of the night with a final strum of her guitar.

Weekend in Preview: Feb. 8

Women’s tennis
Dylan D’Souza, Daily Bruin contributor

The Bruins have dropped only one point in their first four duels but will face some of the best teams in the country this weekend.

No. 8 UCLA women’s tennis (4-0) will travel to Seattle to participate in the ITA national indoor championships. The tournament will be held at University of Washington’s Nordstrom Tennis Center and at the Seattle Tennis Club.

UCLA won both of its matches during the ITA Kick-off Weekend to qualify for the ITA Team Indoors. 15 teams qualified for the event by winning their respective 2019 ITA Kick-Off Weekend four-team regional, while Washington received an automatic bid for serving as the host site.

“To practice, we switched out the balls every 30 minutes,” said coach Stella Sampras Webster. “As you play, tennis balls get fluffier and slower so we tried to keep it real fast to practice for indoors.”

Nine of the top-10 teams in the nation are in the 16-team draw for the single-elimination tournament. UCLA is one of three teams representing the Pac-12 including No. 1 seed Stanford (3-0) and Washington (5-0).

UCLA will face No. 15 South Carolina (4-1) in the round of 16 on Friday. The Bruins lead the all-time series 3-0, including a 4-1 victory at the same tournament last year.

“I think (redshirt freshman Jada Hart) has a great game for indoors,” Sampras Webster said. “Many of our players have big serves and aggressive games which is suited for indoors.”

If UCLA defeats South Caroline, it will face the winner of seed Oklahoma State (4-3) and No. 2 seed North Carolina (6-0). However, due to an incoming snowstorm, all Saturday matches have been canceled, leaving the timing of the remainder of the tournament undetermined.

Track and field
Vinny Lavalsiti, Daily Bruin contributor

The Bruins will be splitting up for the weekend.

UCLA track and field will be sending athletes to two events: the Don Kirby Collegiate Invitational in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and the Husky Classic in Seattle.

Senior jumper CJ Alumbres and junior distance runner Robert Brandt are seeking top-16 qualifying marks in the triple jump and 5,000 meter, respectively, for the 2019 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation indoor championships in two weeks. Alumbres and Brandt fell outside the top-16 for last year’s nationals.

“Off the bat, I’m trying to get a national qualifying mark,” Alumbres said. “I think top-16 at (the time of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Collegiate Invitational) was (15.55 meters) which I was way capable of jumping that. I’ve always been in the lower rankings (nationally). I just really want to show everyone what I’m capable of doing.”

Brandt cracked UCLA’s top-3 all-time in the 5,000 meter at the 2018 Husky Classic with a time of 13:53.18.

“In order to make nationals, you have to be ready to go,” Brandt said. “(I need to) turn my focus into a competitive mindset a little bit earlier in the season and hopefully break into the top-16.”

Freshman sprinter Kazmeir Allen – who is also a running back for UCLA football – will run alongside Alumbres in the 60 meter. Alumbres only runs the event to warm up his legs, but Allen won the 2018 California Interscholastic Federation state championship 100-meter dash as a senior in high school with a time of 10.44.

Allen, Alumbres and the rest of the Bruins participating in the Husky Classic will only be competing Friday after an incoming snowstorm caused Saturday’s events to be rescheduled.

Men’s tennis
Jared Tay, Daily Bruin contributor

The Bruins will see ranked competition for the first time.

No. 7 UCLA men’s tennis (2-0) will face two Pac-12 opponents this weekend at the Los Angeles Tennis Center. Play against California (1-2) will take place Friday and UCLA will face off against No. 10 Stanford (4-1) on Saturday.

At the Sherwood Collegiate Cup in January, freshman Govind Nanda faced Stanford players in his first four rounds of competition. After winning the first three rounds, Nanda was eventually knocked out by the Cardinal’s No. 10 Axel Geller by scores of 4-6, 6-4, 3-6.

“You have Geller at No.1 and he’s just a big player all around. They are a solid team,” Nanda said.

Sophomore Keegan Smith also faced a Stanford opponent at the Sherwood tournament. In the semifinals, Smith played No. 61 Alexandre Rotsaert and was defeated 3-6, 6-7 (7-9).

“I’m going to get revenge,” Smith said. “I want to get the last word.”

The Bruins will also face off against Cal.

UCLA went up against members of Cal’s team at the UCSB Classic in early October. Sophomore Connor Hance, redshirt sophomore Connor Rapp and freshman Max Wild all encountered the Bears, but none of them emerged victorious.

“We can’t be looking past Cal,” coach Billy Martin said. “We’ve got to win against Cal and then fight Stanford.”