Both UCLA men's and women's basketball teams will have a signed player in action at today's McDonald's High School All-Star Games. The women's game tips things off this afternoon at 4 p.m. (Pacific) on ESPNU from the United Center in Chicago, with coach Cori Close's recruit Nirra Fields, a standout from Mater Dei HS taking the court. In the second contest of the evening, versatile 6-7 Kyle Anderson, from St. Anthony HS in Jersey City, NJ will be in action beginning at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN.
March 2012 Archives
Through games played Sunday, March 25, UCLA's baseball team ranked No. 17 in the nation with a .315 batting average. Slated to play three games at UCLA the first weekend of May, Purdue leads the nation with a .346 batting average through the season's first six weekends.
The Bruins' offense also ranks No. 57 in slugging percentage (.424) out of 291 total NCAA Division I programs.
Junior outfielder Jeff Gelalich has posted a team-leading .420 batting average, having totaled five home runs, five doubles, 18 RBI and 23 runs. Gelalich had logged a .429 batting average through Sunday, which ranked No. 23 in the nation at the time. Through Monday's action, Gelalich's .420 batting average ranks second in the Pac-12 (behind Oregon State's Tyler Smith, who has batted .463).
Five UCLA hitters are batting over the .350 plateau, more than one-third of the way through the 2012 campaign. Trevor Brown (.372), Tyler Heineman (.368), Kevin Williams (.368) and Cody Keefer (.359) round out the group behind Gelalich.
The Bruins' pitching staff has helped fuel UCLA's 17-5 start, after having lost two of the nation's top three draft selections from its pitching rotation in 2011 (Gerrit Cole, Trevor Bauer). Through Sunday's games, the staff's 3.16 earned run average ranked No. 47 in the nation and fifth-lowest in the Pac-12 Conference.
Ranked No. 6 nationally by Baseball America this week, UCLA plays a three-game Pac-12 series at Utah beginning Friday, March 30. Game time at Mobile Spring Ballpark in Salt Lake City is 6 p.m. MT/5 p.m. PT.
The 2012 Pac-12 Gymnastics Championships, which UCLA won
in dramatic fashion with a fourth-rotation rally on the balance beam, will be
televised on various Fox Sports Net channels around the nation, beginning
Thursday, Mar. 29.
The Pac-12 Championship victory was the 17th conference title for the Bruin
gymnastics team and the first Pac-12 title for a UCLA women's team.
Below are the air dates and times for this week.
FOX SPORTS ARIZONA
Thursday, Mar. 29 - 12:00 PM MT
FOX SPORTS DETROIT
Thursday, Mar. 29 - 1:00 PM ET
FOX SPORTS FLORIDA
Thursday, Mar. 29 - 12:00 PM ET
Saturday, Mar. 31 - 11:00 AM ET
FOX SPORTS HOUSTON
Thursday, Mar. 29 - 12:00 PM CT
Saturday, Mar. 31 - 11:00 AM CT
FOX SPORTS OHIO (Non-Cavaliers)
Thursday, Mar. 29 - 12:00 PM ET
FOX SPORTS SOUTH
Thursday, Mar. 29 - 12:00 PM ET
FOX SPORTS SOUTHWEST
Thursday, Mar. 29 - 12:00 PM CT
Saturday, Mar. 31 - 11:00 AM CT
PRIME TICKET
Thursday, Mar. 29 - 6:00 PM PT
Friday, Mar. 30 - 5:00 PM PT
COMCAST BAY AREA
Sunday, Apr. 1 - 1:00 PM PT
COMCAST CHICAGO
Saturday, Mar. 31 - 7:00 PM CT
ROOT SPORTS (Northwest Region)
Thursday, Mar. 29 - 3:00 PM PT
Friday, Mar. 30 - 12:00 AM, 12:30 PM, 5:00 PM PT
Saturday, Mar. 31 - 10:00 AM PT
ROOT SPORTS (Pittsburgh Region)
Saturday, Mar. 31 - 1:00 PM ET
ROOT SPORTS (Rocky Mountain Region)
Friday, Mar. 30 - 1:30 PM MT
Saturday, Mar. 31 - 11:30 AM MT
UCLA alum Brian Rowe was signed by MLS club Toronto FC this week as a backup goalkeeper for the club. Rowe was an unused substitute in Toronto's 3-0 loss to the San Jose Earthquakes and has been in training with the club this week. For more information, click here.
The family of late distance runner Bob Day, who lost his battle with cancer on March 15, has set the date for his memorial. Day will be remembered on Saturday, Apr. 14 at Beckman High School (3588 Bryan Avenue, Tustin). The memorial will begin at 1:00 pm and end around 2:30 pm.
Bob Day's passing
Bob Day's passing
One final inbounds heave by Markel Walker, and so ended the 2011-2012 season for UCLA women's basketball.
No. 12 Arizona pulled off the 61-57 upset over the fifth-seeded Bruins Wednesday at the Galen Center, using a second-half comeback to thwart UCLA in the first round of the Pac-12 Tournament.
The Bruins actually got off to a promising start, registering their first four points on baskets from Mariah Williams and Rhema Gardner while getting the stops on defense, but the dynamics were to change. UCLA committed all nine of its first-half turnovers within the final seven minutes of the first period, and the lead all but disappeared heading into halftime. The miscues were indeed the key components to this game, given that the Bruins had hopes of executing a controlled transition game. Instead, both teams combined for 41 turnovers on the day.
"The number one thing we talked about was that we could not afford to have live-ball turnovers, "UCLA head coach Cori Close said. "The emphasis during our film session leading up to today was how Arizona wants to turn the first three minutes of the game into a track meet. The bottom line is, you cannot turn the ball over against Arizona and try to control the game. We did a better job in the second half, but the momentum had really shifted by then."
The scoring pace picked up noticeably in the second period, and the Bruins seemed to distance themselves comfortably with an 8-2 run midway through, but Arizona's Davellyn Whyte, Candice Warthen, and Shanita Arnold caught fire. The trio made a habit of knocking down the three-ball at critical junctures to cut into UCLA's lead. Down the stretch, Warthen banked in a runner to give Arizona the 59-57 lead with 20 seconds left in the game, and and an empty possession for the Bruins on the ensuing play just about sealed the results.
Some parting thoughts: Looking at the revolving door that was the Bruins' roster, it was a season undeniably defined by trials and tribulations. To be sure, today's loss will be a tough one for the Bruins to take, considering the numerous opportunities that presented themselves. But what has also been clear is that through each win and each loss, this team was united. The most lasting example lies in the strong ties formed between Close, the first-year head coach, and Rebekah Gardner, the Bruins' lone senior.
"Rebekah was the first to buy in and commit to where we wanted to go as a program," Close said. "She will always have a special place in my heart for that. It has been such a joy to watch her grow, and she was a tremendous motivator for me throughout the year."
No. 12 Arizona pulled off the 61-57 upset over the fifth-seeded Bruins Wednesday at the Galen Center, using a second-half comeback to thwart UCLA in the first round of the Pac-12 Tournament.
The Bruins actually got off to a promising start, registering their first four points on baskets from Mariah Williams and Rhema Gardner while getting the stops on defense, but the dynamics were to change. UCLA committed all nine of its first-half turnovers within the final seven minutes of the first period, and the lead all but disappeared heading into halftime. The miscues were indeed the key components to this game, given that the Bruins had hopes of executing a controlled transition game. Instead, both teams combined for 41 turnovers on the day.
"The number one thing we talked about was that we could not afford to have live-ball turnovers, "UCLA head coach Cori Close said. "The emphasis during our film session leading up to today was how Arizona wants to turn the first three minutes of the game into a track meet. The bottom line is, you cannot turn the ball over against Arizona and try to control the game. We did a better job in the second half, but the momentum had really shifted by then."
The scoring pace picked up noticeably in the second period, and the Bruins seemed to distance themselves comfortably with an 8-2 run midway through, but Arizona's Davellyn Whyte, Candice Warthen, and Shanita Arnold caught fire. The trio made a habit of knocking down the three-ball at critical junctures to cut into UCLA's lead. Down the stretch, Warthen banked in a runner to give Arizona the 59-57 lead with 20 seconds left in the game, and and an empty possession for the Bruins on the ensuing play just about sealed the results.
Some parting thoughts: Looking at the revolving door that was the Bruins' roster, it was a season undeniably defined by trials and tribulations. To be sure, today's loss will be a tough one for the Bruins to take, considering the numerous opportunities that presented themselves. But what has also been clear is that through each win and each loss, this team was united. The most lasting example lies in the strong ties formed between Close, the first-year head coach, and Rebekah Gardner, the Bruins' lone senior.
"Rebekah was the first to buy in and commit to where we wanted to go as a program," Close said. "She will always have a special place in my heart for that. It has been such a joy to watch her grow, and she was a tremendous motivator for me throughout the year."
Call
it one spiced-up rubber match, if you will. After splitting the
two-game season series, UCLA and Arizona will clash for a third and final time Wednesday at the Galen Center, one of four first-round
match-ups in the 2012 Pacific Life Pac-12 Tournament.
Of course, it's hardly just bragging rights that are at stake. A loss for either team and the season comes to a close - no consolation rounds, no WNIT invitation, no March Madness. A win would obviously extend the venture into the conference tournament and keep the postseason chances alive, as faint as those might be. With that being said, the following are some thoughts on what to expect come tip-off tomorrow.
A Guard-Heavy Wildcat Offense
Arizona might be dead-last in the conference standings at 3-15, but the Wildcats certainly don't make for an idle scoreboard, owning the fourth-highest scoring offense in the Pac-12. That isn't too surprising considering the three mainstays of the Arizona backcourt. In fact, the trio of Davellyn Whyte (17 points per game), Candice Warthen (11.6), and Shanita Arnold (10) account for more than half of the 67.1 total points Arizona averages per game. As they did in the two regular-season games against UCLA, the Wildcats will likely look to push the tempo of the game, which wouldn't actually be a bad thing for the Bruins as long as they can control the defensive boards.
The Inverse to Arizona's Backcourt: Defensive Rotations
The question then remains: how to rein in the Wildcat's dynamic guard play? Look for the Bruins to counter by going to their zone defense. There's no doubt that this season has been an exhaustive one for the short-handed blue and gold. But in order for the Bruins to advance in the tournament, they'll have to stay sharp on their feet and get the necessary stops.
"It's going to be a team effort on defense," UCLA head coach Cori Close said. "We want to be able to set our defense, slow Arizona down, and prevent it from being a one-on-one game. We want to make it one-on-Bruins, and to the extent that we can make it that type of game will be the extent to which we can play our style."
Inside touches will be harder to come by for the Bruins
The last time these two teams met, UCLA clearly held the advantage in the post. Kacy Swain notched career highs with 14 points and seven rebounds, while Rhema Gardner made it a point to crash the glass, reeling in 12 rebounds. This time, though, the Wildcats will have the services of 6-foot-5 center Aley Rohde (who did not play in the Bruins' 72-58 victory on Feb. 25) to pair with Erica Barnes.
Will the Bruins hold as thorough of an advantage as they did previously? Taking into consideration the addition in size for the Wildcats, the stakes, and a neutral venue, likely not. But as has been clear all season long, UCLA's success will rest on the ability to get out in transition. In other words, rebound and run, and an appearance in the second looks that much more likely for the Bruins.
Of course, it's hardly just bragging rights that are at stake. A loss for either team and the season comes to a close - no consolation rounds, no WNIT invitation, no March Madness. A win would obviously extend the venture into the conference tournament and keep the postseason chances alive, as faint as those might be. With that being said, the following are some thoughts on what to expect come tip-off tomorrow.
A Guard-Heavy Wildcat Offense
Arizona might be dead-last in the conference standings at 3-15, but the Wildcats certainly don't make for an idle scoreboard, owning the fourth-highest scoring offense in the Pac-12. That isn't too surprising considering the three mainstays of the Arizona backcourt. In fact, the trio of Davellyn Whyte (17 points per game), Candice Warthen (11.6), and Shanita Arnold (10) account for more than half of the 67.1 total points Arizona averages per game. As they did in the two regular-season games against UCLA, the Wildcats will likely look to push the tempo of the game, which wouldn't actually be a bad thing for the Bruins as long as they can control the defensive boards.
The Inverse to Arizona's Backcourt: Defensive Rotations
The question then remains: how to rein in the Wildcat's dynamic guard play? Look for the Bruins to counter by going to their zone defense. There's no doubt that this season has been an exhaustive one for the short-handed blue and gold. But in order for the Bruins to advance in the tournament, they'll have to stay sharp on their feet and get the necessary stops.
"It's going to be a team effort on defense," UCLA head coach Cori Close said. "We want to be able to set our defense, slow Arizona down, and prevent it from being a one-on-one game. We want to make it one-on-Bruins, and to the extent that we can make it that type of game will be the extent to which we can play our style."
Inside touches will be harder to come by for the Bruins
The last time these two teams met, UCLA clearly held the advantage in the post. Kacy Swain notched career highs with 14 points and seven rebounds, while Rhema Gardner made it a point to crash the glass, reeling in 12 rebounds. This time, though, the Wildcats will have the services of 6-foot-5 center Aley Rohde (who did not play in the Bruins' 72-58 victory on Feb. 25) to pair with Erica Barnes.
Will the Bruins hold as thorough of an advantage as they did previously? Taking into consideration the addition in size for the Wildcats, the stakes, and a neutral venue, likely not. But as has been clear all season long, UCLA's success will rest on the ability to get out in transition. In other words, rebound and run, and an appearance in the second looks that much more likely for the Bruins.
Frankly, it wasn't the ending UCLA was hoping for, at all. The Bruins came into the final week of the regular season with the hopes of locking up the No. 4 seed in next week's Pacific Life Pac-12 Tournament (with a slight chance of overtaking USC for the No. 3 seed). But in the end, that plan was foiled after the Bruins lost out to Washington State 76-65 on Thursday before faltering against Washington 67-59 earlier today. The wrap-ups of the two games and the tournament implications are below:
Against the Cougars
Never mind that the Bruins looked flat-flooted coming out of the gate; the Cougars got off to a blazing start on Thursday night, instantly building a big lead by dialing and connecting from beyond the arc. Washington State's Sage Romberg and Rosie Tarnowski each went 2-of-2 on three-point baskets in the first half, and the Cougars collectively shot 10-of-21 from distance by game's end. Trailing by as many as 19 points at the 15:27 mark in the second half, the Bruins managed to make a game of it during the waning minutes, but the slow start ultimately proved too costly.
Also of note: Markel Walker, who has been a warrior when it comes to playing with pain this season, looked down and out for the count on several occasions in this game. The worst run-in came with 9:08 left in the first half, when the Cougars' Rosetta Adzasu shouldered into Walker going after a loose ball, and the Bruin forward had to come out of the game nursing her shoulder. But Walker eventually returned to action, her uncanny propensity to tolerate pain showing through once again.
Against the Huskies
The last time these two teams met, UCLA pulled off a stunning, come-from-behind win against Washington that had the Bruin home crowd in an absolute tizzy. Well, it wasn't quite as dramatic, but the Huskies returned the favor from their turf this afternoon, the 67-59 loss marking an anticlimactic end to the Bruins' regular season. While they never held a lead in this one, the Bruins were well within striking distance for much of the contest, thanks in part to their ability to pick apart Washington's zone defense with quick passes into the paint for easy baskets (15 of UCLA's 21 made field goals came off of assists). But with just under three minutes left in the game, the Huskies went on a 10-3 spurt to expand their lead, and the Bruins just couldn't respond, settling for hurried jumpers instead of looking for the open player.
"Washington did a good job of keeping us outside of the lanes and forcing us to take jumpers," Close said. "We needed to get easier looks by either getting post touches inside or getting the ball to the basket off of dribble penetrations. That was the difference in the second half: We settled for jumpers when they were in their zone defense, and we didn't convert."
The Aftermath
With Colorado having defeated Oregon State 67-57, the Bruins (9-9) are unofficially the No. 5 seed in the conference tournament, thanks to the tiebreaker that is their win earlier in the season against the Beavers (9-9). That means No. 5 UCLA will take on No. 12 Arizona Wednesday at the Galen Center, with tip-off at 2:15 p.m.
"At this point, we just have to get our minds right and get our legs back underneath us," Close said. "We see upsets happen all the time, so whether it's Arizona or whether it's us, it's going to come down to who can dig in and take advantage of their opportunities more."
Against the Cougars
Never mind that the Bruins looked flat-flooted coming out of the gate; the Cougars got off to a blazing start on Thursday night, instantly building a big lead by dialing and connecting from beyond the arc. Washington State's Sage Romberg and Rosie Tarnowski each went 2-of-2 on three-point baskets in the first half, and the Cougars collectively shot 10-of-21 from distance by game's end. Trailing by as many as 19 points at the 15:27 mark in the second half, the Bruins managed to make a game of it during the waning minutes, but the slow start ultimately proved too costly.
Also of note: Markel Walker, who has been a warrior when it comes to playing with pain this season, looked down and out for the count on several occasions in this game. The worst run-in came with 9:08 left in the first half, when the Cougars' Rosetta Adzasu shouldered into Walker going after a loose ball, and the Bruin forward had to come out of the game nursing her shoulder. But Walker eventually returned to action, her uncanny propensity to tolerate pain showing through once again.
Against the Huskies
The last time these two teams met, UCLA pulled off a stunning, come-from-behind win against Washington that had the Bruin home crowd in an absolute tizzy. Well, it wasn't quite as dramatic, but the Huskies returned the favor from their turf this afternoon, the 67-59 loss marking an anticlimactic end to the Bruins' regular season. While they never held a lead in this one, the Bruins were well within striking distance for much of the contest, thanks in part to their ability to pick apart Washington's zone defense with quick passes into the paint for easy baskets (15 of UCLA's 21 made field goals came off of assists). But with just under three minutes left in the game, the Huskies went on a 10-3 spurt to expand their lead, and the Bruins just couldn't respond, settling for hurried jumpers instead of looking for the open player.
"Washington did a good job of keeping us outside of the lanes and forcing us to take jumpers," Close said. "We needed to get easier looks by either getting post touches inside or getting the ball to the basket off of dribble penetrations. That was the difference in the second half: We settled for jumpers when they were in their zone defense, and we didn't convert."
The Aftermath
With Colorado having defeated Oregon State 67-57, the Bruins (9-9) are unofficially the No. 5 seed in the conference tournament, thanks to the tiebreaker that is their win earlier in the season against the Beavers (9-9). That means No. 5 UCLA will take on No. 12 Arizona Wednesday at the Galen Center, with tip-off at 2:15 p.m.
"At this point, we just have to get our minds right and get our legs back underneath us," Close said. "We see upsets happen all the time, so whether it's Arizona or whether it's us, it's going to come down to who can dig in and take advantage of their opportunities more."
