Sports: Kansas and UCLA the underdogs

There you go, the odds page on today's game.

KU is a 3 point underdog to UNC and UCLA is a 2 point underdog to Memphis.

Its all about playing your type of game.

If Memphis gets out into a high speed game, it will turn into a dunkfest and UCLA will get blown out. But if UCLA slows them down like they did 2 years ago, then UCLA has a shot to win. In a close game, Memphis free throw shooting might get mental. Speaking of foul trouble, UCLA would be in a huge hole if any of their starters get in foul trouble as the UCLA bench players don't play a lot of minutes and UCLA would be hard pressed to get a lot of offense from the bench if they have to play extended minutes.

Meanwhile, in the other game, I think UNC would like to speed it up like Memphis. But if it turns into a slugfest I think KU might have a bit more going for them.

In my brackets, I had KU playing UCLA in the finals. That is what I'm rooting for because I like underdogs and of course I'm a Bruin fan!

GO BRUINS!

UPDATE: Memphis 78 UCLA 63. Hats off to the Tigers. They played their game and neutralized what UCLA likes to do. UCLA had no answer for the size, athleticism and talent of Rose (25 pts) and Roberts (28 pts) and UCLA couldn't score for long stretches in the second half.

The Bruins season ended just like the previous two years (against Florida) ... by running into, in this case, a Memphis team that had skill players that were bigger and faster. It was deja vu all over again.

With the score in the 20s half-way into the 1st half, the game was at Memphis pace and I was troubled. If the brakes don't get put on soon, UCLA might run out of gas in the 2nd half. They fought it down to a 3 point deficit by half-time. But the 2nd half came and Memphis put a run on them, UCLA fought back and cut it down to 5 but at that point, UCLA had nothing left in the tank and Memphis ran them off the court.

As a fan of the game, I would have three question marks on UCLA's game plan:
(1) Love didn't get many touches in the second half. How much was Memphis defense and how much was UCLA not looking for him?
(2) UCLA got within 5 points and then UCLA went for 2 three-point attempts which they missed. After that, they never seriously threatened them. Might they have been better off trying to get it to Love or driving to the basket? Admittedly, Memphis might have been too quick to be beat off the dribble.
(3) Might a zone defense occasionally be useful in confusing an opponent? Coach Howland refuses to use it. Teams throw zones at UCLA to confuse them. UCLA should occasionally turn the tables on people.

I remember many years ago (1998?) Coach Rick Majerus of Utah was hailed as a coaching genius when he threw a gimmick box and one zone against a speedy Arizona team and frustrated the run and gun Wildcats in the NCAA tournament.

Would it have made difference?

Love getting more touches would help. He probably would have drew some fouls and got points at the line and making shots within 5 feet is easier than the 2 three-pointers he missed in the 2nd half.

UCLA has to hit those three pointers or at least step in a few feet and get the 2 points off a 15-17 footer but where their legs gone from the pace?

And the zone defense question is one I would guess real X and O people might have a better answer for.

In the end, UCLA could have done all 3 and still lose. Sometimes you just have to admit the other team had better offense options and their talent and athleticism neutralizes what you try to do.

It was another exciting season for Bruinsnation. Thanks to the team for a lot of heart in many tough Pac10 games. They showed in a tight situations that they can found a way to win. But sometimes the other team is too much and all you can do is go down fighting and show class when its over. Coach Howland and the Bruins did that all year and in the end came out on the short end only four times.

Look forward to next season!