Sometimes, old ball coaches do learn new tricks. Heck, even Giants coach Tom Coughlin loosened up enough last season to win a Super Bowl. So it came as no surprise when UCLA's coach Ben Howland met with team leaders and let the offense run-and-gun a little on their suggestion, leading to the high point of the Bruins' roller coaster season.Life was good.
UCLA went on a winning streak, and crushed USC and Notre Dame. But then came the desert debacle, as the Arizona schools swept the Bruins. Suddenly, run-and-gun or not, a Pac-10 title that seemed inevitable is, well, wholly evitable. So will Howland rein in the Bruins after this two-game stumble?
Good coaches are control freaks and that certainly applies to Howland. Scrapping the run-and-gun seems like a knee-jerk reaction after two tough losses. But Howland has been known to blow all of his timeouts before the 12-minute mark (or so it seems), so he does do knee-jerk.
Not this time, though. UCLA can't stand and swing with Washington, whom it faces on Thursday night. The Bruins tried to battle the Huskies in their previous matchup, but just weren't tough enough. Washington out-shot UCLA 43-15 from the free-throw line as the Huskies cruised to a win.
The Bruins need to come out aggressively and push the ball; Howland has to see this. His first instinct might be to control the tempo, but he's smart enough to know that he will have to push the ball to be effective. Besides, UCLA has yet to beat a ranked opponent this season, so the Bruins have to try something, right?
Of course, if UCLA loses this game -- which would be their first three-game losing streak since 2005 -- who knows how Howland will react.
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Wyoming guard Brandon Ewing is guarded by UNLV guard Tre'Von Willis during an NCAA college basketball game in Laramie, Wyo. on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009. (AP Photo/Laramie Boomerang, Ben Woloszyn)
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Wyoming guard A.J. Davis drives to the basket past UNLV guard Kendall Wallace during an NCAA college basketball game in Laramie, Wyo. on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009. (AP Photo/Laramie Boomerang, Ben Woloszyn)
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Nebraska coach Doc Sadler calls to his players in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Colorado, in Lincoln, Neb., Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009. Nebraska defeated Colorado 46-41. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
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Nebraska head coach Doc Sadler is seen past Colorado's Jermyl Jackson-Wilson, who was preparing to take a free throw against Nebraska in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, in Lincoln, Neb., Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009. Nebraska defeated Colorado 46-41.(AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
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Colorado coach Jeff Bzdelik instructs his players in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Nebraska, in Lincoln, Neb., Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009. Nebraska defeated Colorado 46-41.(AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
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Colorado's Nate Tomlinson (1) drives around Nebraska's Ryan Anderson (44) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lincoln, Neb., Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009. Nebraska defeated Colorado 46-41. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
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Colorado's Nate Tomlinson (1) struggles for the ball against Nebraska's Toney McCray, right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lincoln, Neb., Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009. Nebraska defeated Colorado 46-41. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
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Arkansas coach John Pelphrey talks to his team during the final seconds of an NCAA college basketball game against LSU in Fayetteville, Ark., Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009. LSU won 72-69. (AP Photo/April L. Brown)
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Colorado's Cory Higgins (11) drives past Nebraska's Sek Henry in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lincoln, Neb., Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009. Nebraska defeated Colorado 46-41. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
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LAWRENCE, KS - FEBRUARY 18: A Kansas Jayhawks cheerleader performs prior to the start of the game between the Iowa State Cyclones and the Kansas Jayhawks at Allen Fieldhouse February 18, 2009 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-19-2009 @ 11:55AM
Doobie said...
Washington is the story here. Nobody thought that they would be where they are at the beginning of the season. Winning out could get them a 2 seed.
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2-19-2009 @ 9:25PM
Tracy said...
I find it interesting when the Bruins don't perform to their level, that everybody jumps on the bandwagon. If the non Bruin fans had an ounce of sense then they would know that Coach Howland knows how to win, which is why UCLA has been in the final four 3 years in a row. Obviously the coach has learned from his mistakes and that is why we will go into March and beyond as the west number one seed in the west and will go onto our fouth appearance in the final four. Not only will UCLA defeat Washington tonight, but they will win the PAC10 outright!!!!! and as far as all you Howland haters, get a clue, sit back and enjoy Bruin basketball.
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