The way UCLA has looked on the court lately, it would seem that
the season is basically over, doomed not from the start, but rather
at the first sign of an opponent that was worth at least the foul
odor that this losing stretch has emitted.
But luckily for the Bruins, they actually have a chance of
making something of themselves tonight at Oregon State, one of the
teams early on that made them look like world-beaters.
With a win, UCLA (11-14, 7-9 Pac-10) will earn a berth for the
Pac-10 tournament next week and have an outside chance of a spot in
the NCAA tournament. The Bruins are currently in a three-way tie
with Oregon and USC for the fifth-place spot.
Depending on the outcomes of games tonight, the Bruins’
match-up Saturday against Oregon, and a slew of other contests
around the conference with seeding ramifications, UCLA can finish
anywhere from fourth to ninth in the Pac-10.
A lot would have to happen for UCLA not to get into the
tournament, but then again “¦
“Anything’s possible,” coach Ben Howland said.
“It’s disappointing having to look at these
scenarios.”
Oregon State (11-15, 5-11), meanwhile, currently sits in ninth
place in the standings. The Beavers, who dropped a 77-66 decision
to UCLA at Pauley Pavilion on Jan. 2, will be hungry, as they need
a win to keep alive their chances of gaining entry into the
conference tournament.
The good news for UCLA is that guard Brian Morrison will be in
action after missing six of the last eight games due to a sprained
right ankle. Morrison, the team’s top three-point threat,
practiced well Tuesday and Wednesday after Howland had previously
stopped just short of declaring him out for the final two games of
the regular season.
The bad news is that the rest of the Bruins, who have shown
little if any improvement while losing 11 of their last 13 games,
are scheduled to play.
Whether any of them actually do it well while sitting in the
driver’s seat for a conference tournament bid remains to be
seen.
“I don’t see us losing this game,” junior
point guard Ryan Walcott said. “We’re one or two plays
away from being a great team, and that’s what we have to
focus on.”
Senior forward T.J. Cummings has been the team’s latest
scapegoat following a sub-par defensive performance against Notre
Dame. Cummings was benched at the start of the second half Saturday
and denied a final send-off on Senior Day, as Howland substituted
for him during a time-out.
“I’m just trying to put all that on the side this
week,” Cummings said. “We’re going to have the
chance to fight for some big wins. We’ve got to do whatever
it takes.”