Arizona gave itself a huge boost to it’s NCAA resume with a convincing win over #6 ranked Washington State. Behind a barage of 3 point shooting (12 for 21) they soundly defeated the Cougars and got themselves one step closer to a tourney bid. The quickness of Jarred Bayless exposed the Cougars. When he is healthy they are capable of beating any team in the country.
Sticking in the Pac -10UCLA overcame a late lead by Oregon to pull out a hard fought victory. Kevin Love showed why he is one of the top freshman in the country by recording a double double (26 points and 18 rebounds). His ability to demand a double team is what sets him apart from most post men in college basketball. Couple that with a deft passing touch and you can see why he may only be in Westwood for one year.
As a sidenote. Last week there was a question about whether or not John Wooden talking with Kevin Love was an NCAA violation. How absurd can you get? That’s what’s wrong with the NCAA. They spend their time investigating that when all during Wooden’s tenure there was no investigation into Sam Gilbert’s illegal involvement with the program. Too many people with nothing better to do.
Getting back to outstanding freshmen, Michael Beasley, put on another second half show against Colorado. Twenty nine points and 11 rebounds. What I love about this kid is his demeanor on the court. Nothing rattles him. The other thing that sets him apart from his peers is his ability to score without taking shots. He is a monster on the offensive glass. Here’s hoping they win on Wed and go into the Kansas game undefeated. The wildcats will be primed to break the Bramlage curse. Almost thirty years of futility in your own building. I can’t think of a better guy than Frank Martin to finally get it done.
