Let's face it, 36.7% shooting (11 of 30) from the field and 16 turnovers is not going to get you a win, but even with those stats, the Arizona Wildcat men's basketball team kept coming back.  Even though it seemed that only the UCLA players were getting rebounds (I know now this isn't true, but it seemed like it from the stand), the Arizona Wildcat players came back.  And when you would, yourself, want to walk off the court after the 3rd defensive block call which was called on your team when the UCLA offense most definitely and obviously purposely elbow your chest so you go flying backwards under the basket, yes, the Wildcats kept coming back.

As a Wildcat fan, I felt the other Arizona fans represented well.  Here we were, sitting in a big stadium where we expected to be one of 20 or so fans attending the game, and actually 1/3 of the seats were full of Wildcat fans, blue and red everywhere.  It was obvious we were there when some guys to the left of me started the U OF A chant, and we were loud!  You would think that would help the team..and I think it gave them a reason to continue coming back, but they just couldn't muster up enough desire it seemed to win the game.  

Another quick observation: Most of the UCLA and Arizona players were from Southern California, with UCLA having at least 4 players from Orange County where the game was being played.    Seemed like it was a game between California natives.

I have watched a whole lot of basketball in my time, I have coached it and been a commissioner of a rec league, and it is very obvious when the referee wants to be the 6th player and wants to affect the outcome of the game.  This game was no different.  The Bruins seemed to be beating up the Wildcats with actual hits (once there was a karate chop to the neck, and twice there were purposeful elbows to the chest).  This game was hyped up with all the Wooden video's and I am sure locker room speeches (I am a huge Wooden fan, don't get me wrong) and all the respect the refs had for Wooden, how could the Bruins lose?  How could Howland go home a loser in this beautiful stadium where lots of West LA folks drove for over an hour (lots of traffic) to get to Anaheim on a Thursday night for the game.

Don't misunderstand, I will tell you I think UCLA did a fine job on offense and defense, I was impressed, I just didn't like the dirty pool.  I looked to me like with their center out, the team seemed to step up.  Their point guard was on fire, so were the twins, it seemed the first half, they couldn't miss the basket.  In this game, maybe size did matter (LOL).  UCLA clearly has a taller team, and Arizona's freshman 

Upshot: Solomon Hill will be shooting 100's of free throws today and tomorrow, Sean Miller will be rethinking his starters for the next game, Nick Johnson has to find his love for the game and desire to win (I know he is only a Freshman), Lavender will be teaching the rest of the team how to shoot, and us fans will be spending Saturday praying for a win against USC on Sunday.   GO CATS!
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