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2011 Pac-10 Tournament Quarterfinal Recap - Oregon vs UCLA

(7) Oregon 76, (2) UCLA 59

The outlook for the UCLA Bruins two weeks ago was particularly bright. Now the horizon in Los Angeles is colored far more by clouds than sunshine.

The Bruins, playing with an injured and clearly ineffective Malcolm Lee, were punchless and toothless on Thursday night in the quarterfinals of the Pac-10 Tournament. The Oregon Ducks were strong enough and savvy enough to pounce on their opportunity, and as a result, UCLA is staggering into the NCAA Tournament with little momentum and even less confidence.

UCLA, at the very end of February, had every right to be optimistic about its postseason future. The Bruins had just beaten Arizona to tie for the Pac-10 lead with two games remaining in the regular season. UCLA had a chance to split the conference crown and push onward towards the NCAAs.

Then the wheels came off. UCLA’s offense disintegrated at Washington and Washington State. The Bruins split the two games but were lucky to do so; Washington State collapsed down the stretch and made bonehead plays that gifted multiple baskets (call them “gift baskets,” indeed!) to the Bruins, who ended the Pac-10 campaign one game behind Arizona. That was a disappointment, but it pales in comparison to what the Bruins experienced against Oregon on Thursday.

UCLA learned shortly before the Pac-10 Tournament began that Lee, a key cog in coach Ben Howland’s offense, had suffered a cartilage tear in his left knee. Lee, who had been averaging close to 14 points per game for the season and had played around 35 minutes per game over the past week, could only play 28 minutes in this game, and the difference in Lee’s form was obvious. The man counted on to give perimeter balance to UCLA’s attack attempted only two shots and scored just three points. Without a threat on the wings, UCLA’s big men were easy prey for Oregon’s active defense. UO coach Dana Altman seized on the Bruins’  lack of offensive options. Double-teams repeatedly forced the ball out of the hands of Josh Smith and Reeves Nelson, who were constantly rattled by UO’s pressure. UCLA’s post players rushed their shots near the basket and were often stripped of the ball by wide-eyed Oregon defenders. When this game was done, UCLA had hit just 35 percent of its shots and only four 3-point attempts. Oregon, meanwhile, shot 49 percent from the floor and roared to a 62-40 bulge with 9:26 remaining in regulation. UCLA reeled off eight quick points to shave the deficit to 14, but a basket by UO’s Jay-R Strowbridge off a perfect bounce-pass feed from Joevan Catron ended the run and any hopes of a comeback on the part of the Bruins.

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UCLA must regroup quickly for the NCAAs without a healthy Malcolm Lee. If Howland doesn’t come up with a good answer, the Bruins will be bounced in round one.

Next Game: Pac-10 Semifinal No. 1

(7) Oregon vs. (3) Washington – 30 minutes after USC/Arizona

By Matt Zemek
DFN Sports Staff Writer