BRUINS DEFINITELY READY FOR TULSA THIS TIME : UCLA AT A GLANCE.Byline: Jon Wilner Daily News Staff Writer The chair did not strike anyone as it flew from Ed O'Bannon's hands in the Oklahoma City Oklahoma City (1990 pop. 444,719), state capital, and seat of Oklahoma co., central Okla., on the North Canadian River; inc. 1890. The state's largest city, it is an important livestock market, a wholesale, distribution, industrial, and financial center, and a farm locker room. But it hit the target. ``I was surprised Ed did it, but I was also relieved,'' UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX senior Bob Myers said. ``I was waiting for somebody to step up all year. I was just a freshman, so I wasn't going to do it. But we needed somebody to.'' O'Bannon did not stop with the chair. He yelled. He screamed. He challenged the Bruins, who were trailing Tulsa by 25 points at halftime of the now infamous 1994 NCAA Tournament NCAA Tournament can mean: Men's Sports
``Ed said it was embarrassing, that he was embarrassed to go home, that it wasn't how he was raised,'' Myers said. ``He challenged people, and we knew who he was talking about. Then he said, `We're not playing hard, and I'm sick of this!' '' And at that moment - on March 18, 1994, in front of a rabid pro-Tulsa crowd at The Myriad - UCLA's 1995 season began. Sure, the Bruins waited out the spring and summer before retaking RETAKING. The taking one's goods, wife, child, &c., from another, who without right has taken possession thereof. Vide Recaption; Rescue. the court. But the psychological propulsion toward Seattle had begun. ``No question, that game started the championship run,'' Charles O'Bannon Charles Edward O'Bannon (born February 22 1975 in Lakewood, California) is an American professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the UCLA Bruins, where he was a star small forward/shooting guard, and a starter on the school's 1995 NCAA Championship team. said. ``We realized we had to do it together and that we couldn't have any mental breakdowns if we wanted to avoid another first-round loss.'' Tonight, the strange, twisting currents of college basketball College basketball most often refers to the American basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association, or NCAA. History
It's the first game since 1988 without Jim Harrick Jim Harrick (born July 25, 1938 in Charleston, West Virginia) is a former college basketball head coach who coached at Pepperdine University, UCLA, the University of Rhode Island and the University of Georgia. on the bench and the first game of the Steve Lavin Steve Lavin (born September 4,1964), a San Francisco, California native is a former college basketball coach and current ABC and ESPN TV analyst. As UCLA head basketball coach from 1996-2003, Lavin compiled a record of 145-78. era. But the Bruins are looking to March - hoping tonight's game is both the spark of something big and a chance to close the door on '94. ``There's no way we can't think about what happened two years ago,'' O'Bannon said. ``It's just like when I think about Princeton the rest of my life, I'll think about last year's game.'' The Hurricane, now as then, are a formidable opponent. Ranked 19th by Sports Illustrated, they have one of the nation's best players in guard Shea Seals, a veteran lineup and three straight tournament appearances. Second-year coach Steve Robinson, a Roy Williams disciple, employs the Kansas system. ``They're a good yardstick for us,'' said Lavin, echoing Harrick's description of Santa Clara exactly a year ago. But beyond the yardstick, beyond closing the door of '94 and beginning another title run, tonight's game gives the Bruins an opportunity to make news on the court. Finally. ``Maybe it will take the focus off the off-court activities and put it on the court,'' Myers said. ``Nobody has asked us about our zone offense. All the people want to know is how we're holding up mentally.'' They'll know more tonight. 1996 record: 23-8 overall, 16-2 Pac10 How it finished: Won second-straight Pac-10 title, lost to Princeton in first round of NCAAs. Coach: Steve Lavin - first year as head coach, any level. Starters returning: Guard Cameron Dollar (4.1 points per game), guard Toby Bailey (14.8), forward Charles O'Bannon (14.3), forward J.R. Henderson (14.4), center Jelani McCoy (10.2). Top reserves: Guard/forward Kris Johnson (12.5), forward Bob Myers (2.7), guard Brandon Loyd (1.4). Preseason rankings: No. 5 by Associated Press; No. 6 by USA Today. Strengths: Defensive presence of McCoy; scoring skills of Henderson and Johnson; all-around athleticism of Bailey and O'Bannon. Weaknesses: First-year coach; no established leader; no proven depth beyond Johnson and Myers. CAPTION(S): Box Box: UCLA AT A GLANCE (see text) |
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