BRUINS GET THE NEWS THEY WANT TEXAS TECH AWAITS UCLA IN TUCSON.Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer 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 Dijon Thompson Dijon Lynn Thompson (born February 23, 1983 in Los Angeles, California, USA) is an American professional basketball player for Alba Berlin of the German Bundesliga. didn't remember what he did two years ago on selection Sunday, but last March he was playing pickup basketball when the NCAA Tournament NCAA Tournament can mean: Men's Sports
This year things were different. The Bruins' leading scorer spent Sunday morning Sunday Morning may refer to:
And when Thompson met his teammates to watch the selection show in the afternoon, he said the tension built so much he couldn't look at anyone else. The suspense ended early during the show as UCLA flashed on the television screen, confirming the Bruins' return to the NCAA Tournament after a two-year absence. UCLA received the 11th seed, its lowest in tournament history, in the Albuquerque region, but there was no complaining. The Bruins, one of the final at-large teams selected, face sixth-seeded Texas Tech, coached by legendary and volatile Bobby Knight, in a 6:55 p.m. game Thursday in Tucson, Ariz. ``It was on my mind all day,'' Thompson said. ``I couldn't even imagine (not getting in). All I could imagine was getting another chance and going out there and fighting. It was like, `Wow, I haven't seen our name in a long time.' It was astonishing a·ston·ish tr.v. as·ton·ished, as·ton·ish·ing, as·ton·ish·es To fill with sudden wonder or amazement. See Synonyms at surprise. . It felt good.'' No at-large teams received a seed higher than 11th, so UCLA was likely one of the final three schools to receive an at-large bid An at-large bid is a bid or berth in a sporting tournament granted by invitation, not right. This term is most commonly used in the United States to refer to berths that the NCAA grants in its annual Division I men's and women's basketball tournaments, although at-large berths are . ``I wasn't nervous when I came in (to watch), but I saw some of the jitters jitters 'Butterflies' Psychology An episode of nervousness or anxiety that often precedes a public event; jitters is a type of performance anxiety which may affect actors in a stage production–stage fright or soloist musicians; it may respond to anxiolytics on the guys' and the staff's faces,'' UCLA freshman guard Arron Afflalo Arron Agustin Afflalo (born October 15, 1985) is an American professional basketball player, currently with the Detroit Pistons. He recently completed a three-year career at University of California, Los Angeles in the Pacific Ten Conference of the NCAA as the starting shooting said. ``It was slowly wearing on me as each team starting with a `U' popped up.'' UCLA's seed was a tad lower than many bracketologists prognosticated - likely because the Bruins were penalized pe·nal·ize tr.v. pe·nal·ized, pe·nal·iz·ing, pe·nal·iz·es 1. To subject to a penalty, especially for infringement of a law or official regulation. See Synonyms at punish. 2. hard for losing to Oregon State in the first round of the Pacific-10 Tournament - but the setup might be favorable. The Bruins play at the University of Arizona's McKale Center McKale Memorial Center is an athletic arena located on the campus of the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona. It is primarily used for basketball, but also features state-of-the-art physical training and therapy facilities. , a court they know well, and in the closest sub-regional. ``I would say that just the proximity to L.A., that's probably the most desirable site that we could have been,'' UCLA coach Ben Howland Ben Howland (born May 28, 1957 in Lebanon, Oregon) is an American college head coach of men's basketball. He has been the head coach of the University of California, Los Angeles since 2003, and recently signed a contract extension through 2013. said. ``I think it's just a great thing for everybody involved in our program and, most importantly, the players.'' The UCLA-Texas Tech winner plays the winner of No. 3 Gonzaga vs. No. 14 Winthrop, with the winner advancing to Albuquerque. It appears to be an easier path than the one facing Stanford, which tied UCLA for third in the Pac-10. The Cardinal, seeded eighth, faces ninth- seeded Mississippi State, with the winner likely taking on top-seeded Duke in Charlotte, N.C. ``I think the (selection) committee really helped us out,'' UCLA senior guard Brian Morrison said. ``They gave us the lower seed, but they put us close to our school, which is great. Personally, I'd rather be an 11 seed than an eight or a nine.'' UCLA's 14-year run of NCAA Tournament appearances ended in 2003, and the Bruins missed the tournament again last season. After receiving this bid, they pointed to its Feb. 27 win at Notre Dame as a primary reason. In front of a national television audience, UCLA pummeled the Irish 75-65. Notre Dame, which slumped after that loss, did not get invited. ``We all knew that was a huge game at Notre Dame,'' Howland said. ``If we lose to Notre Dame and lose to Oregon State in the first round of the (Pac-10) Tournament, we're not in right now.'' The Bruins (18-10) are 5-0 against Texas Tech (20-10), but the teams haven't met since UCLA opened the 1988-89 season with an 84-62 win. UCLA is 3-3 against Knight-coached teams, but Howland has not faced him. ``They're a tough team to prepare for because there's no (offensive) sets,'' Howland said. ``They don't do this play and this play and this play so much as it's the motion (offense) that they run. It's a lot like playing Washington State, only with a little more up-tempo.'' Even before the selection show ended, UCLA's assistant coaches were preparing to watch Texas Tech on film. UCLA administrative assistant Doug Erickson, who tapes dozens of games per week for such occasions, has video of 27 of the Red Raiders' games. He also has at least 20 of Gonzaga's game tapes. UCLA guard Jordan Farmar received an unexpected preview of what awaits the Bruins. He said he spent part of his day watching the Red Raiders play in the Big 12 title game, which Oklahoma State won 72-68. ``They're tough,'' Farmar said. ``They're guard-oriented. I like that. It's going to be a great challenge.'' Brian Dohn, (818) 713-3607 brian.dohn(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): drawing, photo, 2 boxes Drawing: (cover -- color) SPIRIT of ST. LOUIS Spirit of St. Louis Charles Lindbergh’s plane. [Am. Hist.: Jameson, 287] See : Aviation Jon Gerung/Daily News Photo: Dijon Thompson, UCLA's leading scorer, prayed Sunday for the Bruins to make the NCAA NCAA abbr. National Collegiate Athletic Association field. Edna T. Simpson/Daily News Box: (1) 11. UCLA (18-10) (2) 6. TEXAS TECH (20-10) |
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