UCLA Down to Nitty Gritty

The impact of UCLA’s loss Saturday afternoon didn’t have the same immediate, concussive force as those that had come before: Stanford, Oregon, Arizona, USC, Washington, etc.

This, a 73-70 setback to California before 9,596 at Pauley Pavilion, could come with more of a delayed reaction, and then turn out to be as harsh as any blowout or final-minute collapse. It could cost the Bruins some crucial letters.

The difference between NCAA and NIT.

The Bruins are at the midpoint of the Pacific 10 schedule, and nearing the end of the plank. They are 3-6 in conference and 12-8 overall. They are staring at two top-nine opponents in the next four games and another team, USC, that has already had the pleasure of beating them.

They are worried.

“Yeah,” Jerome Moiso conceded after his 16 points, 10 rebounds, four steals and three blocks went to waste. “It’s the same concern we’ve had for the last five games now.”

Win or else.

Except a defeat against Cal was one the Bruins could not afford, unlike the losses to Arizona and USC and Stanford that, while cringe-worthy in the inability to be competitive, were also understandable given the success of those teams. Cal was different. Cal was on their level, the co-owner of sixth place in the conference at the start of the day and likewise enigmatic, having also lost to Washington.

By losing three consecutive games for the first time since 1992, by losing both home games in a conference weekend for the first time since 1990, UCLA lost something far more precious Saturday than historical standing.

It lost whatever cushion previously existed to reach the tournament. The NCAA one, that is.

Predicting the qualifying minimums to make the 64-team field is as hazardous as guestimating the Bruins’ intensity level from game to game (half to half?), but their coach, Steve Lavin, figures 18 wins and a .500 Pac-10 record would get them in. Being 30th at the start of the week in the RPI power rating helped, and that was without Syracuse’s undefeated record counting because the teams haven’t played yet.

That meant UCLA would need to go at least 6-5 the rest of the way, which allowed for losses to teams that already have proved capable of that (USC, Arizona, Oregon and Stanford) and the No. 4 team in the country (Syracuse). But that also counted on Bruin victories over opponents they have already beaten (Arizona State) or were tied with or led in the conference standings heading into Saturday (Cal twice, Oregon State, Washington State and Washington).

But in the time it took the Bears to commit 18 turnovers and shoot 39.1% in the first half and still lead by a point and for the Bruins to get one field goal in the final 3:26 and in their final four possessions have two shots blocked and travel, it all changed.

Now, they need an upset somewhere--as opposed to being upset at themselves.

“It’s getting close,” center Dan Gadzuric said, “but we know we can make it. We know we have a talented team. We know we have a deep bench. We’re confident we can make the tournament because we have the potential. But we have to do something about it soon. We can’t keep losing.

“I don’t know what the effect of this [loss] is going to be. That’s not my job. I just know we need to start winning a lot.”

Said guard Earl Watson: “There’s definitely no room for error. The excuses are getting old.”

Saturday brought little in the way of originality. With the game on the line, the Bruins scored for the last time with a minute remaining, getting them within 71-70. On their next possession, Jason Kapono (19 points) had his free-throw line jumper blocked by Brian Wethers, before Gadzuric grabbed the loose ball and missed a jumper in the lane. The next time downcourt, Moiso’s hook in the lane was blocked by Solomon Hughes.

UCLA was forced to foul. Wethers made both attempts from the line with 7.5 seconds remaining to give Cal (13-8, 4-5) a 73-70 cushion. The Bruins’ final real chance ended when Watson tripped and was called for traveling with two seconds remaining. They got the ball back without the Bears scoring again, but Ryan Bailey’s desperation half-court shot at the buzzer didn’t hit the rim.