Here's a quick scouting report on UCLA, thanks to the official site:
UCLA Scouting Report
A Look at UCLA
After enjoying a 10-game winning streak, UCLA welcomes Cal as losers of its last two out of three. The Bruins lost to Arizona State in overtime, 61-58, and fell to Washington last Saturday in Seattle, 86-75. UCLA is 9-1 at home this year, losing to Michigan on Nov. 20, 55-52.
Cal-UCLA Series History
UCLA won all three meetings against Cal last season, including a second-round matchup in the Pac-10 Tournament. The last time the Bears beat the Bruins occurred in the 2007 conference tournament when the Bears emerged victorious in overtime, 76-69. UCLA leads the all-time series, 129-94.
UCLA Head Coach Ben Howland
Entering his sixth year as the UCLA head coach in 2008-09, Ben Howland has led the Bruins to back-to-back-to-back Pac-10 titles (2006-08) and back-to-back-to-back Final Four appearances (2006-08). He has won more games in a three-year span (97 from 2006-08) than any other coach in UCLA history. UCLA finished last year with an overall record of 35-4 and a 16-2 mark in the Pac-10.
Probable Starters
Pos No Name Ht Wt Yr Ppg Rpg
F 03 Josh Shipp 6-5 220 Sr 12.4 2.9
F 41 Nikola Dragovic 6-9 216 Jr 7.9 3.3
C 12 Alfred Aboya 6-9 245 Sr 8.7 5.3
G 02 Darren Collison 6-0 160 Sr 14.4 2.5
G 21 Jrue Holiday 6-3 180 Fr 9.4 3.8
For more information: www.uclabruins.com
Yes, that guys name is apparently Jrue. Just like how sometimes I spell Jerry with a G! Actually, that's true, I have some major spelling problems. Spelling disabilities are no joke, people. Thankfully, nobody has laughed a single time during the course of this YTT, so we are all OK!
Here are some highlights of their game against USC:
Let's take a look at one of their best players, AA. Sorry, no legend will be provided during the course of this YTT. You will have to figure out who is who:
And here's some video on JH, the phenom:
And more about JH:
Let's get some hot DC lovin'
Joe Shipp has at least one little brother! And he plays for UCLA. His name is JS:
Their first possession of the year, apparently:
A quick USC scouting report, thanks to the official site as linked above:
USC Scouting Report
A Look at USC
The Trojans have won three of their last four, including a 46-44 victory at Washington State last Saturday. USC is 10-1 at home this season with the only loss at the Galen Center coming against UCLA, 64-60.
Cal-USC Series History
The Bears and Trojans split the season series last year, with the home team winning each contest. Cal knocked off then-No. 22 USC in the Pac-10 opener last season, 82-72. Patrick Christopher led the Bears with 24 points, while Jerome Randle collected 16. The Trojans got even in Los Angeles later in the year, prevailing 93-89 in overtime. Cal leads the all-time series, 125-116.
USC Head Coach Tim Floyd
Tim Floyd is in his fourth season at USC and 21st season of head coaching at the collegiate and NBA levels. In 2007-08, he led USC to a 21-12 record and into the NCAA Tournament after finishing tied for third in the Pac-10 with an 11-7 record. During his first three seasons with the Trojans, he guided USC to 63 wins, more victories than any other three-year stretch in school history.
Probable Starters
Pos No Name Ht Wt Yr Ppg Rpg
F 05 Nikola Vucevic 6-10 220 Fr 2.0 1.8
F 22 Taj Gibson 6-9 225 Jr 14.7 10.4
F 23 Keith Wilkinson 6-10 225 Sr 3.8 3.3
G 10 DeMar DeRozan 6-7 220 Fr 12.3 5.2
G 13 Daniel Hackett 6-5 215 Jr 11.5 4.2
Recent reports have Taj Gibson suffering from illness. It's unclear whether he will play. We all certainly wish him nothing but the best healthwise, but hope he doesn't play!
USC v. Arizona:
USC v. ASU:
Taj Gibson interview:
USC at the start of the season:
USC also lost to Mizzou!
More info on Daniel Hackett:
He's fluent in the Lover's Language?
This is moderately unrelated, but noticed this, too:
USC took on Oklahoma this year:
John Zorn. John. Zorn. What to say about John Zorn? My original perception of him was sort of this crazzy off the wall out there alto player who just composed insane things and hey if it makes him happy, ok. But it wasnt really for me. I mean listen to this:
Is that even music? Or is that a full-frontal assault on your aural senses?
So, I sort of put John Zorn on the ignore-o-track in life. This UNIMAGINABLY HILARIOUS Colbert bit from a few years back only verified that thought. Bee Tee Dubz, the first chunk isn't that good, but when it gets to the John Zorn part, it is UNBELIEVABLE.
Even now on the 8th or so viewing, I think that's amazing. When it first aired, I plotzed. Just totes plotzed. And so, I kept ignoring him. Then, I was using Pandora to listen to the Cracow Klezmer Band, a klezmer band I enjoy, when the Masada String Trio came up. I had not heard of the Masada String Trio before. Research told me that John Zorn had created a litany of classic/jazz groups of essentially the same people, all working with Jewish-influenced music. Sort of a Jew Jazz thing. There's Acoustic Masada. Electric Masada. Masada String Trio. Some others. These are not new, by any stretch of the imagination, but my kneejerk rejection of all things Zorn had kept them from my view. No more!
John Zorn is even planning a residency at Yoshi's SF in March (scroll down to the bottom). 6 different bands playing his compositions. Interesting stuff. Not sure Ill make it out to anything, unfortunately, but just wanted to put it out there.
I'm still listening to more and more and more and more and still yet more of his stuff, so this might not be his finest video. But here's a song that is interesting me so far. It's from the Masada String Trio. Zorn is not playing, but he is sitting right in front of them on the stage, following along:
Oh yah and UCLA, do you really think that's a basketball, or are you just saying that because you saw it? GO BEARS!