Bruins Accept Burden
Ed O’Bannon knows all about UCLA tradition. His father went to school there for two years, so young Ed learned the A-clap - a rhythmic, time-honored UCLA cheer - as an infant.
These days the tradition washes over O’Bannon in various ways - the championship banners hanging from the ceiling at Pauley Pavilion; the former stars occasionally visiting practice; the legendary coach, John Wooden, sitting in the stands at home games. Or he can listen to tradition, as demanding fans howl every time UCLA falls short of the national title.
But as the Bruins seek their first Final Four berth since 1980 - they meet Connecticut in today’s 12:40 p.m. West Regional final at the Oakland (Calif.) Coliseum Arena - O’Bannon offered an interesting take on UCLA’s rich basketball history. He considers it an ally, not an adversary.
“I don’t think there’s any question the tradition holds a lot of weight,” O’Bannon said. “Everyone wants to either see us fall on our face or rise to the occasion.
“I think it’s a good thing. I’d rather have a lot of pressure than no pressure. Alums who come back to the school have a lot of pride in what we do on the floor. Some people think it’s a problem, but I don’t.”
Even the coach, Jim Harrick, embraces the trappings of Bruins basketball. “It’s more of a positive than a negative,” he said. “I told our players the only guys I need to answer to are coach Wooden and the former players. If they’re satisfied, so am I.”
Some current players were not even alive in ‘75, when the Bruins won their last title. Consider guard Toby Bailey, who was born on Nov. 19 of that year, more than seven months after Wooden collected his final coaching win.
Bailey’s roommate is fellow freshman Kris Johnson, son of former UCLA star Marques Johnson (now a Bruins radio analyst). Bailey has become friends with Mike Warren, another one-time star. Bill Walton occasionally surfaces at Pauley Pavilion, as does Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
“It’s hard to forget the legacy,” Bailey said.
Historic showdown
Trying to soften the hype for tonight’s NCAA Southeast Regional final in Birmingham, Ala., between a couple of historic titans, North Carolina forward Jerry Stackhouse was talking about how the Kentucky Wildcats were just another team. He couldn’t even convince himself.
“It’s the biggest game I’ve ever played,” the Tar Heels forward finally admitted. “It’s national. A chance to gain a lot of national exposure. Not that we need it.”
Stackhouse said he knows the difference between being very good and being great is fine, maybe a single shot in a big game.
“If it comes to that,” Stackhouse said, “I’ll be the man. I’m ready.”
Learning process for ASU
A two-week stay in the tournament and Arizona State now knows something about what it takes to be an elite program.
The Sun Devils have seen it and felt it after being run over Thursday night by top-seeded Kentucky, 97-73, in the Southeast semifinals.
“It doesn’t diminish what these guys did this season,” coach Bill Frieder said. “I want to give my team a lot of credit for having a great season.”
After breezing through Ball State and Manhattan in the first two rounds, the questions on the test became much more complex. And the Sun Devils didn’t have an answer for Kentucky.
“There’s no question,” Frieder said. “There’s a big difference between those top six to eight teams and the rest of the country.
“I think, I hope, it made a lasting impression on the kids and it’s a whole new level for them to shoot for in the future.”