Plaschke: UCLA finds mojo just in time before ugly tradition repeating itself

It was the nightmare of Princeton, the embarrassment of Detroit Mercy, and the humiliation of St. Bonaventure, all rolled collectively on a despairing march into insanity.

It was the worst sort of UCLA basketball historical past repeating itself, the fourth-seeded Bruins being tackled across the ankles by an lively Thirteenth-seeded Akron crew in a livid first-round sport at Portland’s raucous Moda Middle.

The Bruins may have misplaced. The Bruins in all probability ought to have misplaced. The ugliest of UCLA custom dictates that they’d have misplaced.

However not this UCLA crew. Not them. Not now.

Not Tyger Campbell, who scored eight factors within the last three minutes.

Not Jules Bernard, who hit two huge treys down the stretch.

And never Cody Riley, who blocked an Ali Ali layup with 4 seconds remaining to seal an eventual 57-53 victory and elicit an enormous sigh of reduction.

Simply hours after it was introduced that he had signed a brand new six-year contract, Coach Mick Cronin practically suffered the identical destiny as all his predecessors courting to Jim Harrick.

It has gave the impression to be within the DNA of latest UCLA basketball coaches to blow an NCAA first-round gimme.

For Harrick, it was Tulsa and Princeton. For Steve Lavin, it was Detroit Mercy. For Ben Howland, it was Minnesota. For Steve Alford, it was the horrendous play-in loss to St. Bonaventure.

Was it going to occur once more?

It practically did.

Akron, which had by no means gained an NCAA match sport, led all through the sport and even grabbed a 47-39 edge with 7:54 remaining. The Zips then held a four-point lead with three minutes remaining.

However Bernard stored it shut, and Campbell gave them the lead with eight of their final 10 factors, and Riley closed it in a outstanding present of fortitude.

Subsequent up, St. Mary’s on Saturday right here, and if the Bruins don’t discover their rhythm and keenness for a full 40 minutes, they might be in huge bother.

The Gaels, taking part in proper earlier than UCLA, obliterated Indiana 82-53. The disciplined Gaels protection held Indiana to 34% capturing whereas outrebounding them 40-28. They’ve veteran management. They beat Gonzaga. They’re going to be a tough out.

And to suppose, on an evening that just about resulted in a debacle, the Bruins loved two victories earlier than they ever truly performed.

First, it was introduced Thursday afternoon that Cronin had signed that new deal only one yr after signing a two-year extension. The guess is that UCLA officers had been fearful that the Cincinnati native would return to educate at his previous stomping grounds in Louisville.

It’s an excellent transfer for the college. In three brief years Cronin has energized this system and made it related once more. He’s crammed Pauley Pavilion, given the Bruins citywide buzz, and mainly made UCLA basketball really feel like UCLA basketball once more.

Then, half-hour earlier than the UCLA tipoff, one other Bruins victory might be heard within the cheering that crammed the Moda Middle. The followers had been roaring whereas watching scoreboard video of St. Peter’s 85-79 win over Kentucky.

This was large for UCLA, because the Wildcats seemed to be the Bruins’ greatest hurdle on their path towards a second consecutive Remaining 4.

Test that. To date, Akron has been their greatest hurdle.

Whereas the sport began with Johnny Juzang hitting a candy three-pointer and shaking his head like you possibly can’t cease me … properly, the Bruins spent the subsequent three hours shaking their heads in frustration.

Offensively, they missed open jumpers. Defensively, they had been crushed to the basket by the faster Zips. They had been typically outhustled and outfought and with 9:25 left within the first half, Akron led 16-10.

At that time, UCLA had extra turnovers (3) than baskets (2). They clearly didn’t include the power required for even the bottom of Thirteenth-seeded groups.

It obtained worse. On the play after Cronin referred to as a timeout, the Bruins misplaced the ball on a 24-second violation, and the way usually has that occurred? Enrique Freeman proceeded to hit a spinning layup over Myles Johnson and Akron led 18-10.

By then, Cronin was screaming and gesturing and actually hopping mad. The Bruins appeared to get the message. The Bruins briefly got here again.

Campbell closed the hole on a driving runner-and-one, a number of bodily defensive stops appear to rattle the Zips. Then Bernard hit a jumper, Jaime Jaquez Jr. lastly hit a basket on a three-pointer, Jaylen Clark stole a cross to shut the hole to at least one, and UCLA began profitable the free balls. The Bruins took the lead on a Jaquez free throw, however then misplaced focus once more, allowed a few straightforward baskets, and ended the primary half by shedding the ball whereas committing their sixth turnover.

The halftime rating was Akron 26, UCLA 25. The small UCLA cheering part was silent. The scene was surreal.

The Bruins had been being outshot, outrebounded, and outhustled. They’d made all of eight baskets, missed 16 photographs, and watched Akron file 5 steals.

The second half started a lot the identical manner, Freeman scoring on a layup after which a dunk in opposition to a seemingly helpless Riley.

UCLA regained its footing lengthy sufficient to tie the sport on a Jaquez layup-and-one, after which moments after irritating freshman

Peyton Watson got here into the sport, Watson hit a three-pointer to present UCLA the lead.

The Bruins crowd rose to its toes whereas sensing a change of momentum. However Freeman hit one other layup and Akron regained the benefit. From there, the Zips stored pouring it on, and ultimately took a 47-39 lead on a Greg Tribble flying layup-and-one with 7:54 remaining.

It was time for the Bruins expertise, their management, their mettle.

Of their darkest hour in these first moments of the match, the Bruins ultimately lit up the fitness center with the easy declaration.

Not them. Not now.