Mar 24, 2002: (3) #10 UCLA (28-6, 12-6) vs (2) #21 Purdue (22-9, 12-6)
Scouting Report
- Primary defense: 3-2 zone
- Offense focus: Balanced
- Key players:
- Fr PF Loren McIntosh (11.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg)
- Jr SF Aaron Higgins (10.0 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 52% FG
- Fr(R) PG Chris Haginas (10.6 ppg, 4.7 apg)
- Strengths:
- Rebounding: 34.7 rpg (#30)
- Ball handling: 12.8 topg (#34)
- Weaknesses:
- FG shooting: 43.3% FG (#225)
- How they got here:
- Finished 4th Big 10; Lost Conference Tournament Semi Finals
- (Round 1) Def Yale, 68-48 (PUR: 8 tos)
- (Round 2) Def Cincinnati, 63-57 (PUR: 8 tos)
Strategies- Purdue's has minimized their turn overs on the 2 NCAA tournament matches they played so far, and their opponents have only managed to score 10 fast break pts per game. We need to get more fast break pts against Purdue
- We'll go with a balanced offense, to counter Purdue's 3-2 zone. Our outside shots need to fall today.
Start of 1st halfSG James Davis has converted 2 3pt shots already, and C Troy Jones able to convert 3 FGs on low post plays. We have 3 blocks already on defense, and PUR is 0-8 FG. Fouls seem to be a trouble for us though, as both Jones and PF Jason White each with 2 fouls.
Up 12-2, 13:51.
We got into penalty early, at the 11:53 mark. PUR able to get close to within 4 pts, but SG James Davis 3rd triple of the game extended our lead to 7. Our main issue on the game is our turn overs, now at 6 already.
Up 21-14, 7:11.
PUR continues to inch their way closer by shooting FTs as fouls are piling on us; PG Jacob Hawkins with 3. C Troy Jones added another inside basket, while SF Jonathan Gray gets his 1st FG of the game after missing his 1st 4 attempts. PUR had troubles on their offense towards the end of the 1st half, starting to commit turn overs, and continue to miss their outside shots. Meanwhile on the other end, SG James Davis got his 4th 3pt shot of the game, PG Sam Beck scored his 1st 2 pts, and FTs by C Troy Jones capped a good scoring run for us to end the 1st half.
Halftime, Up 35-23.
Key stats / Notes (Halftime)- 3PT shooting: UCLA 4-6 (all from SG James Davis), PUR 0-6
- Turnovers: UCLA 9, PUR 7
- We need to keep our key players in the floor most of the time and out of foul trouble, as our bench have contributed just 8 pts so far.
Start of 2nd halfExcept for a 3pt shot by SF Anthony Gray, we're not shooting well at the start of the 2nd half, and PUR starting to inch closer once again.
Up 38-30, 15:32. Gray added another 3, and he's the only one who has scored for us. But Gray picked up his 3rd foul, and has to sit. Crucial moment for our bench now, as they have to step up. PG Jacob Hawkins with 4 fouls, and has to sit as well. 6 team fouls for us now, and I keep calling the attention of the refs. Penalty now. SF Abdul Pebbles hits a jumper to momentarily break the uprising of PUR and we lead by 8, but PUR answers back with only their 2nd 3 of the game.
Up 43-38, 10:51.
Backup PG Sam Beck has played horribly today with 7 tos. With starting PG Jacob Hawkins still on the bench with 4 fouls, I rolled the dice and call on walk on PG Jarni Bickerstaf. After both teams exchanged a FG, PUR scored 4 more FTs and 2 fast break baskets as a result of our turn overs again.
Down 45-48, 7:29.
I have no choice now, but to bring in the rest of my starting lineup on the floor, before its too late; they will have to stay and finish the game, tired or not. After a couple of plays, PG Jacob Hawkins fouled out. 2 more FTs scored by PUR; PUR is now +14 in FT attempts. Down 5. Our walk on PG committed just his 2nd turn over. I will now try freshman SG Steve Bradford to play the point. SF Anthony Gray, who has been struggling offensively in this game, gets a needed basket. We're still in this.
Down 47-50, 6:17.
After we made 3 defensive stops, SG James Davis what could have been a game tying 3, but he missed. PUR scored on the return play. Down 5. C Troy Jones gets fouled while attempting a shot; Jones missed both FTs. PUR missed. On our next play, Davis missed another 3. But Davis gets a steal on the defensive end, and the outlet to Jones is good. Down 3. We get another steal, this time by SG Steve Bradford. We set up a play for Jones on the low post, and Jones scores again.
Down 51-52, 3:00.
PUR's C Ryan Marshack shoots an 18-foot jumper. Ryan Marshack's shot hits the iron, bounces up and in!
Down 51-54, 2:43.
SG James Davis called for traveling. It's our 19th turn over of the game. PUR throws the ball away on their possession; that was PUR's 16 th turn over. I called a timeout.
Down 51-54, 2:22.
SG Steve Bradford safely getting ball to PF Jason White on the low post. White able to score!
Down 53-54, 2:08.
PUR missed a jumper from the left corner. PUR gets the off rebound. PUR's C Alex Lucas receives the pass. Lucas is looking to make a pass. Lucas' pass sails out of bounds; turn over #17 for PUR. Timeout.
Down 53-54, 1:44.
SG James Davis advances the ball past midcourt. Davis looks for an open man. PF Jason White gets the pass. White puts it on the floor, drives, difficult shot, but White able to rattle one home! What a sensational shot by White.
Up 55-54, 1:31.
PUR's SF Aaron Higgins gets the pass at the right corner. Higgins puts up a jumper, and Higgins scores! Timeout.
Down 55-56, 1:11.
SF Anthony Gray has the ball. Gray drives to the basket, puts up a shot, missed! PUR gets the rebound,. Plenty of time left, 0:58. PUR puts up a shot. They miss also. We get the def rebound. I call my last timeout.
Down 55-56, 0:49.
We'll go for a 2-for1. SF Anthony Gray puts up a quick 3. Missed. PUR with the rebound. 0:39 left, no need to foul. PUR's SF Aaron Higgins scores a clutch basket again; Higgins has scored PUR's last 4 pts. We have no more timeouts.
Down 55-58, 0:30.
No need to put up a 3 yet, unless we get an open look. We can't get a good shot. SF Anthony Gray forces a difficult shot; missed. Rebounded by PUR. We have no choice but to foul. PUR able to make 2 FTs.
Down 55-60, 0:11. We missed our final attempt at 3. Season ended
Final Score: UCLA - 55, Purdue - 60Box Scores[INDENT]Jones 14, 7, 1, 3 blks
Davis 12, 2, 2 (L)
Gray 11, 8, 3, 4 blks (L)
White 6, 7, 0
Maloney 4, 1, 0 (L)
Bradford 2, 3, 1
Wallace 2, 2, 0, 2 stls
Beck 2, 1, 2, 7 tos
Pebbles 2, 1, 1
Hawkins 0, 0, 7, fouled out
Bickerstaf 0, 0, 0
McFadden DNP (L)
Dryden DNP (L)
(L) - last collegiate game
[/INDENT]
Stats Comparison[INDENT]FG: 37-35%
REB: -9
TO: +2
Pts in paint: +6
2nd chance: -1
Fast break: +3
[/INDENT]
Notes- We were the season's highest scoring team in the nation, but we could only muster 20 pts in the 2nd half of this game. We accomplished what we wanted on defense (despite all the fouls called on us), but it was our inability to handle the ball that turned this game around.
- Still a good season. Looking forward to next year, as we will bring in arguably the best recruiting class this program has seen
