A uniform opinion about UCLA's style…
A uniform opinion about UCLA's style points in the NCAA tournament: Play it Forward March 23-29
UCLA's Bryce Alford, right, looks for help against the defense of SMU's Nic Moore during the first half of an NCAA tournament second round college basketball game in Louisville, Ky., Thursday, March 19, 2015. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)
By Tom Hoffarth | tomhoffarth1@gmail.com | Daily News
PUBLISHED: March 23, 2015 at 12:08 a.m. | UPDATED: August 28, 2017 at 3:38 a.m.
Ranking top 10 sports events March 23-29 you won't want to miss:
NO. 1: COLLEGE BASKETBALL:
MEN'S NCAA TOURNAMENT SWEET 16:
SOUTH REGION SEMIFINALS:
UCLA vs. GONZAGA
Details/TV: At NRG Stadium in Houston, 4:15 p.m. Friday, Channel 2
WEST REGION SEMIFINALS:
ARIZONA vs. XAVIER
Details/TV: At Staples Center, 4:45 p.m. Thursday, TBS
WISCONSIN vs. NORTH CAROLINA
Details/TV: At Staples Center, approx. 7:20 p.m. Thursday, TBS
In short, we're baffled by what's going on with this latest fashion statement forced onto the UCLA basketball program. Again, the marketing Mensas at Adidas, heck-bent on creating a cutting-edge, sellable image for today's game, are hip-deep in the middle of this one. As for the tops go with script, linking letters across the chest – a lot like the football team's helmets – instead of the classic block letters … OK, fine. But from there, are the players wearing a weight belt, a fanny pack or a cumber bun around the mid-section? This is gut-check time. We're all for making Tony Parker look more imposing in the paint, but this just doesn't pass the eye test as well as the Bruins apparently did with the NCAA selection committee, which must be feeling a bit full of themselves these days for simply allowing the school to be in the field. So what if other Adidas clients are made to conform as well to this so-called "Made in March" collection – Wisconsin, Louisville and Kansas, for example. Granted, it's a huge improvement over the camouflage, Zumba-wear stuff that was forced upon a few teams, including UCLA, back in 2013. But what would have been so wrong if UCLA was allowed to break out the 1965-style unis that they actually wore for game against Colorado this season? Go back and look at the yellow "BRUINS" tops with the blue trim on the white jersey, and the shorts with yellow and blue piping. It would be a sweet addition for a Sweet 16 team that's in a strange position to raise the bar as it is making its 46th tournament appearance. Now comes a rematch with a Gonzaga team that, a week before the Bruins' embarrassment against Kentucky, dinged them for an 87-74 loss at Pauley Pavilion in mid-December, igniting a season-worst five-game losing streak. Kyle Witjer scored 24 points and USC-transfer Byron Wesley had 20 for the Zags, who improved to 9-1. Bryce Alford had 23 for the Bruins, who couldn't even get a shot off in the last 2:09 of the first half when they had a then-season-low 27 points at intermission and trailed by 11. The Tony Parker factor: He was the only UCLA starter not in double figures – five points, nine rebounds and four fouls. Let's see how much of a short-term memory the fans have about that one, while trying to figure out which shorts the Bruins will come out with for this appearance.
Meanwhile, the West Region continues to give Southern California a connection with the event. If Arizona and Wisconsin survive and conquer, they'll meet in this regional final for the second year in a row. The Badgers pulled out a 64-63 overtime win against the Wildcats at the Honda Center in Anaheim in 2014.
NO. 2: NHL: KINGS at N.Y. RANGERS
Details/TV: Tuesday, 4 p.m., NBCSN:
Do these Kings really get the point at this point in the season? With 11 regular-season games left, the defending Stanley Cup champs need at least to come away with a point a game the rest of the way to avoid the mess of missing the playoffs. This stretch of five of them in a row on the road starts in New Jersey (Monday, 4 p.m., FSW) and will eventually detour to the N.Y. Islanders (Thursday, 4 p.m., FSW) and Minnesota (Saturday, 5 p.m., FSW). But the highlight will be this re-encounter at Madison Square Garden, bringing together last year's finalists for old time's sake. The Kings and Jonathan Quick gave up three second-period goals to the Rangers during their visit to Staples Center in early January and lost 4-3.
NO. 3: NBA: CLIPPERS at NEW YORK
Details/TV: Wednesday, 4 p.m., Prime:
Any day now, Jamaal Crawford could come off the bench and provide another spark in the final weeks of the regular season. But until his right calf heals, the team, winners of four straight, waiting to figure out its playoff positioning has to clean up some scheduling commitments left in the East, against teams that continue to navigate for draft picks. After this, the Clippers visit Philadelphia (Friday, 4 p.m., Prime) and Boston (Sunday, 3 p.m., Prime).
NO. 4: HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL:
CIF STATE BOYS OPEN DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP:
MATER DEI vs. BISHOP O'DOWD
Details/TV: At UC Berkeley, Saturday, 8 p.m., TWCS:
A fifth consecutive championship for the Santa Ana-based powerhouse could happen for coach Gary McKnight, who already has 11 titles on his career resume in 15 trips to this final. Mater Dei (29-4) faces CalHiSports.com's top-ranked team in Bishop O'Dowd of Oakland (26-4), the school it beat in last year's final, 71-61, with Stanley Johnson leading the way. Mater Dei's girls team (31-2) is also looking for a state title in the Open Division – a feat that Chatsworth's Sierra Canyon looks to accomplish for its boys (Division V) and girls (Division IV) teams. Gardena's Serra (23-10) has a meeting with McClatchy of Sacramento in the girls Division I final (Friday, 6 p.m.) Also, Encino's Crespi has made it to the boys Division IV final (vs. Capital Christian, Saturday, noon, TWCS.
NO. 5: ARENA LEAGUE FOOTBALL:
L.A. KISS at PORTLAND
Details/TV: Friday, 7 p.m.:
Let's put the X back into Xs and Os: Season two of the World's Loudest Indoor Football Team in Southern California is about to commence, and even hundreds of miles away from their home base, we can hear them. This is the first of 18 games/shows, and there are no make-up dates disclosed.
NO. 6: COLLEGE BASKETBALL: WOMEN'S NCAA TOURNAMENT
Details/TV: Second round ends Monday, ESPN and ESPN2:
Thanks for the memories, Cal State Northridge. Now that we've made an investment in this event, we need to find out what happens to Stanford (vs. Oklahoma, Monday, 3:30 p.m., ESPN2) and whether Princeton stays unbeaten going up against Spokane region top seed Maryland. Then it's on to the regional semifinals and finals going on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
NO. 7: MLS: GALAXY at D.C. UNITED
Details/TV: Saturday, 4 p.m., TWCS:
The Galaxy's 1-0-2 record thus far shows a complete acceptance of mediocrity. At least it's very early in this never-ending season.
NO. 8: NBA: LAKERS at OKLAHOMA CITY
Details/TV: Tuesday, 5 p.m., TNT:
Because of the college hoops event at Staples Center, the Lakers are also banished this week from their comfort zone, so this road of shame will continue at Minnesota (Wednesday, 5 p.m., TWCS), at Toronto (Friday, 4:30 p.m., TWCS) and at Brooklyn (Sunday, 12:30 p.m., TWCS). The best the Lakers can hope against the Thunder is that even their head coach, Scott Brooks, isn't sure who's going to show up.
NO. 9: GOLF: LPGA KIA OPEN
Details/TV: At Aviara Resort in Carlsbad, Thursday-Sunday, Golf Channel:
The one and only LPGA Tour stop in these parts, and they're staying at the Arnold Palmer-designed course. Defending champ Anna Nordqvist of Sweden has Paula Creamer, Natalie Gulbis, Michelle Wie and Lexi Thompson to contend with.
NO. 10: EXHIBITION BASEBALL:
DODGERS at ANGELS
Details/TV: At Tempe, Ariz., Friday, 1 p.m., FSW, SportsNet LA:
If there are enough healthy arms, they'll play this one. And then they'll play each other three more times April 2-4. Then they'll take Easter off. Then they'll start the regular season. Finally.
TENNIS: SOCAL HONDA DEALERS HELPFUL CUP
Details/TV: At USC's Galen Center, Wednesday, 7 p.m.:
Pete Sampras, Andy Roddick, Jim Courier and James Blake get the band together again to play a couple of one-set semifinals (first to six games), followed by a one-set championship (first to eight games). All in the name of a 12-city tour. "It's a hyper-condensed tennis tournament," says Courier. "It's high-energy, there's no down spots, it's all action. We get a champion in about 2 1/2 hours." Major League Baseball officials are paying attention.
Tom Hoffarth | columnist
Tom Hoffarth is a freelancer. He had been with the Daily News/Southern California News Group since 1992 as a general assignment sports reporter, columnist and specialist in the sports media. He has been honored by the Associated Press for sports columnists and honored by the Southern California Sports Broadcasters Association for his career work. His favorite sportscaster of all time: Vin Scully, for professional and personal reasons. He considers watching Zenyatta win the Breeders' Cup 2009 Classic to be the most memorable sporting event he has covered in his career. Go figure that.
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