If you believe in karma, this must be the year UCLA returns to glory.
The legendary John Wooden, the man who set the NCAA Championship bar so high no coach likely will come close to touching it, took a nasty spill several weeks ago, fracturing his wrist and collarbone.
Wooden has spent the first weekend in April the last two seasons watching his beloved Bruins advance to the Final Four. At age 97, who wouldn’t want to see Wooden, who is making steady progress in his recuperation, watch the Bruins cut down the nets a record 12th time.
“People say he’s the greatest coach of all-time because he had great players, and I laugh,” said ESPN analyst Dick Vitale. “He could take five guys off the street, coach them for a week, and they’d be a hard out in a first-round game.
“No one taught teamwork and fundamentals like John Wooden,” added Vitale. “No one.”
But Ben Howland might coach defense as well as anyone in the game. He has changed the entire style of the Pac-10 from finesse to power.
The Bruins, who have a great home-court advantage playing in Anaheim, are 10th in scoring defense (59.1) and eighth in rebounding (plus 8.8).
When the Bruins go with guards Russell Westbrook and Darren Collison, they extend pressure to halfcourt. Collison is an 89.2-percent foul shooter, which means when the ball is in his hands at the end of close game, UCLA is in great shape.
BEST FIRST-ROUND UPSET
None, but we like No. 5 Purdue to shock No. 3 Xavier in a second-round game. Coach Matt Painter has brought a toughness to Purdue, and as good as Xavier was this year, the Boilermakers will roll.
BRACKET SLEEPER
No. 7 West Virginia has a go-to player in Joe Alexander, who is a matchup nightmare. These Mountaineers learned how to win under Jim Beilein.
BRACKET BUSTER
No. 2 Duke doesn’t have an inside presence, and the Blue Devils are starting to show signs of fatigue – suffering four of their five losses in the last 10 games.
CLUTCH STAT
No. 5 Drake is the soundest team in the region. The Bulldogs are 20th in scoring defense (60.9), 14th in foul shooting (75.6) and 12th in turnovers (11.7).
TOP PLAYER
Kevin Love, UCLA. At his best when the heat is on. Went home to Oregon and made fans pay for their hostility with 26 points and 18 boards against Ducks, followed by 16 points and 21 boards against Beavers.
UNSUNG PLAYER
Robbie Hummel, Purdue. Was on Kelvin Sampson’s speed-dial list. Then again, so were most of the nation’s top players.
SHARPSHOOTER CLUB
Drake’s Josh Young knocks down 75.6 percent of his free throws and 44.6 percent of his 3s.