Elitist attitude
PHOENIX -- Shortly after the stars from the west side of Los Angeles had escaped the squirts from the western hills of Kentucky, Lorenzo Mata-Real smiled.
He is the lone UCLA senior. He understands the Bruins better than anyone. His mantra is their mantra. His belief is their belief.
And, yeah, after they blew a 21-point lead to beat Western Kentucky by only 10 points in an NCAA West Regional semifinal Thursday, he still smiled.
"After all we've been through in the last few years, we believe we can overcome anything," he said confidently. "No matter what happens, we think we can never lose."
He paused. He looked up.
"Don't you?"
No.
I believe that if the Bruins keep playing this way, they can lose.
I believe if the Bruins don't find their heads and remember their history, they will lose.
I believe if they don't match their talent with previous teams' hearts, they will have lost by the time some of you have finished reading this.
If the Bruins remain unfocused and unfazed in today's regional final, Xavier will bully them, baffle them and beat them.
Based on their overall play in their two previous tournament games -- the opener against high-school-equivalent Mississippi Valley State doesn't count -- the Bruins have been the worst No. 1-seeded team in the tournament.
Based on their inconsistent effort, they are the worst of the last three Ben Howland tournament teams.
They trailed rumbling Texas A&M by 10 points in the second half, and were tied in the final minute.
They were outscored 37-20 by sprinting Western Kentucky during one stretch of the second half.
They beat A&M with two fall-away jumpers by their center. They beat Western Kentucky with a double-double from a scrub.
You know how North Carolina has won easily by adapting to two different opponent styles? The Bruins have nearly lost by faltering to two different opponent styles.
The Bruins are living on the edge, and they need to step off. The Bruins are playing with fire, and they need to put it down.
Because eventually that edge will collapse and those flames will burn.
Because eventually that Aggie grabs a defensive rebound, or that Hilltopper makes a three-pointer.
Then you get sent home, your two best players turn pro and you essentially start over again.
