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The Bruins could have used a worthy rival: USC-UCLa could have become this sport's next great rivalry. Instead, it simply will remain a big Pac-10 game.

Sporting News, The, Dec 27, 2004 by Mike DeCourcy

UCLA always could rely upon a few assets in managing its program the past three decades. A steady stream of talented players flowing out of Los Angeles-area high schools. The 10 national championship banners coach John Wooden hung in the rafters of Pauley Pavilion. And, of course, the frequent incompetence or indifference of crosstown rival Southern California.

That figured to change as the Trojans came under the charge of Rick Majerus, the guy who turned Ball State and Utah into dangerous NCAA Tournament clubs. He believed it would be a much shorter trip for USC--at least he did before looking past the initials and taking a good gander at the shape his roster would be in after this season.

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Even when USC athletic director Mike Garrett makes the right move in this sport, which doesn't happen often, it turns out all wrong. Landing Majerus made it seem almost shrewd to fire Henry Bibby four games into the season. Losing Majerus in less than a week kind of dulls the genius of that decision.

Majerus began to second-guess his move within 24 hours of the news conference to announce his hiring, which did not surprise those who know him well and understand his idiosyncrasies. So now that he won't show up down the freeway, it ought to be time for UCLA to break out the disco records and Chex Party Mix, right? The Trojans can see if Jim Saia earns a promotion from interim to full-time coach. If that doesn't work out, they can offer the job to alumnus Paul Westphal, who's doing fine work at Pepperdine. Either way, the Bruins won't worry about a true heavyweight challenger across town.

They might not have found it such a curse. It appears UCLA missed its chance to experience a basketball rivalry that progresses beyond mutual dislike to the grudging respect that makes Louisville-Kentucky, Cincinnati-Xavier and North Carolina-Duke so much fun--and makes all of those teams significantly better.

Since Wooden's retirement in 1975 indicated the last major change in the dynamic between UCLA and USC, the Trojans have reached only eight NCAA Tournaments. USC wasn't much of a standard by which to measure a program.

With coach Ben Howland in his second year, the Bruins are recovering from consecutive losing seasons. But the recruiting aspect of their rebuilding project nearly is done. Five current prep seniors signed in November. Elite power forward James Keefe committed for the class of 2006, and prep sophomore Taylor King pledged to become a Bruin almost before he became a teenager.

Howland already has four productive freshmen, with point guard Jordan Farmar, shooting guard Aaron Afflalo and small forward Josh Shipp in the starting lineup. Farmar was a McDonald's All-American. Afflalo was the star of UCLA's preseason practices. Shipp flourished after starter Dijon Thompson injured his hand, and Howland moved Thompson to power forward upon his return.

There are only two spots left to fill over the next two years. Thus, UCLA had enough of a head start to handle a little recruiting competition. It would have been worth the trouble. Had Majerus taken over the Trojans, his likely success would have energized the city about the sport and motivated Bruins fans to embrace their team more passionately.

Think there's not room for two successful programs in LA.? Consider the rivalry between Duke and North Carolina. Duke's emergence in the late 1980s reminded Carolina that simply to be the best on its block, it would have to continue to rank with the best in the nation.

UCLA needs better facilities to assure it can continue to attract elite recruits. With USC soon to move from the decrepit Sports Arena to an on-campus arena, the Bruins will have no better than the second-nicest gym in town. And they can't afford for the gap to be huge.

UCLA's plans for facilities improvements already were in place before Majerus accepted the USC job. His reversal won't change that. It won't change anything. College basketball in the Los Angeles market will be much the same as it has been throughout the game's modern history. Once Howland gets UCLA back to the top of the Pac-10, Bruins fans won't complain. That doesn't mean they'll have everything they could want.

speed reads

Ever wonder if official Ted Valentine is paid by the technical foul? He got Oklahoma coach Kelvin Sampson in a tight game against Duke. Sampson was angry at one of his players for missing a dunk. The nerve!

A loss to Wichita State dropped Tulsa to 2-4-and 11,24 over the past two seasons. Frustrated with quickly losing four coaches to better jobs, Tulsa hired John Phillips because he figured to stay. Maybe ambition isn't such a bad thing.

Hofstra isn't going to escape into 2005 undefeated, not with a visit to Syracuse on December 30, But this program has been short on players and long On injuries since Speedy Claxton completed his career in 2000. Hofstra's impressive 7,0 start included five road wins.

A new committee known as the College Basketball Partnership includes a lot of smart people, from Mike Krzyzewski to Clark Kellogg. Until this panel shares some of its ideas, though, how are we to know this is a good thing?

The Bruins could have used a worthy rival: USC-UCLa could have become this sport's next great rivalry. Instead, it simply will remain a big Pac-10 game.

Sporting News, The, Dec 27, 2004 by Mike DeCourcy

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