Tag: UCLA Bruins

Raiders new OC Chip Kelly walked away from head coach job, ‘rekindled’ love for football

The Raiders new OC decision to step away from head coaching turned out to be a great decision. and he couldn’t be happier.

This time a year ago, Chip Kelly was the head coach at UCLA. And after leading the Bruins to an 8-5 record and a win over Boise State in the LA Bowl, the university had planned to have him back. But Kelly had other ideas. And it involved a rare decision to give up his head coaching job to return to being an offensive coordinator.

It’s not unusual for a college head coach to take a coordinator position at the next level. But Kelly was simply moving to another Big Ten team, making for a somewhat unconventional move.

It paid off though. A year later, he helped the Buckeyes win a National Championship and was called back to the NFL by the Las Vegas Raiders. 

Fresh off taking the job with the Raiders, I asked Kelly what went into his decision a year ago to give up his head coaching job to become an OC again.

“Part of it was in our bowl game a year ago against Boise [State],” Kelly replied. “Our quarterback coach had left to be the coach at Oregon State and then for those two-and-a-half weeks before the bowl game, I got a chance to coach the quarterbacks again, and coach a position again and I think my wife remarked ‘I haven’t seen you this happy in a long time’. 

“But I think you really start to think and get the perspective of the essence of why you do what you do and I’ve really enjoyed the one-on-ones with the quarterbacks and being with a specific group. As a head coach you’re in every meeting. You’re in the Oline meeting then you’re in the Dline meeting, but you miss just having a position group. And I thought about it and when an opportunity presented itself like would you consider not being a head coach anymore, to just be a coordinator and just be a position coach, it was appealing.”

Over a couple months time, Kelly had time to consider what he wanted to do as a coach. And ultimately the answer came from someone who he had a football connection from nearly a quarter century ago.

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day’s football career began at New Hampshire under Kelly. And three times since then Day has been on Kelly’s coaching staff. Now 27 years since Day first took the field for Kelly, Day was hiring his former head coach to lead his offense with the Buckeyes. And merger was obviously a great one.

“It just kind of rekindled my love for just coaching football,” Kelly said. “I think sometimes as a head coach those rules turn into like a little bit of a CEO at the college level. With the advent of NIL and the transfer portal I think coaches are getting pulled in a lot of different directions and it’s away from actually coaching football. And I just really enjoy coaching football.”

Coaches and GMs talk about wanting players who love football. Well, it’s a valuable trait in a coach as well. To have a coach who has seen the top of his profession at multiple levels and has decided that the position that the team wants him to be is also where he thrives.

Free throw shooting dooms USC in loss to UCLA

Andy Enfield-era free throw shooting problems for USC have continued into the Eric Musselman era. This was a crusher.

Any USC fan who watched the men’s basketball program during the Andy Enfield era knows the Trojans frequently struggled with free throw shooting in critical moments. On numerous occasions under Enfield, USC lost a game because it was unable to knock down free throws in crucial situations.

However, with a new head coach and an entirely revamped roster, surely the Trojans’ free throw woes would finally go away in 2024-2025, right?

As it turns out, the answer was no.

In Monday night’s Crosstown Showdown against UCLA, USC’s free throw problems of seasons past reappeared at the worst possible time. In the rivalry matchup against the Bruins, the Trojans shot just 57.9% from the line in an 82-76 home loss.

When the game was on the line late, the Trojans were at their worst. Over a seven-plus minute stretch late in the second half, USC went just 3 of 9 from the free throw line. Those six points wound up being the difference in the game.

The backbreaker came with the Trojans trailing 73-72 in the final two minutes. Saint Thomas drew a foul and went to the free throw line with a chance to tie the game or put USC ahead. However, he missed both shots, leaving the Trojans trailing by one. UCLA’s Sebastian Mack proceeded to hit a 3-pointer at the other end, which effectively served as the dagger.

For USC, it was a massive instance of what could have been. Had the Trojans shot better from the free throw line, they may have been able to pull out a massive rivalry victory. Instead, they suffered a heartbreaking loss to their crosstown foes on their home court.

USC comeback attempt falls short in Crosstown Showdown loss to UCLA

USC battled hard but was ultimately far too inconsistent against UCLA.

On Monday night, USC men’s basketball fell 82-76 to rival UCLA in the first Big Ten edition of the Crosstown Showdown.

After a back-and-forth first half, UCLA seemed to tack control of the game early in the second, going up by as much as 12. However, the Trojans did not give up, battling back and cutting the deficit to one with under two minutes left to play.

With 1:37 remaining, USC’s Saint Thomas went to the free throw line with the Trojans trailing 73-72 and a chance to give his team the lead. However, Thomas missed both shots, Sebastian Mack immediately hit a three on the other end, effectively putting the game out of reach for USC.

With the loss, the Trojans dropped to 12-8 overall and 4-5 in Big Ten play. UCLA, meanwhile, improved to 15-6 overall and 6-4 in conference.

Up next, USC welcomes No. 7 Michigan State to Galen Center on Saturday afternoon. The Trojans and Bruins will meet again on March 8 at Pauley Pavilion in the regular season finale for both teams.

UCLA sends $30M to athletic department in the face of enormous deficit

The Bruins are facing serious funding shortfalls across their athletic department. NIL is becoming a donor focus at the expense of the athletic department.

For years, college athletics was one of the most profitable industries in all of sports. Power Five programs made millions on the backs of television deals, donors, and, most notably, talented young athletes viewed as “amateurs.” That all changed after the recent Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rules that empowered players to reap the rewards of their talents. UCLA, like many college programs, is starting to feel its effects. In a report from the Sports Business Journal, the University of California, Los Angeles gifted $30 million to the school’s athletic department.

Facing a $51.85 million deficit at the end of the 2024 fiscal year in June, the Bruins are facing a difficult situation on par with many college programs.

Though UCLA’s athletic revenue was up $14 million by way of “the massive gift from the institution,” donor gifts to the athletic department plummeted in the infancy of the newly established NIL landscape. Donor dollars are going to NIL, which has eroded donations to UCLA Athletics.

Time will tell if college athletics remains a profitable business for universities, but for now, the Bruins find themselves in a volatile situation, balancing profit and production.

Kobe Johnson returns to Galen Center wearing blue

If Kobe Johnson had gone anywhere else, it wouldn’t have been an issue, but he transferred to UCLA. Monday night should be spicy.

For three years, Kobe Johnson was a USC basketball fan favorite at Galen Center. A two-time team captain, Johnson was a strong leader and constantly remained humble. While the likes of Drew Peterson, Boogie Ellis, Isaiah Collier, and Bronny James naturally drew most of the attention, Johnson was always content to let them have the spotlight and let his play on the court speak for itself. However, this past offseason, that all changed when Johnson decided to transfer from USC to crosstown rival UCLA. In a heartbeat, he went from a player USC fans loved to one of the Trojans’ biggest villains.

When the Trojans host the Bruins at Galen Center Monday night, it will mark Johnson’s return to Galen Center. He will do so wearing a color USC fans cannot stand: UCLA light blue.

In the transfer portal era, fans are generally understanding when players decide to look elsewhere. Had Johnson transferred to just about any other school in the country, USC fans would have thanked him for his time in Cardinal and Gold and wished him the best of luck.

But even in today’s new age, rivalries remain the heartbeat of college sports. While transferring to a different school is widely viewed as normal and acceptable, switching sides in a rivalry is where most fans draw the line.

So when Johnson hears his name introduced at Galen Center Monday night, don’t expect a particularly warm welcome from the Trojan Family.

Previewing USC-UCLA hoops with UCLA Wire’s Jake Hamilton

Trojans Wire talked to UCLA wire about Monday night’s big game in the Galen Center. USC is in must-win mode.

Monday night, when USC basketball hosts UCLA, marks the first men’s basketball Crosstown Showdown of the season. It will mark the beginning of a new era in the storied rivalry. For one thing, it will be the first matchup between the schools as members of the Big Ten Conference. In addition, it will mark the introduction to the rivalry for Eric Musselman, who is in his first season as the Trojans’ head coach.

Ahead of the matchup, I spoke to UCLA Wire’s Jake Hamilton to ask him a few questions about the Bruins.

Adam: How has UCLA fared in adjusting to the Big Ten thus far?

Jake: UCLA’s first season in the Big Ten has been up and down. The Bruins have a nasty habit of playing up to their competition and playing down to it. With big wins against Oregon, Wisconsin, and Iowa, UCLA showed what they can be at their best. On the other hand, in their losses to Michigan, Nebraska, Maryland, and Rutgers, the Bruins look disjointed and, in some ways, lost. This upcoming stretch of games (Washington, USC, Oregon, and Michigan State) should be telling as to whether or not the Bruins can contend in the super-sized Big Ten.

Adam: Kobe Johnson made headlines when he transferred from USC to UCLA this offseason. What has his impact been for the Bruins thus far?

Jake: Johnson has struggled to find a rhythm thus far with the Bruins, averaging only 7.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.2 assists. One of the culprits for Johnson’s minimal impact is the Bruins’ offense. UCLA has a lot of mouths to feed at the guard position between Skyy Clark, Dylan Andrews, and Sebastian Mack. The Bruins have a “committee” backcourt in many ways. In most cases, the Bruins feed the hot hand. Johnson is due for a breakout game in a UCLA uniform, perhaps against his former team. That said, the clock is ticking for the senior to make a statement on the Bruins.

Adam: Unlike in years past, UCLA’s roster is not filled with high-profile players. Who are some guys that USC fans should familiarize themselves with ahead of the game?

Jake: Sebastian Mack and Eric Dailey Jr.

When Mack gets minutes, he can score in bunches, scoring ten or more points in ten games for the Bruins this season. The sophomore guard is streaky as a scorer, something that could be huge in the Big Ten and NCAA Tournaments. The problem? Mack, in his somewhat limited role with the Bruins this season, is a volume shooter. And when Mack can’t make good on his three-point attempts, he can become a liability on offense. However, no team in the Big Ten should want to face the Bruins on a night when Mack is hot. That’s for sure.

Dailey Jr. is a reliable two-way player for the Bruins. He is a relatively consistent scorer and can routinely score in the double digits. Shooting over 50% from the field and over 33% from three, Dailey Jr. is a solid contributor for the Bruins and is leaned on heavily when they need a bucket. Unfortunately, Dailey Jr. often finds himself in foul trouble. Dailey Jr. has fouled out twice this season and committed four fouls in five of the Bruins’ eighteen games. For Dailey Jr. to have a pronounced impact this season, he will need to be more polished and avoid unnecessary fouls.

Adam: What is your prediction for the game?

Jake: Nearly every statistic is identical between the Bruins and the Trojans thus far this season. From points per game to field goal percentage to rebounds, the two Los Angeles programs are neck and neck. That said, UCLA’s defense will be the deciding factor. Allowing only 64.7 points per game to opponents, the Bruins should manage to slow down Desmond Claude and the Trojan offense. Having dug their way out of a four-game losing streak in the Big Ten, the surging Bruins will eke out a narrow win against the Trojans, 72-67.

Wisconsin basketball’s big game at UCLA will be available only via streaming

Another streaming-only game for the Badgers

The No. 18-ranked Wisconsin Badgers (15-3, 5-2 Big Ten) will look to add another statement win to a growing NCAA Tournament resume when they take on the UCLA Bruins (12-6, 3-4 Big Ten) on Tuesday night.

The road matchup is the second of a two-game Los Angeles, California road trip. The Badgers triumphed over USC in the first leg on Saturday.

Related: Updated Big Ten basketball power rankings (Jan. 20): Top tier continues to separate

Wisconsin basketball fans have likely grown aware of Peacock’s Tuesday night Big Ten doubleheader. The streaming platform will play host to the Badgers and Bruins’ matchup — they will play in Peacock’s second game of the evening, with the tip time set for 9:30 p.m. ET, 8:30 p.m. CT.

Wisconsin is 3-2 in Peacock-only games so far this season. Those results include an upset win over Arizona, a narrow home loss to Michigan, a road loss to Illinois, a decisive home victory over Minnesota and a home win over Ohio State.

UCLA enters Tuesday ranked No. 31 in KenPom, making the contest a Quad 1 game for the Badgers. Wisconsin is 2-3 in such games this season — that record stood at 3-3 until Ohio State recently fell outside of the NET’s top 30. UCLA is 1-4 in its last five games, its latest result a blowout win over Iowa.

Wisconsin, meanwhile, is up to No. 21 in KenPom, No. 18 in the AP Poll and No. 19 in the Coaches Poll. The team is one of the sport’s biggest risers over the last two weeks. It is 5-0 since the start of the calendar year, all five of those wins coming against conference opponents.

For more on how the Badgers and Bruins match up, check out our full game preview and prediction. Wisconsin fans will need to log back into Peacock to see how the game plays out.

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Three thoughts following Iowa basketball’s abysmal loss at UCLA

Three thoughts following Iowa basketball’s abysmal 94-70 loss at UCLA.

After a solid offensive performance in a loss to USC on Tuesday, Iowa basketball (12-6, 3-4 Big Ten) leaves the city of Los Angeles with a whimper following a blowout 94-70 defeat vs. UCLA (12-6, 3-4 Big Ten) from Pauley Pavillion on Friday night.

The Bruins outmatched the Hawkeyes from the opening tip as UCLA shot a staggering 23-of-35 (65.7%) from the floor, 6-of-13 (46.2%) from deep, and 5-of-9 (55.6%) from the stripe in the first half en route to a 57-24 advantage.

While the Hawkeyes certainly showed much more fight in the second half by shooting 13-for-26 (50%) from the floor, 6-of-15 (40%) from deep, and 14-of-19 (73.7%) from the free throw line, the deficit was way too much for Iowa to make a legitimate comeback effort against the Bruins.

Throughout the entire game, Iowa finished by shooting 44.7% from the floor, 9-of-24 from deep, and 19-of-25 from the free throw line. On the defensive end, Iowa forced 14 UCLA turnovers, including three steals and two blocks.

As the Hawkeyes travel back to Iowa City, here are three thoughts gathered from Friday’s performance against UCLA.

Dead Upon Arrival

(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Iowa looked terrible to start the game on Friday as they could not find easy baskets, were marred by sloppy play, and allowed UCLA to score easily.

While an injury to Payton Sandfort certainly hurt the offensive firepower, the Hawkeyes played flat and undisciplined, allowing the game to get out of hand quickly.

Even as the team played significantly better in the second half, the game was all but mathematically over from the first second-half inbound.

Potential Payton Sandfort Injury Concern

(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Sandfort left the game following a tangle-up with a UCLA player during the first half, where he went to the bench in pain.

Sandfort would not return to the game after receiving attention from Iowa’s medical staff and was later seen wearing a sling on his left arm on the Hawkeyes’ bench. Earlier in the night, Sandfort also took a knee to the mid-section and was shaken up.

The Waukee product would finish the night with just two points and two rebounds in eight minutes played.

Iowa head men’s basketball coach Fran McCaffery said afterwards that the team decided to shut him down after halftime as a result of his two injuries. McCaffery said Sandfort was “pretty sore” and that he would be reevaluated in the days to come.

The Hawkeyes hope the senior leader can heal before the team’s next game on Tuesday vs. Minnesota.

Nightmare Defense Returns

(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

For the second consecutive game, the Iowa defense has been flat-out horrid. UCLA finished the night by shooting 36-for-58 (62.1%) from the floor and 8-for-23 (34.8%) from deep, with most of the damage coming in the first half.

While the Hawkeyes are one of the Big Ten’s highest-scoring offenses, this team will not be able to win many more games if they allow opponents to comfortably shoot north of 50% from the floor.

Iowa’s next matchup will see them return to Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Tuesday night for a clash vs. Minnesota (9-9, 1-6 Big Ten). Tipoff for that game will be at 8 p.m. CT and will air on the Big Ten Network.

 

Actions, not words, matter for UCLA basketball right now

Talk is cheap. Everyone is talking about what needs to happen at UCLA. What matters is actually doing the job right.

Rutgers has had a miserable season in men’s basketball. The Scarlet Knights have two projected NBA lottery picks on their roster and yet have stumbled to the bottom tier of the Big Ten standings. UCLA basketball was supposed to get healthy against Rutgers on Monday night in New Jersey. It did not happen. UCLA gave up 75 points to a not-very-good opponent. The Bruins dropped a fourth straight game and are underwater in the Big Ten. They do not look like an NCAA Tournament team. Their huge wins over Oregon, Arizona, and Gonzaga look like distant memories. These losses are offsetting the good wins UCLA has collected. The Bruins have to turn things around before it is too late. They do have nearly two months to get this done.

They need to stop talking.

Eric Dailey Jr. said this to Ben Bolch of the LA Times:

“We can get back to the team we are. We just gotta have everybody collectively minded to want it. That’s it. We gotta do things that make sense, that helps winning. It can’t just be two, three people, it has to be everybody from the top down to the whole staff.”

Sebastian Mack told Bolch that “I think I feel like we just gotta come together and lock in as a team. I don’t even think much has changed. Our mental focus, I just feel like we gotta apply it more on the court than just think about it and be able to produce it.”

UCLA players and coaches can talk forever about what’s needed to change the season. No words matter. Deeds matter. Action matters. UCLA has to fight desperately for every possession, every loose ball, every basket, and play as though its season is on the line every time it takes the court.

Stop talking. Start doing. Period.

Mike Cronin roasts entire UCLA basketball team in blistering rant after Michigan loss

“It’s really hard to coach guys who are delusional.”

UCLA Bruins head coach Mike Cronin is completely over his team, and when given the chance to talk about it, he went IN.

Despite having a winning record, UCLA has lost three of its last four matchups, including a 19-point loss to No. 24 Michigan on Tuesday. Obviously, something like that might not sit well with a coach, and you expect a bit of frustration. But that’s not quite what happened with Bruins coach Mike Cronin.

In a postgame presser, he was perhaps a little too honest about his squad, and his energy was palpable as he unleashed a blistering rant. “We don’t play. We’re soft,” Cronin said. “So, don’t tell me you want to win…Every day, I have more passion and energy in practice…I mean, I don’t need to do anything else. I almost got 500 wins. I’m only 53…It’s a joke…It’s really hard to coach guys who are delusional.” YIKES.

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