by Chris Maynard ([email protected])
| Following a classic double-overtime game between Minnesota and Clemson, UCLA and Iowa State tipped off its 1997 Sweet Sixteen game in a bit of a sleepy fashion, at least the Bruins did. What would be a grind-it-out first half |
during which the Cyclones controlled the game behind the dynamic duo of Dedric Willoughby and Kenny Pratt turned out to be an overtime classic, as UCLA awakened just in time to put itself in position for its second Final Four appearance in three seasons.
This “Thursday Treasures” examines Cameron Dollar’s photo finish during this Sweet Sixteen contest called by Tim Ryan and Al McGuire from San Antonio’s Alamodome, then-home of the Spurs.
This “Thursday Treasures” examines Cameron Dollar’s photo finish during this Sweet Sixteen contest called by Tim Ryan and Al McGuire from San Antonio’s Alamodome, then-home of the Spurs.
Game Nuggets: Here are some interesting numbers heading into this game.
1. UCLA was appearing in its 33rd NCAA Tournament.
2. UCLA won 11 of those 33 NCAA Tournaments.
3. For comparison’s sake, Iowa State was appearing in its 11 NCAA Tournament OVERALL.
4. Iowa State was appearing in its first Sweet Sixteen since 1986.
5. The next time Iowa State would appear in the Sweet Sixteen would be the 2000 NCAA Tournament. Led by Marcus Fizer, the Cyclones would defeat none other than UCLA before losing a classic Elite Eight game to Michigan State. Some people consider this game the true national championship of what turned out to be a brutal tournament that year.
1. UCLA was appearing in its 33rd NCAA Tournament.
2. UCLA won 11 of those 33 NCAA Tournaments.
3. For comparison’s sake, Iowa State was appearing in its 11 NCAA Tournament OVERALL.
4. Iowa State was appearing in its first Sweet Sixteen since 1986.
5. The next time Iowa State would appear in the Sweet Sixteen would be the 2000 NCAA Tournament. Led by Marcus Fizer, the Cyclones would defeat none other than UCLA before losing a classic Elite Eight game to Michigan State. Some people consider this game the true national championship of what turned out to be a brutal tournament that year.
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6. All time, UCLA was 5-0 against Iowa State, including NCAA Tournament victories in 1989 and 1993.
UCLA Game Nuggets
1. Four of UCLA’s starters played in the 1995 NCAA title game two years before, a victory against Arkansas. Those players were senior point guard Cameron Dollar (who would play great that championship night while filling in for the injured Tyus Edney), junior shooting guard Toby Bailey (who would go off in the title game), senior small forward Charles O’Bannon (whose brother, Ed, would be the Most Outstanding Player of the 1995 Final Four) and junior power forward J.R. Henderson (who would play limited bench minutes).
UCLA Game Nuggets
1. Four of UCLA’s starters played in the 1995 NCAA title game two years before, a victory against Arkansas. Those players were senior point guard Cameron Dollar (who would play great that championship night while filling in for the injured Tyus Edney), junior shooting guard Toby Bailey (who would go off in the title game), senior small forward Charles O’Bannon (whose brother, Ed, would be the Most Outstanding Player of the 1995 Final Four) and junior power forward J.R. Henderson (who would play limited bench minutes).
2. Of UCLA’s starting lineup, which included sophomore Jelani McCoy, Dollar was the only starter who did not average double digits, scoring 8.7 points per game.
3. In 1996/1997, the Bruins led the nation in field goal percentage, hitting at a 52% clip. O’Bannon led the Bruins at 17.7 points per game while the juniors Bailey and Henderson each scored 14 points per contest.
4. The Bruins were 23-7 entering this game, having dispatched Jackson State and Xavier in the first two rounds. UCLA did not look like a No. 2 seed early in the 1996-1997 season when Illinois pasted the Bruins at the United Center during a CBS doubleheader that I recorded. Following the Illinois upset, Michigan defeated Arizona in overtime at the Palace of Auburn Hills. Somewhere in my parents’ house lies the VHS cassette of those two games.
5. On the season, UCLA was 1-2 in overtime.
Iowa State Game Nuggets
1. Iowa State was 22-8 entering this game. The Cyclones led the Big 12 in scoring defense, holding teams to 60 points per game.
2. Senior center Kelvin Cato, a future pro in the NBA, was the leading shot blocker in the Big 12. Cato, a South Alabama transfer, apparently never played high school basketball, with his experience limited to AAU ball.
3. Iowa State started three other seniors, Willoughby, Kenny Pratt and Jacy Holloway. Willoughby led the Cyclones with nearly 19 points per game while Pratt was second at just more than 14 points per game. A steady point guard who ran the Cyclones offense, Holloway would have a resilient game against UCLA.
4. After losing 4 of its last 6 games, Iowa State defeated Illinois State in the first round and upset Cincinnati in the second round, a controversial finish covered last week.
5. On the season, Iowa State was 0-1 in overtime.
3. In 1996/1997, the Bruins led the nation in field goal percentage, hitting at a 52% clip. O’Bannon led the Bruins at 17.7 points per game while the juniors Bailey and Henderson each scored 14 points per contest.
4. The Bruins were 23-7 entering this game, having dispatched Jackson State and Xavier in the first two rounds. UCLA did not look like a No. 2 seed early in the 1996-1997 season when Illinois pasted the Bruins at the United Center during a CBS doubleheader that I recorded. Following the Illinois upset, Michigan defeated Arizona in overtime at the Palace of Auburn Hills. Somewhere in my parents’ house lies the VHS cassette of those two games.
5. On the season, UCLA was 1-2 in overtime.
Iowa State Game Nuggets
1. Iowa State was 22-8 entering this game. The Cyclones led the Big 12 in scoring defense, holding teams to 60 points per game.
2. Senior center Kelvin Cato, a future pro in the NBA, was the leading shot blocker in the Big 12. Cato, a South Alabama transfer, apparently never played high school basketball, with his experience limited to AAU ball.
3. Iowa State started three other seniors, Willoughby, Kenny Pratt and Jacy Holloway. Willoughby led the Cyclones with nearly 19 points per game while Pratt was second at just more than 14 points per game. A steady point guard who ran the Cyclones offense, Holloway would have a resilient game against UCLA.
4. After losing 4 of its last 6 games, Iowa State defeated Illinois State in the first round and upset Cincinnati in the second round, a controversial finish covered last week.
5. On the season, Iowa State was 0-1 in overtime.
A Bargain Find: Foreshadowing an eventful overtime ending, the game’s first points would occur on a Cato follow and then a Dollar basket. Iowa State enforced its tempo and will in the first half, leading 37-25 at the break. The undersized Pratt was a force underneath while Willoughby hit four threes. Iowa State shot 52% while the Bruins hit just 37% from the field. The Cyclones were 6-for-10 from three while the Bruins were 2 for 8. Iowa State also held a 16 to 4 advantage in points in the paint. UCLA’s 25-first half points were its lowest on the season.
Iowa State came out like lightning early in the second half, leading by 16 points at one point in the opening minutes. Finally picking up its energy and defense, UCLA uses a 10-point run fueled by Dollar threes and active defense to cut the game to 6 points. While Iowa State would briefly fight back, UCLA would use a 11-3 run to cut the score to 52-51 with 7:33 to go. An O’Bannon jumper off a beautiful curl @51:54 to 52:04 gave UCLA its first lead of the game at 53-52 with 6:41 to go. From here, the game would be nip and tuck. At the under-4 timeout, the score was tied at 58, as Iowa State was in the midst of a 4-minute field goal drought. UCLA appears to have the game in the final minute, taking a three-point lead on back-to-back Dollar buckets, but Willoughby hits a clutch three @1:06:00 to @1:06:10 to tie the game at 64. After Dollar is called for a travel with 1.4 seconds left, Holloway just misses a three @1:06:55 to @1:07:05 following a broken inbound play, leading to overtime.
In overtime, UCLA began the scoring @1:08:49 to @1:08:59 as Henderson made an acrobatic layup over Cato on the break. The Bruins went up 4, but the Cyclones refused to die as the game went back and forth. Trailing 70-66 after a Bailey tip in @1:10:10 to @1:10:20, Cato rocked a nasty cuff dunk @1:12:00 to @1:12:10. Bailey responded with a nice pass to Henderson for a dunk on the break @1:13:01 to @1:13:11 before sophomore Clay Edwards hit a lefty layup to cut the score to 72-70 @1:14: 57 to @1:15:07. With UCLA up two in the game’s final 30 seconds, O’Bannon foolishly fouled Pratt with a silly reach-in @1:16:19 to @1:16:29. After Pratt hit the first free throw but missed the second, O’Bannon and Johnson both secured the rebound, but traveled in the process @1:17:12 to @1:17:22. Iowa State appeared to have stolen this game as the Cyclones hit Bankhead on an inbound alley0oop @1:17:39 to @1:17:49, but Dollar wouldn’t let the "Bruins go play golf" yet as McGuire noted early in the second half. Channeling his inner Tyus Edney, Dollar went full court, possibly getting away with a push off of Holloway, and hit a high-arching bank layup to give UCLA a 74-73 lead with 1.9 seconds to go @1:17:50 to @1:18:00. Iowa State’s Edwards inexplicably got a five-seconds call on the ensuing inbound, and UCLA’s O’Bannon bounced the ball to Dollar, who dribbled out the clock and UCLA win. The final: Bruins 74, Cyclones 73.
Iowa State came out like lightning early in the second half, leading by 16 points at one point in the opening minutes. Finally picking up its energy and defense, UCLA uses a 10-point run fueled by Dollar threes and active defense to cut the game to 6 points. While Iowa State would briefly fight back, UCLA would use a 11-3 run to cut the score to 52-51 with 7:33 to go. An O’Bannon jumper off a beautiful curl @51:54 to 52:04 gave UCLA its first lead of the game at 53-52 with 6:41 to go. From here, the game would be nip and tuck. At the under-4 timeout, the score was tied at 58, as Iowa State was in the midst of a 4-minute field goal drought. UCLA appears to have the game in the final minute, taking a three-point lead on back-to-back Dollar buckets, but Willoughby hits a clutch three @1:06:00 to @1:06:10 to tie the game at 64. After Dollar is called for a travel with 1.4 seconds left, Holloway just misses a three @1:06:55 to @1:07:05 following a broken inbound play, leading to overtime.
In overtime, UCLA began the scoring @1:08:49 to @1:08:59 as Henderson made an acrobatic layup over Cato on the break. The Bruins went up 4, but the Cyclones refused to die as the game went back and forth. Trailing 70-66 after a Bailey tip in @1:10:10 to @1:10:20, Cato rocked a nasty cuff dunk @1:12:00 to @1:12:10. Bailey responded with a nice pass to Henderson for a dunk on the break @1:13:01 to @1:13:11 before sophomore Clay Edwards hit a lefty layup to cut the score to 72-70 @1:14: 57 to @1:15:07. With UCLA up two in the game’s final 30 seconds, O’Bannon foolishly fouled Pratt with a silly reach-in @1:16:19 to @1:16:29. After Pratt hit the first free throw but missed the second, O’Bannon and Johnson both secured the rebound, but traveled in the process @1:17:12 to @1:17:22. Iowa State appeared to have stolen this game as the Cyclones hit Bankhead on an inbound alley0oop @1:17:39 to @1:17:49, but Dollar wouldn’t let the "Bruins go play golf" yet as McGuire noted early in the second half. Channeling his inner Tyus Edney, Dollar went full court, possibly getting away with a push off of Holloway, and hit a high-arching bank layup to give UCLA a 74-73 lead with 1.9 seconds to go @1:17:50 to @1:18:00. Iowa State’s Edwards inexplicably got a five-seconds call on the ensuing inbound, and UCLA’s O’Bannon bounced the ball to Dollar, who dribbled out the clock and UCLA win. The final: Bruins 74, Cyclones 73.
Medal Winners: Awarding gold, silver and bronze medals to the most important UCLA and Iowa State players in the victory.
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UCLA Gold: The senior Dollar played 41 of 45 minutes, refusing to let the Bruins lose and ending the game with some legendary UCLA magic.
Iowa State Gold: In his final college game, Willoughby went out fighting, scoring 34 points and nailing 8 threes.
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UCLA Silver: After a quiet first half, O’Bannon stepped up in the second half, finishing the night with an efficient 16 points in 44 minutes.
Iowa State Silver: Al McGuire noted that the good Cato came to play on this night, finishing with 10 points, 9 boards and a plethora of blocks.
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UCLA Bronze: While having a rough shooting night, Henderson battled all night long, finishing with 12 points and 12 boards while playing all 45 minutes.
Iowa State Bronze: While a stud in the first half, Pratt was quiet and apparently a little winded in the second half.
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UCLA Gold: The senior Dollar played 41 of 45 minutes, refusing to let the Bruins lose and ending the game with some legendary UCLA magic.
Iowa State Gold: In his final college game, Willoughby went out fighting, scoring 34 points and nailing 8 threes.
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UCLA Silver: After a quiet first half, O’Bannon stepped up in the second half, finishing the night with an efficient 16 points in 44 minutes.
Iowa State Silver: Al McGuire noted that the good Cato came to play on this night, finishing with 10 points, 9 boards and a plethora of blocks.
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UCLA Bronze: While having a rough shooting night, Henderson battled all night long, finishing with 12 points and 12 boards while playing all 45 minutes.
Iowa State Bronze: While a stud in the first half, Pratt was quiet and apparently a little winded in the second half.
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Masterpiece Performances: For each team, I want to acknowledge at least 5 great offensive plays that were not previously detailed.
UCLA Offensive Gems: Here some good examples of the Bruins clicking on the offensive end.
1. @4:52 to @5:02, UCLA sophomore center Jelani McCoy finishes a massive dunk.
2. @24:42 to @24:52, seldom used UCLA reserve Brandon Lloyd hits a huge three to keep the Bruins in the game at 35-25.
3. Down 16 early in the second half, O’Bannon hits a big three @31:15 to 31:25, keeping the Bruins afloat.
4. @35:29-@35:39, Henderson has a massive dunk, that appears to be wiped out but is counted, though the Bruins forward picks up a charge after the basket.
5. @37:52 to @39:00, Dollar begins chipping away at a 14-point deficit, hitting back-to-back threes.
6. @49:17 to @49:27 and @50:05 to @50:15, O’Bannon and Dollar fuel the UCLA comeback with skillful floaters.
UCLA Offensive Gems: Here some good examples of the Bruins clicking on the offensive end.
1. @4:52 to @5:02, UCLA sophomore center Jelani McCoy finishes a massive dunk.
2. @24:42 to @24:52, seldom used UCLA reserve Brandon Lloyd hits a huge three to keep the Bruins in the game at 35-25.
3. Down 16 early in the second half, O’Bannon hits a big three @31:15 to 31:25, keeping the Bruins afloat.
4. @35:29-@35:39, Henderson has a massive dunk, that appears to be wiped out but is counted, though the Bruins forward picks up a charge after the basket.
5. @37:52 to @39:00, Dollar begins chipping away at a 14-point deficit, hitting back-to-back threes.
6. @49:17 to @49:27 and @50:05 to @50:15, O’Bannon and Dollar fuel the UCLA comeback with skillful floaters.
Iowa State Offensive Gems: See the Willoughby three point show below.
1. @2:00 to @2:10, Willoughby drains the first of what will be eight threes on the night.
2. @2:42 to @2:52, Willoughby converts a four-point play.
3. @4:44 to @4:54, Pratt scores on a pretty drive. He does so again @9:06 to @9:16.
4. @10:35 to @11:00, Iowa State gets working on the offensive boards, showing the Cyclones’ tenacity in the first half.
5. @20:43 to @20:53, Willoughby hits a gorgeous three following beautiful off-the-ball movement.
6. @43:58 to @44:08, Willoughby hits a difficult three for his 24th point. More importantly the shot ends a 10-0 run and puts Iowa State up 49-40 with under 12-minutes remaining.
7. Diversifying his game, Willoughby hits a beautiful floater @49:30 to @49:40 to keep Iowa State up three points.
8. With the game seeming to slip away, @1:02:24 to @1:02:34, Willoughby hits his biggest three yet, his seventh overall, to give Iowa State a 61-60 lead with 2:45 to go.
9. Early in overtime, Pratt gets his first field goal of the second half @1:09:52 to @1:10:02, cutting the UCLA lead to 68-66.
1. @2:00 to @2:10, Willoughby drains the first of what will be eight threes on the night.
2. @2:42 to @2:52, Willoughby converts a four-point play.
3. @4:44 to @4:54, Pratt scores on a pretty drive. He does so again @9:06 to @9:16.
4. @10:35 to @11:00, Iowa State gets working on the offensive boards, showing the Cyclones’ tenacity in the first half.
5. @20:43 to @20:53, Willoughby hits a gorgeous three following beautiful off-the-ball movement.
6. @43:58 to @44:08, Willoughby hits a difficult three for his 24th point. More importantly the shot ends a 10-0 run and puts Iowa State up 49-40 with under 12-minutes remaining.
7. Diversifying his game, Willoughby hits a beautiful floater @49:30 to @49:40 to keep Iowa State up three points.
8. With the game seeming to slip away, @1:02:24 to @1:02:34, Willoughby hits his biggest three yet, his seventh overall, to give Iowa State a 61-60 lead with 2:45 to go.
9. Early in overtime, Pratt gets his first field goal of the second half @1:09:52 to @1:10:02, cutting the UCLA lead to 68-66.
Defensive Diamonds: This game had some incredible defense, as seen below.
1. @11:13 to @11:23, UCLA sixth man Kris Johnson (son of Bruins’ legend Marques Johnson) subs in and immediately makes a steal, leading to a layup.
2. @15:39 to @15:49, Pratt strips Henderson of a sure layup underneath the basket.
3. @15:55 to @16:55, Dollar steals the ball from Holloway after a nice trap by the Bruins.
4. @17:25 to @17:35, Cato shows great footwork for a big, sliding and gaining position before McCoy, resulting in an offensive foul on the Bruins big man.
5. @18:00 to @18:20, Cato and teammate Sean Bankhead have successive blocks at the rim.
6. @22:27 to @22:37, Iowa State reserve Clay Edwards has a beautiful strip of Johnson.
7. @30:49 to @30:59, Cato continues his block party, swatting a Bruin shot that leads to a Bankhead layup.
8. @33:53 to @34:03, another Cato block leads to a fast-break score, this time a Willoughby and-one that gets the Iowa State crowd going with a 46-30 lead.
9. @38:04 to @38:14, UCLA’s press forces a turnover following a Dollar three.
10. @39:13 to @39:23, Bailey steals the ball and hits a layup to cap a 10-0 UCLA run and cut the score to 46-40.
11. @41:55 to @42:05, Cato blocks Bailey at the rim as the Bruins are coming back.
12. @48:29 to @48:39, Henderson anticipates a Holloway pass for a nice steal within the UCLA full-court pressure.
13. @1:09:21 to @1:09:31, Willoughby takes a huge charge early in overtime just as UCLA is charging.
1. @11:13 to @11:23, UCLA sixth man Kris Johnson (son of Bruins’ legend Marques Johnson) subs in and immediately makes a steal, leading to a layup.
2. @15:39 to @15:49, Pratt strips Henderson of a sure layup underneath the basket.
3. @15:55 to @16:55, Dollar steals the ball from Holloway after a nice trap by the Bruins.
4. @17:25 to @17:35, Cato shows great footwork for a big, sliding and gaining position before McCoy, resulting in an offensive foul on the Bruins big man.
5. @18:00 to @18:20, Cato and teammate Sean Bankhead have successive blocks at the rim.
6. @22:27 to @22:37, Iowa State reserve Clay Edwards has a beautiful strip of Johnson.
7. @30:49 to @30:59, Cato continues his block party, swatting a Bruin shot that leads to a Bankhead layup.
8. @33:53 to @34:03, another Cato block leads to a fast-break score, this time a Willoughby and-one that gets the Iowa State crowd going with a 46-30 lead.
9. @38:04 to @38:14, UCLA’s press forces a turnover following a Dollar three.
10. @39:13 to @39:23, Bailey steals the ball and hits a layup to cap a 10-0 UCLA run and cut the score to 46-40.
11. @41:55 to @42:05, Cato blocks Bailey at the rim as the Bruins are coming back.
12. @48:29 to @48:39, Henderson anticipates a Holloway pass for a nice steal within the UCLA full-court pressure.
13. @1:09:21 to @1:09:31, Willoughby takes a huge charge early in overtime just as UCLA is charging.
Passing Pearls: Here are some nifty dimes from the Bruins and Cyclones.
1. @12:25 to @12:35, Cato shows some deft passing for a big man, drawing the defense in the lane and hitting Pratt for a score.
2. @16:33 to @16:43, Dollar shows show deft handles, with a gorgeous dribble that sets up a nifty pass to O’Bannon, who cans a three.
3. @19:00 to @19:25, beautiful UCLA ball movement leads to a Dollar jumper.
4. @23:41 to @23:51, Holloway makes a beautiful pass to Cato for a rim-rattling dunk.
5. @31:49 to @31:59, Pratt hits Willoughby for a nice score.
6. @31:58 to @32:08, Dollar makes a sweet pass to a cutting Bailey, who makes a beautiful pass to McCoy for a dunk.
7. @44:13 to @44:23, Willoughby makes a gorgeous wrap-around pass to Edwards, who is fouled at the rim on the fast break.
8. @53:19 to @53:29, O’Bannon feeds Henderson with a great pass off the screen and roll game for a basket and 55-54 UCLA lead.
9. @1:04:35 to @1:04:45, Dollar hits a shot following a good pass from Henderson.
1. @12:25 to @12:35, Cato shows some deft passing for a big man, drawing the defense in the lane and hitting Pratt for a score.
2. @16:33 to @16:43, Dollar shows show deft handles, with a gorgeous dribble that sets up a nifty pass to O’Bannon, who cans a three.
3. @19:00 to @19:25, beautiful UCLA ball movement leads to a Dollar jumper.
4. @23:41 to @23:51, Holloway makes a beautiful pass to Cato for a rim-rattling dunk.
5. @31:49 to @31:59, Pratt hits Willoughby for a nice score.
6. @31:58 to @32:08, Dollar makes a sweet pass to a cutting Bailey, who makes a beautiful pass to McCoy for a dunk.
7. @44:13 to @44:23, Willoughby makes a gorgeous wrap-around pass to Edwards, who is fouled at the rim on the fast break.
8. @53:19 to @53:29, O’Bannon feeds Henderson with a great pass off the screen and roll game for a basket and 55-54 UCLA lead.
9. @1:04:35 to @1:04:45, Dollar hits a shot following a good pass from Henderson.
Awesome Announcing: Here is Al McGuire being Al McGuire while calling the game with the underrated Tim Ryan.
1. @3:23 to @3:33, McGuire calls Iowa State Ohio State before correcting his mistake.
2. @7:00 to @7:20, McGuire makes fun of Pratt’s generous listing of 6’5’’, saying the following: “If Pratt is 6’5’’, I’ll give you two dollars.”
3. @7:43 to @7:53, McGuire calls Willoughby “Derrick” instead of “Dedrick.”
4. @8:50 to @9:00, McGuire says that Charles O’Bannon turned his season around by “taking the hotdog out of his game.”
5. @11:35 to @11:45, Iowa State point guard Jacy Holloway hits a three right after McGuire says he’s not a scorer. Coach Al makes fun of himself for that comment.
6. After a nice Pratt score underneath the basket, McGuire says that “He’s what you call blacktop” referring to Pratt having a game that causes all sorts of problems for the opposing team on the playground.
7. With UCLA trailing and Iowa State enforcing its grind-out half-court play, McGuire says @23:06 to @23:16 that UCLA needs to start pressing to change the tempo of the game.
8. @30:25 to @31:25, McGuire says that “The Green Hornet would be proud of that move” after Cato scored following a Holloway pass. McGuire then explains that Kato was the limo driver of the Green Hornet. Ryan jokes that most people viewing the game don’t know who Kato is, and adds that there have been more famous Katos in the news since then, referring to O.J. Simpson houseguest Kato Kaelin. All in all, outstanding banter between the two.
9. @37:52 to @38:02, McGuire compares UCLA to Joe Louis, saying that the Bruins are about ready to come at the Cyclones following a Dollar three.
10. @58:06 to @58:16, McGuire notes that Henderson, while on the free throw line with the Bruins down 1 point, is “one of the few big guys who wears his socks high.”
11. @1:04:27 to @1:04:37, McGuire calls Charles O’Bannon “Ed” several times.
Coaching Charms: Here were some nice coaching decisions by UCLA’s Steve Lavin and (cough) Iowa State’s Tim Floyd.
1. After a big O’Bannon three @31:15 to @31:25, UCLA head coach Steve Lavin brings full-court pressure, which will wear down the Cyclones in the second half.
2. @1:01:49 to @1:01:59, Bailey scores an easy layup after a nice UCLA inbound play.
3. @1:17:39 to @1:17:49, Iowa State nearly steals its second-straight game off a quick inbound hitter, with the Cyclones alley ooping to Bankhead for a 73-72 lead.
Cream of the Crop: Cameron Dollar. The senior played like a million bucks, scoring a then-career high 20 points, refusing to let the Bruins lose, and ending a huge night and great career of Willoughby, who had 34 points for the Cyclones. Somewhere Tyus Edney was smiling.
1. @3:23 to @3:33, McGuire calls Iowa State Ohio State before correcting his mistake.
2. @7:00 to @7:20, McGuire makes fun of Pratt’s generous listing of 6’5’’, saying the following: “If Pratt is 6’5’’, I’ll give you two dollars.”
3. @7:43 to @7:53, McGuire calls Willoughby “Derrick” instead of “Dedrick.”
4. @8:50 to @9:00, McGuire says that Charles O’Bannon turned his season around by “taking the hotdog out of his game.”
5. @11:35 to @11:45, Iowa State point guard Jacy Holloway hits a three right after McGuire says he’s not a scorer. Coach Al makes fun of himself for that comment.
6. After a nice Pratt score underneath the basket, McGuire says that “He’s what you call blacktop” referring to Pratt having a game that causes all sorts of problems for the opposing team on the playground.
7. With UCLA trailing and Iowa State enforcing its grind-out half-court play, McGuire says @23:06 to @23:16 that UCLA needs to start pressing to change the tempo of the game.
8. @30:25 to @31:25, McGuire says that “The Green Hornet would be proud of that move” after Cato scored following a Holloway pass. McGuire then explains that Kato was the limo driver of the Green Hornet. Ryan jokes that most people viewing the game don’t know who Kato is, and adds that there have been more famous Katos in the news since then, referring to O.J. Simpson houseguest Kato Kaelin. All in all, outstanding banter between the two.
9. @37:52 to @38:02, McGuire compares UCLA to Joe Louis, saying that the Bruins are about ready to come at the Cyclones following a Dollar three.
10. @58:06 to @58:16, McGuire notes that Henderson, while on the free throw line with the Bruins down 1 point, is “one of the few big guys who wears his socks high.”
11. @1:04:27 to @1:04:37, McGuire calls Charles O’Bannon “Ed” several times.
Coaching Charms: Here were some nice coaching decisions by UCLA’s Steve Lavin and (cough) Iowa State’s Tim Floyd.
1. After a big O’Bannon three @31:15 to @31:25, UCLA head coach Steve Lavin brings full-court pressure, which will wear down the Cyclones in the second half.
2. @1:01:49 to @1:01:59, Bailey scores an easy layup after a nice UCLA inbound play.
3. @1:17:39 to @1:17:49, Iowa State nearly steals its second-straight game off a quick inbound hitter, with the Cyclones alley ooping to Bankhead for a 73-72 lead.
Cream of the Crop: Cameron Dollar. The senior played like a million bucks, scoring a then-career high 20 points, refusing to let the Bruins lose, and ending a huge night and great career of Willoughby, who had 34 points for the Cyclones. Somewhere Tyus Edney was smiling.