In a few weeks, or maybe a month, perhaps Stanford will look back on this and smile.
Perhaps it will look back on this as a chance to realign priorities. A chance to forge character. A brief bottom before the climb to March Madness.
But not right now.
Right now, it hurts.
“I thought we could do it. Maybe it’s not realistic, but I thought if any team could go undefeated, it would be us,” Stanford guard Casey Jacobsen said after a 79-73 loss to UCLA on Saturday before a crowd of 7,391 at Maples Pavilion. “I’m very disappointed our winning streak was broken by UCLA.
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“In the locker room, it’s pretty silent. There aren’t any guys smiling. It’s not good at all. … Usually, there are guys smiling and saying `Good job.” But no one’s talking.”
Curtis Borchardt and Julius Barnes signed autographs in silence. Jason Collins quietly wrapped his knee in ice. Michael McDonald dressed without a word.
There wasn’t much to say after their first loss of the season.
After the longest winning streak in school history ended at 20 games.
After losing at home to UCLA for the second consecutive season–each time as the No. 1 team in the country.
After missing an opportunity to take command of the Pac-10 race.
Longtime UCLA watchers were hardly surprised by the school’s eighth victory over a No. 1 team.
The enigmatic Bruins (13-6, 7-2) have three high school All-Americans and a slew of potential NBA draft picks, but their focus and fundamentals are in constant flux.
Under Steve Lavin, their beleaguered coach, they often play best when it’s least expected–like after a 29-point loss at Cal.
“I don’t understand them,” Stanford guard Ryan Mendez said. “They have the talent to play with the best teams in the country, and sometimes they play with the worst. … But that’s UCLA.”
Sure, the Bruins played well. Their pressure defense disrupted Stanford’s rhythm.
“They got us going at a pace we couldn’t play,” Cardinal coach Mike Montgomery said.
And they were uncharacteristically patient on offense, as guard Earl Watson (20 points, six assists) directed the attack.
Sharp-shooting guard Billy Knight, who always plays well in Maples Pavilion, had a career-high 22 points.
UCLA built a nine-point early in the second half, absorbed a 10-0 surge by Stanford (20-1, 8-1), then took control with an 14-2 riposte.
“No one in the country thought we could win this game except the people in this room,” UCLA forward Matt Barnes said in the locker room. “We’re capable of beating any team in the country.”