In Reply to: I think the Gonzaga game looms large. posted by Cachorro on November 19, 2024 at 11:08:51
in the Bruins' process of becoming an effective team and relevant in the national picture, but Gonzaga right now is more of a realized team and the Bruins not so much. I don't know if the Bruins can potentially be a better team than Gonzaga, but I do know that the Bruins can potentially be a much better team than they are right now. Right now, IMO, the Bruins chances of beating Gonzaga are not good, but I do believe the Bruins have the potential to beat them if they can get all their parts to work together.
Even though a Bruin win over Gonzaga would be a boost in every way for UCLA, I think, right now, the focus, as un-sexy as it may be, should be the Bruins' improvement regardless of wins and losses. We've already had people dismissing the entire season ahead after the New Mexico loss. The Gonzaga game, win or lose, is not going to determine the Bruins' future. What will be a huge factor for the Bruins moving forward is their collective ability to jell, meld, and grow into a cohesive, effective, and ultimately to be a hard team to beat.
I believe that could happen whether it's in time for the Gonzaga game or half way through conference play to me doesn't matter. The job at hand is to improve as a team and continue their path toward their potential and not whether they beat Gonzaga or not, IMO. Keep getting better and everything else will be taken care of. At least that's how I see it. I think this team could be something special, but it may take some time.