UCLA-USC game was best show in town, with a flaw
LOS ANGELES » On an occasion that was so electric, so positive not just for the immediate fortunes of UCLA's and USC'S women's basketball programs but for the long-term outlook of the sport in Southern California, there was one glaring error.
The lines outside Pauley Pavilion were hundreds deep two hours before the 5 p.m. tipoff, adults, students and youngsters here to watch UCLA and USC put on an impressive, inspiring and entertaining show, the No. 2 and 6 teams in the country playing in the most consequential women's basketball game in years in this city — one which was a sellout days before game time, with 13,659 filling the place and creating a big game atmosphere. And regardless of whether those fans wore cardinal or powder blue, they got their money's worth in UCLA's 74-61 victory.
The flaw? This deserved a national television stage. Instead, it was shown on the Pac-12 Network, as will be the rematch Jan. 14 in Galen Center. Who knows how many folks who might have otherwise tuned in couldn't, or how much of the nation might have been enthralled by watching two of the West Coast's — two of the nation's — best go at each other.
“I literally had NBA GMs, coaches and friends on the East Coast going, `How do I watch the game?'” USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb said.
This was a reminder of one of this dying conference's most critical mistakes, insisting on going it alone with its cable network rather than aligning with Fox or ESPN.
Curiously, ESPN had players from both teams on SportsCenter during the week in fueling the interest for this game. Then again, ESPN and ABC were committed to the NFL Saturday night.
“The reality is, there's a lot of things on TV today,” UCLA coach Cori Close pointed out. “It's easy to say, this game should have been national. Well, who are we going to upstage? Are we going to upstage the Cowboys today?” Fair point.
“But I will bluntly say that this was the hottest ticket in any sport, male or female, today in Southern
California,” she added. “That's saying something. We worked really hard to get to that point, and credit to USC as well as to us that made this happen.” This is a beginning. Both of these teams are fun to watch, playing an attractive brand of ball, with star quality ... and can you believe it took this deep into the column to mention JuJu Watkins?
And they're in a conference that may again be one of the nation's toughest. Just as was the case in football, Pac-12 women's basketball seems to have saved its best for last. Last week's rankings had four teams in the top 10 — the Bruins (now 120) at No. 2, the 10-1 Trojans at No. 6, 11-1 Colorado 8th, 11-1 Stanford 9th and 10-3 Utah 12th. Additionally, there are eight Pac-12 teams in the top 30 of the NCAA's NET metric, headed by Stanford (2), Utah (4), UCLA (6) and USC (12).
Gottlieb said she's already noticed the groundswell for USC's nonconference games, against teams that are lower on the college basketball food chain. Much of that is undoubtedly attributable to Watkins, the country's No. 1 recruit, who came into Saturday averaging 26.8 points, 6.9 rebounds and 31.1 minutes. Against UCLA she went for 27 and 11 and played 38:10 minutes, coming out briefly late because of an apparent cramp.
“Some of that (interest is) organic, right?” she said. “They're coming to see the way we play. And then we've got to continue to compound that natural excitement with marketing efforts. Women's basketball takes ... people on the ground and our willingness to interact — and our administration has done a great job. So I do not think this is going to be it for us at all, and I'm excited to get to Galen every Friday/ Sunday, and Friday/Monday with the ESPN game against Arizona (Feb. 12). I think Galen's going to be packed regularly.”
It's not really fair, is it? Men's coaches can concentrate on coaching and recruiting and, for the most part, don't have to beat the publicity drum. There has been a dramatic upsurge in interest in the women's game, and women's sports in general, and the numbers show it. But it's almost like women's coaches feel like they have to be proactive in spreading the word.
Saturday showed what it can be like. Literally, the lines were winding around Pauley Pavilion two hours before tipoff, alumni and families, youth and high school players, little boys and girls.
“This is about growing Southern California basketball and specifically girls and women in sport,” Close said. “Not taking anything away from men's sports, but adding to it and just telling those stories in a major way.
Like those of Lauren Betts, the Bruins' 6-foot-7 transfer from Stanford who had 15 points Saturday but also eight rebounds and six blocks in 33:24. Or Londynn Jones, UCLA's 5-4 sophomore guard who finished with 21 points, seven rebounds and five 3-pointers, and was told by a questioner afterward that her game was reminiscent of former Lakers point guard Nick Van Exel. Politely, she indicated she was unfamiliar with Van Exel — but did like watching old clips of Isaiah Thomas.
There are tons of these stories in women's basketball. And games like this are a reminder.
“If you weren't here and you didn't find a way to watch it, you missed out,” Close said.
“So, maybe, do something about it and be with us next time.”
Trust me, Saturday was a great advertisement.
jalexander@scng.com