Pining for success

Friday, January 23, 1998

Pining for success

FEATURE

By David Arnold

Daily Bruin Contributor

Athletes use a hundred and one cliches during a difficult early
season: "It ain’t over ’till it’s over," "We’re just taking it one
game at a time," "It’s too early to tell," "We don’t even think
that far ahead."

All of the above are quotes from UCLA women’s basketball head
coach Kathy Olivier, whose season remains yet to be defined.

The Bruins (9-6, 4-2 Pac-10) have shown flashes of greatness
over the last few weeks, such as their 74-53 Sprewell-like
strangulation of Cal. However, they’ve also endured
disappointments, such as their 75-70 P.J. Carlesimo-like choke when
they faced Stanford.

The Bruins are third in the Pac-10 overall. They lead the
conference in blocks and steals, and in conference games they lead
in turnover margin.

After losing the first three games of the season, UCLA is also
last in the Pac-10 in scoring defense. And the Jekyl-and-Hyde
Bruins have already lost their opportunities to beat the
conference’s leading teams (Stanford and Arizona) on their home
court.

All of this makes it near impossible to come to a conclusion
about the Bruins’ season.

The team’s still optimistic, though. "I think (the season)’s a
success because we came back from (being 0-3)," said sophomore
forward Maylana Martin, adding that the team is "a little bit more
confident than at the beginning," and that they "were mad because
we knew we could beat Stanford."

Olivier agreed in saying that "Our goal has been all along to be
in the top three in the Pac-10," a goal the team has reached so
far. Olivier admits, however, that "there’s things we have to work
on" and that she feels "like they should have beaten Stanford."

So, what kind of a team are we talking about here? A great team
that hasn’t lived up to its potential? A Cinderella team that’s
surpassed its potential? Or one that’s lived up to
expectations?

A tournament team?

"Yes," asserted Martin, "yes, I think we’re a tournament team."
The Bruins haven’t been asked to the Big Dance since 1992, never
under Olivier. They finished 13-14 and sixth in the conference last
year, so that’s a bold statement.

"They’re tired of not going to the tournament," said Olivier,
talking about her seniors, with whom she is close. "I’m not looking
forward to senior day" when the seniors play their last home game
"(because) they are a huge part of this program."

"I think this is the best team I’ve been on so far (at UCLA),"
said senior forward Aisha Veasley. As for their tournament hopes:
"That’s my goal, I want to make the tournament, it’s like I have
to. If we went to the tournament, I’d be the happiest girl in the
world."

Veasley notices the pressure to win this year, both on her
(because if she doesn’t make the Big Dance this year she’ll have to
"concentrate on the friendships I’ve made on the team") and on her
coach ("There’s a pressure on her as well, but it’s a good
pressure"). But she doesn’t see what could stop them, "There’s no
one in the Pac-10 who can alter us, stop us from doing what we
want."

The rest of the team acknowledges how badly the seniors want a
play-off bid. "This is their last hurrah, their last chance,"
admitted sophomore forward Marie Philman. "It’s now or never for
them."

"To be honest, this is a special group," reflected Olivier.
"May’s been injured all year with a bad back, but Philman, she’s
playing very well for us and (sophomore center) Janae Hubbard’s
having a great year."

"I think I’ve helped out the team more this year than last
year," said Philman. "As a team we’ve come a long way." Hubbard, on
the other hand, feels that the team has lived up to high
expectations. "No one has surprised me," she said, referring to the
ability of her teammates.

"I was surprised we lost to Saint Mary’s but I was also
surprised we came so close to beating North Carolina (78-82 in
OT)," recalled Martin, expressing mixed opinions. Olivier, as
previously noted, simply said "It’s too early to tell."

So when will we be able to tell if this was a successful
season?

"If we beat Stanford and Arizona, that would definitely make our
season," said Philman.

"It’ll be a long spring if we don’t make it," noted Hubbard, who
doesn’t just think about making the Big Dance. She says, "I want to
go past the first round."

But as the athletes and coaches say: "We’re just taking it one
game at a time" and "We don’t even look that far ahead."