When I first joined the Sports section in the fall of my second year, I had the last scene in “The Sandlot” emblazoned in my mind.

Sunflower seeds, the smell of freshly cut grass and the sound of parents yelling at coaches because their son isn’t getting any playing time; Little League is as good as it gets.

Four months ago, when addressing questions at UCLA basketball’s media day, Ben Howland plainly stated his goal for the season: a top seed in the Western Regional, because it would be the easiest route for the Bruins to reach the Final Four.

There were six seconds on the clock. UCLA was down by one. Behind the backboard was not where Josh Shipp wanted to be with the ball in his hands.

The Bruins have reason to be proud ““ very proud.

As if the magnitude of tonight’s game against Stanford was not clear enough already, the student tents lined up around Pauley Pavilion early Tuesday drove the point home. While it’s not strange to see students camping out before a game, seeing them there two nights before is a lot less common.

When the Bruins open their final road trip of the season against Arizona State, they will have one thing on their minds: earning a trip back to the Grand Canyon state.

It can be tough to be perfect, even in a bad way.

Center Kevin Love was the only UCLA player to make a 3-pointer in Sunday’s game, the last time forward Josh Shipp hit a 3 was Jan. 31, and the Bruins are currently ninth in the conference in 3-point field goal percentage.

Normally O.J. Mayo is the guy USC would want to have the ball.