Notes on a Scorecard - March 11, 1991

Now is the time for the Pacific 10 Conference to put up or shut up. . . .

Four teams from what Pac-10 coaches claim is one of the toughest conferences in the nation made the NCAA tournament, but that won’t mean much unless they win some games. . . .

UCLA would seem to have the best chance of reaching the Final Four. It’s simple. Arizona is in Nevada Las Vegas’ regional. UCLA isn’t. . . .

On their best day, the Bruins are capable of beating anyone in the East Regional, including North Carolina. On their worst day, they are capable of losing to Penn State in the first round. . . .

In winning six of its last seven games at the Sports Arena, USC finally was able to enjoy a legitimate home-court advantage. The student section never sat down. Head cheerleader George Raveling got the fans as excited as he did his players. . . .

The undershirts beneath the Trojan game jerseys said, “Win Two. Beat Washington and Washington State.” . . .

USC visits to the NCAA tournament are so rare that the sports information office had to call UCLA to find out how to handle media credential requests. . . .

UNLV did not resemble the best college team ever to play the game Sunday against Fresno State in Long Beach. That makes one time the Rebels have looked beatable this season and 29 times they have looked unbeatable. . . .

Imagine what slowdowns Las Vegas would face if not for the shot clock. . . .

The Rebels’ 41 consecutive victories tie UCLA’s streak of 1968-69 as the seventh longest in NCAA history. If they go all the way, they will tie UCLA’s streak of 47 in 1966-67 for third on the all-time list. UCLA owns the record of 88 in 1971-74 followed by the University of San Francisco at 60 in 1955-57. . . .

Last year, teams making the first round of the tournament were paid $294,468. Second round: $488,936. Third round: $883,404. Fourth round: $1,177,872. Final Four: $1,472,340. Pac-10 schools share the money equally after expenses are taken off the top by the participating teams. . . .

That Princeton-Loyola Marymount gimmick matchup--defense vs. offense--shouldn’t have been scheduled for the last day of the season. We got that game on CBS Sunday instead of the ACC tournament championship game between North Carolina and Duke. . . .

Amiable Booker Turner worked his last game Saturday at the Sports Arena before becoming supervisor of Pac-10 officials. . . .

Arizona’s only senior, Matt Muehlebach, never lost a home game. . . .

UCLA is recruiting a 6-10 center from Cypress College named Eric Pauley. However, he is no relation to the Pavilion. . . .

Some college free-throw shooters get high-fives even after they miss. . . .

There were 38 college games, men’s and women’s, on the tube over the weekend. . . .

The Lakers aren’t very good when Magic Johnson is held to a triple-single as he was Thursday in Milwaukee. . . .

I’m waiting for my invitation to Donald Sterling’s annual lottery party. . . .

Whatever happened to Dancing Barry? . . .

Thoroughbred racing desperately needs stars and it got one Saturday when Farma Way won the Santa Anita Handicap. . . .

However, the crowd of 43,512 was the fourth smallest in the 54-year history of the Big ‘Cap. The last time fewer people attended was in 1971 when Ack Ack, like Farma Way, completed a sweep of the San Carlos, San Pasqual, San Antonio and Santa Anita handicaps. . . .

The switch from Sunday to Saturday didn’t help, but that’s the price you pay to have your race televised on “Wide World of Sports.” . . .

UCLA swept the first places in the NCAA indoor shotput competition--Eric Bergreen winning the men’s at 62-10 3/4 and Tracie Millett the women’s at 54-3 3/4. . . .

It’s a sad state of affairs when UCLA has to eliminate men’s and women’s crew and water polo because of budget restrictions. . . .

The sweetest sound of spring is the voice of Vin Scully. . . .

Final Four: UNLV, Duke, Arkansas, North Carolina. Final Two: UNLV, Arkansas. Final One: UNLV.