Notes on a Scorecard - March 22, 1994

This March is so mad that a Pacific 10 Conference team might actually reach the Final Four. . . .

The easiest way to Charlotte probably is through L.A., where Arizona is stationed in the West Regional. . . .

The Wildcats have the best backcourt in the nation, Khalid Reeves and Damon Stoudamire, and a coach, Lute Olson, eager to show that he can be as successful in the postseason as in the regular season. . . .

In 1988, Olson took Arizona to the Final Four, where it lost to Oklahoma. That was the first and last appearance for a Pac-10 school since UCLA was beaten by Louisville in the 1980 championship game. . . .

Olson’s highly regarded teams were eliminated in the first round in 1992 and 1993, and newspaper letter writers treated him as though he were, well, Jim Harrick. . . .

The joke at Olson’s on Broadway in Tucson was, “After you have one round of drinks, you have to leave.” . . .

But now the Wildcats are on a two-game tournament winning streak and on Thursday will be asked to beat Louisville, something UCLA did as recently as 16 days ago. . . .

Then they would play the Missouri-Syracuse survivor on Saturday. Missouri is seeded No. 1, but still doesn’t get much respect. The same for Syracuse Coach Jim Boeheim, although he might be doing his best job ever. . . .

Playing at the sold-out Sports Arena, home of Pac-10 rival USC, could be an advantage for Arizona. However, the Wildcats haven’t appeared there since 1992, when they were upset by the Trojans. . . .

The last two Arizona-USC games in the Southland have been played at the Forum. The Jan. 22 date was switched because of earthquake damage to the Sports Arena. . . .

The Wildcats qualified for the West Regional the same day that a 5.3 aftershock rattled L.A., but the Sports Arena is not on the disabled list this time. . . .

The arena has been the site of two NCAA championship games. UCLA won both, 78-55 over North Carolina in 1968 and 81-76 over Florida State in 1972. The most famous game, though, was the Bruins’ 101-69 rout of Houston in the 1968 semifinals, the Lew Alcindor-Elvin Hayes rematch. . . .

Most college coaches are afraid to call timeouts early, even when a game is getting out of hand. . . .

As of today’s NBA standings, the Lakers have the second-best record among draft lottery teams and the Clippers the third-best. Under the new system, if the lottery were held today, the Lakers would have only an 0.8% chance of getting the first pick and the Clippers a 1.5% chance. The team with the worst record, Dallas, would have a 25% chance. . . .

The drawing of numbered Ping-Pong balls decides the first three choices only. The rest of the selections will be according to won-lost records. . . .

Patrick Ewing belongs right up there with David Robinson and Hakeem Olajuwon on any list of NBA most-valuable-player candidates. I mean, where would the New York Knicks be without Ewing? . . .

Actually, the loss of John Starks might be a blessing to the Knicks. Rolando Blackman and Derek Harper are working some of the same magic they used to with the Dallas Mavericks. . . .

*

I liked the way Brocco re-rallied on the deepest part of a muddy track to overtake Valiant Nature for second behind Soul Of The Matter in the San Felipe Stakes Sunday at Santa Anita. . . .

“We got what we needed out of the race,” said Brocco’s trainer, Randy Winick. “Other than winning, I’m as happy as I can be.” . . .

Jack Nicholson, who lived in Inglewood and was a Hollywood Park regular after moving out from New Jersey, presented the trophy in the winner’s circle, but hadn’t made a wager on the race. . . .

On April 22, the night of the Evander Holyfield-Michael Moorer heavyweight championship bout, Caesars Palace in Las Vegas will be staging its 100th title fight. . . .

In the first one, lightweight champion Roberto Duran scored a 12th-round knockout over Esteban DeJesus on Jan. 21, 1978. . . .

Look for Ruben Sierra of Oakland and Marquis Grissom of Montreal, who are playing well this spring, to have exceptional seasons. . . .

Free agency lessens the importance of the NFL draft, which used to be the surest way for a team to improve. . . .

CBS commentator Bill Raftery on Indiana’s trip to Miami for the East Regional: “This is one team that won’t get any sun.”