Notes on a Scorecard - March 11, 1996

UCLA got slam dunked by the NCAA basketball tournament seedings committee. . . .

I’m glad these guys aren’t in charge of the Rose Bowl invitations. . . .

If they were, the Pacific 10 Conference and Big Ten teams with the best non-conference records would go to Pasadena every year. . . .

UCLA won the Pac-10 basketball title by three games over Arizona. The teams split their two meetings. That means the Bruins were three games better than the Wildcats against common opponents. . . .

But the Wildcats wound up with a higher seeding, a much more convenient first-round location, and an easier opening opponent in the NCAA tournament. . . .

Bob Frederick, the head of the seeding committee, explained that Arizona got the edge because it had a better non-conference record than UCLA against tougher opponents. . . .

In other words, disregard the conference season. . . .

Give the winner a paper crown. . . .

Funny, but it used to be that only the conference champion got invited to the tournament. . . .

Also ignored by the committee was the fact that Jim Harrick’s Bruins are defending national champions. . . .

When in doubt, never give a break to the champions. . . .

Maybe the committee felt sorry for the Wildcats. . . .

Last year, they lost to Miami (Ohio) in the first round. Three years ago, they lost to Santa Clara. Four years ago, they lost to East Tennessee State. . . .

They couldn’t possibly lose in the first round again if they got to play Valparaiso in Tempe, Ariz., could they? . . .

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Despite what Rick Pitino says, I don’t think Kentucky’s lopsided loss to Mississippi State did the Wildcats all that much good. . . .

Jacque Vaughn’s nearly full-court run and shot just before the buzzer against Iowa State in the Big Eight tournament championship game Sunday was similar to that of UCLA point guard Tyus Edney against Missouri in the NCAA tournament last year, but Vaughn missed. . . .

Thumbs up to former USC Coach Stan Morrison, whose San Jose State Spartans won the Big West Conference tournament title and an NCAA bid despite a losing record. . . .

The UCLA and USC women’s teams finished with identical records of 13-14 overall and 8-10 in the conference. . . .

Toby Bailey’s father, John, watched the Bruins beat Washington State on Saturday afternoon at Pauley Pavilion and then put on a USC cap and took in the Trojan-Washington game at the Sports Arena. Toby’s younger brother, Ryan, has given USC an oral commitment. . . .

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If the Packers call themselves Green Bay instead of Wisconsin, then the Angels should call themselves Anaheim instead of California. . . .

How come you never hear about a baseball prospect having a disappointing winter league season? . . .

The Clippers, who have won three of their last four road games, won a total of four road games last season. . . .

It didn’t take Don Nelson long to slip from being one of the best coaches in the NBA to one of the worst. . . .

News item: New York Giants sign Ron Stone, who was a reserve offensive lineman with the Dallas Cowboys, to a five-year, $10 million contract. Reaction: Not long ago, the best offensive lineman in the NFL didn’t make a tenth of that. . . .

Jay Leno will interview spectators Wednesday night while his favorite heavyweight, Butterbean, fights at the Grand Olympic. Some of the interviews will be shown at a later date on “The Tonight Show.” . . .

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NCAA tournament predictions:

Thriving 32--Massachusetts, Stanford, Arkansas, Marquette, North Carolina, Texas Tech, Kansas State, Georgetown, Connecticut, Duke, Mississippi State, UCLA, Indiana, Georgia Tech, Temple, Cincinnati, Kentucky, Virginia Tech, California, Utah, Louisville, Villanova, Texas, Wake Forest, Purdue, Clemson, Memphis, Syracuse, Iowa, Arizona, Maryland, Kansas. . . .

Sweet Sixteen--Massachusetts, Arkansas, North Carolina, Georgetown, Connecticut, UCLA, Georgia Tech, Cincinnati, Kentucky, California, Villanova, Wake Forest, Purdue, Syracuse, Iowa, Kansas. . . .

Elite Eight--Massachusetts, Georgetown, Connecticut, Cincinnati, Kentucky, Wake Forest, Purdue, Kansas. . . .

Final Four--Georgetown, Connecticut, Wake Forest, Purdue. . . .

Last Two--Georgetown, Wake Forest. . . .

Champion--Georgetown.