SOUTHEAST REGIONAL / INDIANAPOLIS : Question Gets Harrick to Bristle

UCLA Coach Jim Harrick, who has heard his share of criticism for big-game coaching through his eight-year Bruin tenure, bristled when someone asked him if he had been outcoached by Princeton’s Pete Carril during the Tigers’ 43-41 victory Thursday.

After a 10-second slow burn, Harrick said: “I’m not sure that you’re really qualified to understand what coaching is, to ask that question.”

Carril said that Harrick, who won a national championship a year ago, congratulated him after the game and told him he was happy for him.

“That was pleasing to me--I’ve never had a losing coach come up to me and say that,” Carril said. “That tells you about him.”

In the locker room afterward, assistant coach Steve Lavin said this game was about players beating players.

“When you miss two layups when you’re up by seven, how’s that about coaching?” Lavin said. “When you miss two free throws when it’s tied, 41-41, is that about coaching? I don’t think you can talk about coaching, when it’s a game like this where the players are deciding things.

“Coaching is about putting your players in the position to win it.”

Loyd Is Bruins’ Lone Bright Spot

The single bright spot in UCLA’s defeat was the play of freshman Brandon Loyd, who stepped in during a crisis moment in the second half and, after missing his first three-point attempt, made his next two to key a UCLA rally.

“I thought I might be going in in the first half, because they were really sagging off,” said Loyd, who finished with six points in 12 minutes. “My first shot I think I really kind of rushed, but then I kind of got in a groove.

“This is a big motivator for me, not just the shots, but I don’t want to lose like this again.”

For the Bruin coaching staff, Loyd could step into a role that was noticeably lacking this season and in this game--a consistent outside shooter.

“I think our lack of perimeter shooting caught up with us, maybe,” Lavin said.

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UCLA’s 38.5% shooting from the field (15 for 39) was its low mark for the season. UCLA was the leading field-goal shooting team in the nation, at 53.2%, during the regular season.

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GAMES AT A GLANCE

FIRST HALF

Field goals

UCLA 7-18 (38.9%)

Princeton 7-23 (30.4%)

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Free throws

UCLA 4-5 (80%)

Princeton 0-2 (0.%)

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Rebounds

UCLA 20

Princeton 8

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Turnovers

UCLA 11

Princeton 2

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SECOND HALF

Field goals

UCLA 8-21 (38.1%)

Princeton 10-23 (43.5%)

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Free throws

UCLA 2-4 (50%)

Princeton 1-3 (33.3%)

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Rebounds

UCLA 11

Princeton 13

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Turnovers

UCLA 5

Princeton 6

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The Way the Ball Bounces

UCLA took a 41-34 lead with 6:13 remaining and the defending national champions failed to score the rest of the way. Below is the play-by-play of the end of the game -- and the Bruins’ season.

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Play Time Score K. Johnson layup (UCLA) 6:13 UCLA, 41-34 Timeout 5:38 UCLA, 41-34 S. Johnson 3 pointer (PRIN) 5:10 UCLA, 41-37 Goodrich layup (PRIN) 4:06 UCLA, 41-39 20-second timeout 4:00 UCLA, 41-39 Foul on K. Johnson (UCLA) 3:44 UCLA, 41-39 S. Johnson layup (PRIN) 2:58 Tied, 41-41 Foul on Toby Bailey (UCLA) 1:22 Tied, 41-41 Foul on S. Johnson (PRIN) 1:02 Tied, 41-41 Missed FT by C. Dollar (UCLA) 1:02 Tied, 41-41 Missed FT by C. Dollar (UCLA) 1:02 Tied, 41-41 Timeout 0:21 Tied, 41-41 Lewullis layup (PRIN) 0:04 PRIN, 43-41 Timeout 0:02 PRIN, 43-41 Toby Bailey missed jumper (UCLA) 0:00 FINAL 43-41

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