In This Game, He’s a Cut Below

Jordan Farmar’s ankles hurt. They’re sprained and swollen and when Farmar isn’t limping around in an air cast he’s soaking his feet in ice water.

“And that’s hard,” UCLA Coach Ben Howland says. “Putting your feet in ice cold water? That’s not fun.”

And so it was that Farmar, the Bruins’ point guard, their emotional leader, their main warrior, was shocked, stunned, amazed and, most of all, furious. His right arm was bleeding in the second half because one of the Washington Huskies had slashed it when several players tumbled while scrapping for a loose ball. A whistle had blown, a foul was called.

On Farmar!

For all the things Farmar does right -- the floating layins from the key, the jump stop in the lane, the quick passes inside to his freshmen centers -- Farmar still has one bit of immaturity to his game.

He can’t help talking to officials.

Not that the ones in the Pacific 10 Conference don’t deserve it.

The crew for Saturday’s nationally televised game between UCLA and Washington at the Bank of America arena here spent more time conferring among themselves trying to figure out who did what, when and where than police detectives on the scene of a crime.

UCLA assistant coach Ernie Zeigler pulled Farmar off the court, but even during the timeout, while the rest of the Bruins were huddled around Howland, Farmar was stalking the perimeter and any time one of the officials dared glance toward the UCLA bench, Farmar would hold up his bloody arm.

See! Blood! On me!

It was a frustrating afternoon for the Pac-10’s best point guard. His team lost, 70-67. He was two for 13 from the field. When he had a chance to make a three-pointer to send the game into overtime, no dice. He had more turnovers (seven) than assists (five).

There was no rhythm to the game and Farmar couldn’t create one. When Farmar is at his best, he makes a rhythm, with his quick baseline drives or his little jump shot or his whizzing passes.

But on this afternoon, in front of a frantic crowd, whistles were always blowing. Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, UCLA’s best rebounder, spent most of the first half on the bench in foul trouble. Center Ryan Hollins fouled out early in the second half of a game Howland said was his best of the season.

Poor, off-target shooting Arron Afflalo, who was exhausting himself while defending Washington star Brandon Roy, had three first-half fouls and got the fourth quickly in the second half as well.

And then Farmar got called for his fourth foul.

On a play where his blood was drawn.

As he sat on the bench, Farmar was visibly angry. He put a towel over his head. He took it off. He stomped his aching feet. He had his wound wrapped and he waved it each time the officials ran past.

But his righteous anger probably didn’t help Farmar focus. Too often the sophomore spent 25 seconds dribbling around the perimeter until suddenly the 35-second shot clock would be ticking down under 10 and a bad shot would be taken. Or the ball would be turned over. Some 14 times in the first half and 20 times in the game UCLA just gave the ball away.

Farmar took it hard.

“I needed to be better,” he said. “So many more things I could have done.”

His coach would hear no criticism of Farmar afterward.

“He’s such a competitor,” Howland said. “Do I mind if he talks to the officials? No I don’t. Three guys on my team are allowed to talk to the officials. He’s one of them, absolutely. The kid is playing his heart out with injuries. You gotta love it.”

Farmar was particularly furious that he and his team looked bad on national television again.

When the Bruins lost to West Virginia in a marquee game, they forgot to play the first half. This time they made so many mistakes.

“My mistakes,” Farmar said.

Not all of them. But enough for Farmar to lose sleep over. Washington Coach Lorenzo Romar called Farmar “a great player,” and gave his own guy, Roy, a big thank you for a defensive job well done. But Farmar was also right to be hard on himself. He lets his heart get in the way of his head sometimes.

And on this day he was outsmarted and out-toughed by Roy, a savvy senior who went to the foul line 16 times (and made 13). It was Roy who swatted away Farmar’s final shot.

Farmar will watch this game over and over. It’s what he does. He will see Roy making shots, making passes, making stops. He will see himself wagging his bloody arm at the refs. And he will get better.