Sunday syllabus: the week that was and the week ahead

It’s pretty quiet in Westwood these days with finals over and the university about to shut down for a holiday break. But some of the folks in and around the Morgan Center are still busy, plus the no. 1-ranked Tennessee women’s basketball team will play the Bruins in Pauley Pavilion on Wednesday.

Baseball:

>> Last week: Shortstop Brandon Crawford was named as a pre-season, third-team All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writer’s Association. The Bruins start collegiate play on February 22.

Football:

>> Last week: UCLA began practice for its Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl date with BYU with DeWayne Walker serving as interim head coach. Ben Olson was named as the starting quarterback for the Bruins, as he was for UCLA's 27-17 win in September over the Cougars. The coaching search ground on as interviews were scheduled or completed with Walker, Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Norm Chow, Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Rick Neuheisel and Philadelphia Eagles secondary coach John Harbaugh.

>> This week: The Bruins will complete their 2007 season with a rematch with BYU in Las Vegas on Saturday, December 22 at 5 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPN.

>> Of note: CollegeFootballNews.com named its All-American teams during the week and Matthew Slater made the second team as a kick returner and safety Chris Horton made the third team.

Men’s Basketball:

>> Last week: UCLA dispatched Idaho State by a 89-49 score and now stands at 9-1. The victory was no. 100 for Ben Howland as UCLA head coach in his fifth season, against 42 losses. Junior guard Darren Collison equaled his career high with 20 points.

>> This week: The Bruins will play Western Illinois on Tuesday, then heads to Ann Arbor for a match-up with Michigan on Saturday morning (11 a.m. Pacific time), to be nationally televised on CBS.

Men’s Soccer:

>> Last week: Senior defender Mike Zaher (pictured) was selected as third-team All-Far West Region by the National Soccer Coaches of America for the second consecutive season. Zaher and senior defender Brandon Owens were two of 54 senior players from 33 schools invited to the 2008 MLS Player Combine in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida from January 11-15.

Women’s Basketball:

>> Last week: UCLA lost its fifth game in its last six, falling on the road at BYU, 68-58. Senior forward Lindsey Pluimer and freshman forward Nina Earl each had 13 and Pluimer had eight rebounds to lead the Bruins (4-5).

>> This week: Here comes defending national champion and no. 1-ranked Tennessee into Pauley Pavilion for a match with the Bruins on Wednesday at 7 p.m. Tickets are $12 for reserved seats and $8 for general admission. The Bruins are 1-15 against Tennessee, have lost 12 in a row since a 1981 road win against the Vols and are 0-7 at Pauley Pavilion. On Friday, the Bruins will be in Pauley Pavilion again against UC Riverside.

Women’s Soccer:

>> Last week: Sophomore striker Lauren Cheney was named as one of three finalists for the Herrmann Trophy, presented by the Missouri Athletic Club, along with Ashlee Pistorius of Texas A&M and Mami Yamaguchi of Miami. The winner will be announced on January 11. Cheney set UCLA single-season scoring records with 57 points and 23 goals and ranked second in the nation in points per game and third in goals per game.

Women’s Swimming:

>> Last week: Senior Nicolette Teo, competing for Singapore, won three gold medals in the Southeast Asian Games held in Korat, Thailand. She won the 100 m Breaststroke (national record), 200 m Breaststroke and swam a leg on the 4 x 100 m Medley Relay. Her breaststroke marks met the Olympic "B" qualifying standard, making it likely she will be named to her third Singapore Olympic team for Beijing next August. She previously swam in Sydney (2000) and Athens (2004).

Women’s Volleyball:

>> Last week: Junior setter Nellie Spicer was honored as a first-team All-American for the second consecutive year by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. She became only the sixth Bruin to be named as an All-American twice.

>> Of note: Penn State’s win over Stanford in the women’s volleyball final on Saturday was a relief to Bruin fans. The Cardinal was gunning for its 96th NCAA team championship, uncomfortably close to UCLA’s total of 100. Stanford won the women’s cross country title in the fall for its 95th team title.

UCLA missed a chance for a 101st title in women’s soccer, losing in the national semifinals, but figures to be in the mix in baseball, men’s basketball, men’s and women’s golf, women’s gymnastics, softball, men’s volleyball and women’s water polo.

Mike Zaher photo courtesy of UCLA