Weekend warmup: last chance to make a run for the Gauntlet

UCLA has gotten off to its usual miserable start in even-numbered years in the Lexus Gauntlet challenge against USC. The Bruins, winners in each of the odd-numbered years, trail, 40-12 1/2, in the 2007-08 competition, with 57 1/2 points needed to win. The Bruins could mount a challenge, however, with a three-sport sweep in men’s and women’s basketball and women’s swimming. Otherwise, forget it.

One of UCLA's most memorable national championships will be remembered during halftime at Sunday's women's basketball game against USC: the 1978 AIAW  women's basketball title on a brilliant team that featured Ann Meyers, Anita Ortega, Denise Curry and others.

Baseball:

UCLA’s Alumni Day will be held Saturday at the newly renovated Jackie Robinson Stadium. Because of new NCAA rules, the alumni cannot play the current Bruin team, so an alumni vs. alumni game will be held at 11:30 a.m., and the Bruin team will play a six-inning intrasquad game starting at 1 p.m. Admission is free.

Softball:

The sixth-ranked Bruin women (4-1) are on the road this week in and around Las Vegas for five games at the UNLV Louisville Slugger Desert Classic. UCLA will open with No. 22 Missouri and South Carolina on Friday, followed by games with Illinois and Portland State on Saturday and Wisconsin on Sunday.

Men’s basketball:

The Bruins (21-3, 9-2 in the Pac-10) will try to stay in first place in the conference with a game against USC (15-8, 6-5) at 7 p.m. Sunday at Galen Center. The game is sold out (UCLA received 100 tickets, the same as USC received for the game at Pauley Pavilion), but several viewing parties are being organized, including one by the South Bay Bruin Club at Gameworks in Long Beach and another by FSN Prime Ticket at El Guapo Rock 'n' Roll Cantina and Sports Bar on Melrose Avenue west of La Brea Avenue.

Men’s tennis:

UCLA (5-0) is seeded eighth in the 33rd USTA/ITA National Team Indoor Championships taking place this weekend in Seattle. The Bruins will start with No. 9 Notre Dame (6-1) on Friday morning. The Bruins have won this championship seven times and have been the winner twice and runner-up once in the three times that the event has been held in Seattle.

Men’s volleyball:

No. 5 UCLA (9-4 overall, 6-3 in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation play) will start a six-match road trip, with two matches in Honolulu against Hawaii (3-6, 2-4 in MPSF play) today and Friday, both beginning at 7 p.m. Hawaiian time. The Bruins lead the series, 49-18, and have won four straight against the Warriors, including a 3-2 win earlier this season.

Women’s basketball:

UCLA (13-11, 8-5 in the Pac-10) will play host to USC (15-9, 8-5) at 2 p.m. Sunday at Pauley Pavilion to break a fourth-place tie in the conference race. The game will be broadcast live on KTLK-AM 1150. USC defeated UCLA, 64-56, in a fight-marred game in January at Galen Center.

It will be a special day as the 1978 AIAW national championship team will be honored during halftime. The Bruins won the title before a screaming crowd of 9,351 at Pauley Pavilion over Maryland. Each member of the 1978 squad is expected to be in attendance, including four UCLA Hall of Famers in head coach Billie Moore and players Ann Meyers Drysdale, Denise Curry and Anita Ortega. Moore, Meyers and Ortega are also members of the Naismith and Women's Basketball Halls of Fame. All team members will be presented national championship rings for the first time (at the time, they simply received championship watches).

There are plenty of promotions surrounding the game. Sunday is "I'm Going to College" day at UCLA as area youth will be welcomed on campus and introduced to college life. It also is Faculty & Staff Day (four free admissions with Bruin ID or pay stub), Bruin Kids Club Day (complimentary admission with Bruin Kids Club ID) and Alumni Appreciation Day (four free admissions with Alumni Assn. membership card). Popcorn will be on sale for just $1.50, and UCLA women's basketball team cards will be given away to the first 1,000 in attendance. In addition, the first 250 students in attendance will receive free pizza. In other words, you better show up!

Women’s gymnastics:

No. 7 UCLA (10-0) is on the road this week in Berkeley to face the 2-4 Bears at 2 p.m. Sunday. Sophomore Anna Li has won the all-around in all but one meet this season, and is ranked in the top 20 in that event and in three individual events. The Bruins have an all-time 49-1 dual mark against California.

Women’s swimming:

The No. 15 Bruins (4-3) will take on No. 25 USC (4-5) at the Men’s Gym Pool at noon Friday in the last home meet for the UCLA seniors. Diving will be held at Sunset Canyon Recreation Center. The all-time series stands at 17-16 for the Trojans.

Women’s tennis:

UCLA (6-1) crushed Loyola Marymount, 7-0, on Wednesday at the Los Angeles Tennis Center, and will have one more match this week, against Fresno State — ranked 12th nationally — at home at 1:30 p.m. Friday.

Women’s water polo:

No. 1-ranked UCLA (10-0) will be on the road this week for matches against No. 10 UC Irvine (4-1) at 7 p.m. Friday, against No. 16 Cal State Northridge (3-3) at noon Saturday and against 14th-ranked Long Beach State (4-2) at noon Sunday. The Bruins have a combined, all-time 43-0 mark against these three opponents.

Comments

[BobAz]

Bruins make a run for the Gauntlet? With eight or so straight losses to the Figs in both men's and women's events, can we even win one in a row??? This year is shaping up to be an utter travesty. Dan G, there's no doubt who's got the most versatile and accomplished program in LA, and it's not us -- and it's happening on your watch!