In Reply to: It’s hard to be optimistic posted by Cachorro on November 14, 2025 at 22:31:26
in a game that was in doubt in the final minute, despite having three or four players still learning new defensive roles, not to mention 16 turnovers, and being outrebounded by 7, in only their 4th game of the season.
If they had managed to limit their turnovers to 10, they win the game. If they got two more defensive rebounds, they probably win the game.
If Perry and Brown contribute 8 points off the bench instead of only 3, UCLA wins the game. This is what I'm most concerned about. The Bruins need Perry and Brown to bring offense off the bench. Brown's "I'm not there" bagel of a box score is especially disappointing.
But I think it's easy to be optimistic and believe all those things not only can, but will, improve over the course of the season.
Defending national champion Florida lost to Arizona by 6 (2 more than UCLA) and no one is saying their season is over.
Kentucky lost to Louisville by 8; is their season over?
St. John's lost to Alabama by 4 (just like UCLA); is their season over?
Alabama then lost to Purdue by 7; is all hope lost?
Hard to be optimistic after a 4-point loss in November? Not at all.