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Oregon’s Ian Crosswhite gives Dijon Thompson a licking during the Ducks’ 75-74 win ov

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UCLA’s Whitney Jones struggles to get a shot off with Azella Perryman guarding her.

Season ends with 10-19 record

Adam Titcher
Published: Tuesday, March 18, 2003

It seems like just a bad dream, but the Bruins woke up to reality Saturday when the 2002-03 season ended. At the hands of Oregon, UCLA lost in stunning fashion, 75-74 in the second round of the Pac-10 tournament.

“We had Oregon beat, and we knew it too,” sophomore Ryan Walcott said afterward. “We know we’re a good team, and we should be going to the (NCAA) tournament, but our record shows we can go nowhere else.”

UCLA can only look forward to 2003-04 and would probably like to forget the past five months, its first losing season in 55 years. At least it ended as expected:

“As you all know ... Steve Lavin was released as head coach of UCLA basketball,” Athletic Director Dan Guerrero announced before a crowded Morgan Center on Monday.

November (0-2)

The Bruins’ woes began when San Diego upset then-No. 14 UCLA with a score of 86-81 in UCLA’s home opener. Jason Keep dominated the inside game with 30 points. UCLA could not bounce back either, as it lost to Duke, 84-73 over Thanksgiving break. Still, no player seemed concerned.

“Obviously, we didn’t expect to be 0-2,” Kapono said after the season start. “But we can’t panic or get worried.”

December (2-3)

UCLA finally won. In home wins over Long Beach State and Portland, the Bruins scored a combined 186 points, creating a season-turnaround sentiment.

But the Bruins hit a wall, losing to Northern Arizona. It was considered an upset too.

“It’s always tough when you think you’re the better team overall,” senior Ray Young said after the Northern Arizona game. “But we didn’t prove that on the court, and that’s all that matters.”

The Bruins went on to lose to Kansas on the road and to Michigan at home. Both games were on national television.

January (2-7)

For the first time in school history, UCLA didn’t win a home game in January.

The team’s only two wins came on the road against the Washington schools. Kapono posted a career-high 44 points against Washington State, but both wins were expected.

The Bruins jumped out to 2-0 in the conference, but ended the month with seven straight losses. The coaching staff tried to turn things around, but little worked.

“When you’re struggling, the tendency is to try to force (a win) and hope something positive happens,” Lavin said. “We have to go back to work because we’re not playing good basketball.”

Lavin’s coaching status was also put into question when the team forfeited any notion of making the NCAA tournament. For once, the Bruins were playing just to make the Pac-10 tournament.

February (3-5)

The losing streak continued through nine games. The team struggled to finish most games, and the players talked about a need to play the full 40 minutes.

Finally, against Georgetown on the road, UCLA won 71-70.

Yet, the hole was too deep, and UCLA found itself 2-11 in conference play. Lavin flirted with resignation, and rumors circulated about firing him midseason.

“If you produce, you get to coach,” Lavin said. “If not, you’re unemployed.”

But, Lavin remained as head coach. When the season seemed completely lost, UCLA put together a stunning 76-75 home upset over then-No. 18 Cal.

It was their first win at Pauley all year, but memories were erased days later with a loss to Stanford. The month ended with little hope of making the Pac-10 tournament.

March (3-2)

The Bruins ended the season with a winning month, inspired by the play of Young. Behind him, UCLA beat the Washington schools again and squeezed into the eighth and final spot of the Pac-10 tournament.

This gave the Bruins their third opportunity to beat a No. 1 team.

UCLA had upset three No. 1 teams in three consecutive years, but had failed to beat No. 1 Arizona, losing by a combined 71 points in two games.

The Bruins seemed very confident. The team’s answer was simple for winning:

“Because we can do it,” center Ryan Hollins said before the tournament began.

“It is a one-game elimination. We will give it everything we’ve got. We want it more than anything.”

And the third time was the charm as UCLA finally upset the top ranked Wildcats, 96-89 in overtime.

It was great for the team’s morale, but it was not enough.

Overall Record: (10-19)

The season saw a couple of big wins but many losses – the second-most in UCLA history. UCLA stayed alive in many of the games, but they gave up on most of them. Just like against Oregon, UCLA was capable of winning, but they just did not finish.

Nor did they have any answers.