Written by Ben Bolch at LA Times.com
Where does UCLA go after beating top-ranked Kentucky?
Up, up, up.
The Bruins rose nine spots to No. 2 in the Associated Press ranking Monday, their highest standing since they held the same position on Nov. 26, 2007.
That season turned OK. UCLA went to the Final Four for a third consecutive time.
These Bruins (9-0) received two first-place votes in the AP poll and trailed only No. 1Villanova, which supplanted Kentucky in the top spot after receiving 57 of 65 first-place votes. The Wildcats fell to No. 6.
UCLA will try to stretch its winning streak into double figures on Saturday when it plays host to Michigan (6-2) at Pauley Pavilion. The Bruins then will play UC Santa Barbara, Ohio State and Western Michigan before facing their next ranked opponent, No. 24Oregon, on Dec. 28 in Eugene.
“We’re at a huge high, but we have to keep it there,” UCLA guard Aaron Holiday said after the Bruins’ 97-92 victory over Kentucky on Saturday. “We can’t fall asleep on anybody. We have to come out here and play every game like it’s our last.”
The Bruins largely acted as if they had just won an exhibition game after beating Kentucky in their first trip to Rupp Arena, walking off the court in matter-of-fact fashion with the exception of forward Gyorgy Goloman’s raised arms.
“We were all very excited, but it’s business,” UCLA shooting guard Bryce Alford said after the Bruins’ first road victory over a top-ranked team since they beat Stanford in February 2001. “It’s what we expect when we come here. We don’t expect to go anywhere and lose.”
If a silenced crowd of 23,976 and a large portion of a national television audience seemed stunned by the result, the Bruins did not.
“I think we all knew it in our locker room,” said Bruins forward TJ Leaf, who was selected Pac-12 Conference player of the week after collecting 17 points and 13 rebounds against the Wildcats. “I think we proved a lot to people outside of our locker room that we can play with anyone. I’m not saying we’re going to beat everyone because everyone has off nights and teams can win, but we just showed that we can compete with anyone and I think that was big for us.”
To continue reading this article, click here.
