Swanson: In every way, a great day for UCLA basketball

• March 9, 2025

LOS ANGELES – The inverse of Murphy’s Law? Well, Yhprum’s Law, no? Wherein anything that can go right will go right.

It was one of those really good days for UCLA basketball, when across the country, everything the Bruins could have wanted to happen, happened.

The men’s team was a big winner, the women’s team too, those buoyant Bruins’ hoopers winning by a combined 56 points – a one-two punch of big-game blowouts.

There was the No. 4 UCLA women’s 75-46 win over No. 13 Ohio State in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals secured the Bruins a third crack at JuJu Watkins and USC in the conference tournament finals on Sunday.

And then, in the Big Ten regular-season finale at Pauley Pavilion, their counterparts on the men’s team wound up with the best possible path forward after every domino fell that needed to for the Bruins to secure a double-bye in the Big Ten Tournament:

A Wisconsin loss to Penn State? Check.

A Northwestern loss to Maryland? Check.

And, finally, the one that was totally in their control: A Bruins victory over USC?

A nothing-left-to-chance checkmark, bold and underlined and celebrated heartily by a crowd of 12,018 on Senior Night: UCLA 90, USC 63.

The Bruins finished the regular season 22-9 overall and, importantly, 13-7 in conference. The Bruins earned the three-way tiebreaker with the Badgers and Purdue because they’d beaten the conference champion Spartans – a 63-61 nail-biter won on Eric Dailey Jr. go-ahead floater with 7.5 seconds left on Feb. 5 – and the other two teams hadn’t.

Because of that, Saturday’s rout will ease the Bruins’ route at the conference tournament in Indianapolis, where they won’t have to play until Friday, after taking a couple well-earned and much-needed days off first.

“Best news of the day,” Coach Mick Cronin said of the forthcoming respite.

“I’m not a big believer in conference tournaments … ’cause around here, man, they ain’t gonna hang no banner for the Big Ten Tournament,” he added. “They might give us a T-shirt because they’re winning national championships around here in all kinds of stuff.”

The real goal, said Cronin – whose 2022-23 team lost a taxing Pac-12 Tournament championship game to Arizona 61-59 and then came up short in a Sweet 16 loss to Gonzaga 13 days later – is always for his team to be ready when it really matters.

“We gotta make sure these guys are fresh when the Big Dance starts,” said Cronin, who has sashayed his way to a 9-3 record in those games as UCLA’s dance instructor.

These Bruins showed excellent timing when it came to finding their rhythm. They punctuated their first sweep of their crosstown rivals since the 2017-18 season with the most complete game of this season so far, sending USC (15-16, 7-13) home early, without even a conference tournament bid, in Eric Musselman’s first season at the helm.

UCLA started the game on a 14-2 run and slammed the door on USC’s comeback hopes early in the second half with an 8-0 run, laying it on thickest after halftime with 51 second-half points. This was a runaway win that made everyone watching wonder just how deep of a run could the Bruins go on if they play like this?

Five Bruins scored in double figures and collectively they shot the dictionary-definition of efficient: 61.7% from the field (37 for 60) and 45.5% (10 for 22) from 3-point range. They also scored 37 points off turnovers, if you’re wondering whether Cronin’s defense demands also checked out Saturday.

The Bruins’ crowd-pleasing 7-foot-3 sophomore center Aday Mara displayed his feathery touch from his perch in the clouds and swatted away a couple shots too.

A skipping, head-shaking, cheesing Dailey Jr. scored a season-high 25 points on 10-of-13 shooting, but that was overshadowed, Cronin insisted, by his nine deflections.

And Skyy Clark added another 13 deflections, Cronin said – and 17 points (7-for-10 shooting) to go with six assists and three steals.

It really was UCLA, all day.

But can the Bruins stack enough of these sorts of days to make it a great month? A month to cap a potentially great season? One that could leave them with more than just a T-shirt?

Credit to them, Cronin’s crew seems to believe so.

“I think we’ve got good momentum going into the tournament,” Dailey Jr. said. “And great defensive plays, a lot of deflections, a lot of movement, we hit a lot of shots tonight.

“This is the basketball we know we can play. And we need to keep playing this basketball going into the tournament, going into March Madness. We’re gonna go a long way with this.”

​ Orange County Register 

Déja Lee, UC Irvine women beat UCSB in regular-season finale

• March 9, 2025

IRVINE — A second straight Big West Conference Player of the Year Award likely won’t happen for UC Irvine point guard Déja Lee, but she would trade that prize for another trip to the NCAA Tournament anyway.

Lee played her final regular-season game for the Anteaters on Saturday afternoon and contributed a little bit of everything in the 62-49 victory over UC Santa Barbara at the Bren Events Center.

Lee finished with a team-high 13 points, seven rebounds and five assists while committing just one turnover.

“Five assists and one turnover. I’ll take it all day long,” UCI coach Tamara Inoue said.

UCI (21-9 overall, 15-5 Big West) now heads to Henderson, Nevada, for the eight-team Big West Tournament, which begins on Wednesday.

The Anteaters had already locked up a double-bye into Friday’s semifinals with a last-second 55-53 victory over visiting UC Davis on Thursday night and will be seeded No. 2 behind Hawaii.

UCI won the conference tournament for the first time since 1995 last season, beating UC Davis behind 21 points from Lee, who was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

After the Anteaters fell to fourth-seeded Gonzaga in the first round of the NCAA Tournament and Lee became the first UCI women’s player in program history to win Big West Player of the Year, the Surrey, British Columbia native was asked to move from shooting guard to point guard this season following the graduation of Diaba Konate.

It was a new role on the team for Lee, but not an unfamiliar one.

“I’ve always been a distributing point guard and I played point guard my entire life,” Lee said. “My first look is to set my teammates up. … As long as I make a good decision and it leads to a score, that’s all that matters to me.”

The change in position has impacted Lee’s numbers, however.

Her scoring, shooting percentages and even steals have declined this season, but her assist average climbed from 1.9 to 3.0 per game entering Saturday’s game, which was tied for third in the conference.

“My decision-making, that was a bit of an adjustment at first, because I was used to building off of someone else’s decisions,” Lee said.

The move to point guard and the addition of several offensively skilled players created less of a need for Lee to score.

Hunter Hernandez and Olivia Williams returned after both missed last season with knee injuries sustained during the 2022-23 season, and UCI also added 6-foot-3 freshman forward Summah Hanson from Australia, who has emerged as the team’s third-leading scorer.

With the new options on the offensive end, Lee’s scoring average dropped from a team-high 13.9 ppg last season to 10.4 heading into Saturday’s regular-season finale, which was still second on the team behind Hernandez (13.3).

Lee produced seven 20-point games last season, but has just one this season and that came on Nov. 27. She hasn’t scored more than 16 points in any conference games.

“She had to take the point guard position with Diaba being gone, so it limits her (scoring) a little bit more,” Inoue said. “But, I think with Hunter coming in and all our transfers, it’s been really helpful for her and she just wants to win, so she’ll do whatever it takes.”

Although the Anteaters had second place and the double-bye locked up entering Saturday’s game, UCSB had plenty of motivation to win.

If the Gauchos could beat UCI a second time this season, they would have locked up fourth place in the conference and earned a bye into Thursday’s quarterfinals.

UCSB (18-12, 12-8) hung around until giving up the final seven points of the first half to fall behind 24-17. The Anteaters then shot 7 for 9 from 3-point range in the third quarter to extend the lead to 51-37 and they never looked back.

Ten Anteaters scored and six of them made at least one 3-pointer.

“We lost to them last time we played them and that was our first loss to Santa Barbara in the four years I’ve been here,” Lee said. “And so that kind of lit a fire under our butts. Getting the opportunity to play them, not only in our last game, but my senior night, we were not going out on a loss.”

​ Orange County Register 

Dodgers fall to White Sox after bullpen coughs up lead

• March 9, 2025

THE GAME: After taking the lead in the fifth inning, the bullpen allowed four runs in a span of two innings and the Dodgers fell to the Chicago White Sox, 5-2, on Saturday at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona.

PITCHING REPORT: Right-hander Tyler Glasnow had six strikeouts over a smooth three innings, giving up his only run on a home run from former teammate Miguel Vargas. Glasnow’s run of appearances in the Cactus League is now complete, with an outing in an exhibition game in Japan up next, as well as one against the Angels just before the regular season begins. … Right-hander Ben Casparius went 1⅔ innings and gave up his lone run in his second inning of work. … Left-hander Anthony Banda had a rough outing, allowing three runs on four hits in two-thirds of an inning.

HITTING REPORT: Two of the Dodgers’ big bats brought in runs against the White Sox, with Mookie Betts delivering a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning and Freddie Freeman adding an RBI single one batter later. … The Dodgers had just five hits, with Andy Pages collecting a pair of singles. … While Shohei Ohtani struck out twice against White Sox Rule 5 pickup Shane Smith, the Dodgers had no answer for right-hander Grant Taylor, who recorded all six of his outs over two innings by strikeout. A second-round draft pick in 2023, Taylor has not pitched above the Single-A level.

UP NEXT: Dodgers (LHP Blake Snell) vs. A’s (RHP Joey Estes), Sunday, 1:05 p.m. PT, Camelback Ranch, Glendale, Ariz., SportsNet LA, 570 AM

​ Orange County Register 

Suspect arrested in fatal shooting of woman in her car in Anaheim

• March 9, 2025

A Cudahy man suspected of shooting and killing a woman in her car in Anaheim earlier in the week was arrested on Friday, according to authorities.

At around 8 p.m. on Tuesday, March 4, Anaheim police officers and Anaheim Fire & Rescue personnel responded to a report of a vehicle collision on the 700 block of North Vine Street,  near La Palma Avenue and North East Street, in Anaheim.

At the same time, officers responded to reports of gunshots heard near North Vine Street and East Cypress Street, less than half a mile away from the reported crash, according to a police news release.

Upon arrival at the scene of the crash, officers found a woman dead in her car with at least one gunshot wound. The news release said the officers who arrived at the second scene discovered evidence of a  shooting.

The woman found dead in her car has been identified as Charlene Zuazo, a 48-year-old Anaheim resident, authorities said.

Initial investigations showed the two scenes were related. “It is believed the victim drove away from the shooting scene and crashed into a parked car after she was shot,” stated the news release.

Homicide detectives and Gang Unit and Crime Task Force investigators worked the case.

Detectives arrested 18-year-old Jerry Gutierrez, a resident of Cudahy, on Friday, March 7,  on suspicion of murder.

Additional details were not disclosed because the investigation is continuing, police said.

Anyone with information about the shooting was encouraged to contact Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS.

​ Orange County Register 

Opa! Make it a Greek dinner with bifteki and tzatziki

• March 9, 2025

Back in the ’90s, the Greek side of my husband’s family would frequent a Greek restaurant in Salt Lake City. My in-laws were chummy with the owner, George.

One of our favorite dishes was bifteki, or Greek beef patties, and after years of requesting his recipe, I finally got it from George after he retired.

Bifteki has become a family favorite. I make a big batch and freeze the meat for future use. It is very flavorful.

The meat is formed into oblong shapes, instead of round patties, and served with tzatziki sauce. You can buy your own tzatziki or use the recipe that was handed down to me. I serve bifteki with a Greek potato salad. Opa!

Any questions or comments, email me at cjvigos@yahoo.com.

Bifteki

INGREDIENTS

21/2 pounds of ground beef 80% lean

2 eggs

Scant tablespoon garlic powder

Scant tablespoon onion powder

Scant tablespoon cumin

1 tablespoon ground oregano

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

21/2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon pepper

1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning

1 small onion

2 Roma tomatoes

DIRECTIONS

Finely chop the onion and tomatoes and drain through a sieve. Put mixture in a large bowl with the rest of the ingredients. Hand mix and form the meat into oblong shapes. I use 1/3 pound of meat per serving.

In a large fry pan, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil. On medium heat, fry the meat like you would a burger.

If you’re not using all the meat, form it into oblong shapes and freeze. They will be ready to go when thawed for another meal.

Serve with tzatziki.

Tzatziki

INGREDIENTS

1 small English seedless cucumber or 1 regular cucumber, seeds removed

1 cup Greek yogurt or sour cream

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon onion powder

1/4 teaspoon dried dill or 1 teaspoon fresh dill

3 tablespoons lemon juice

11/2 teaspoons white vinegar

1 teaspoon olive oil

DIRECTIONS

Peel and grate English cucumber. I use a mini processor. Put the pulp between paper towels.  Press and drain till most of the moisture is absorbed.

In a bowl, place the cucumber and the rest of the ingredients. Mix well, taste and adjust seasoning. Leftovers are great as a dip for potato chips.

​ Orange County Register 

Kings analysis: Did the trade deadline even matter?

• March 9, 2025

The Kings perfunctorily crossed the top item off their checklist at the trade deadline and general manager Rob Blake was affable and forthright afterward Friday.

That stood in contrast to last year’s deadline, a hostile period of internal tumult and the self-created inability to seek help calming it from without.

Yet any consistent observer would wonder if anything of substance has really changed with the black and silver.

Last season, Todd McLellan was out, and then Jim Hiller was in, promoted and then extended. Before this campaign, the 1-3-1 was nixed, but an even stodgier, more defensive-oriented and offensively challenged version of the Kings still magically appeared on the ice.

Above all, the Kings are on another collision course with the Edmonton Oilers, who’ve eliminated them in increasingly efficient fashion from each of the past three first rounds of the postseason. They’ll likely start their opening series on the road, where they’ve been beyond substandard, and their sparkling home record seems unlikely to hold weight against an opponent that held them to one goal in two home losses during a forceful ejection from last year’s playoffs.

At the moment, they’re reeling from a season-worst five games without a win, seeking to avert a season-series sweep by the St. Louis Blues at home before chasing the commanding division lead of the Golden Knights in Vegas. Even their defensive play was highly pervious during their 0-3-0 road swing.

After Friday’s games, the Kings were situated five points back of second-place Edmonton, 11 behind Vegas, a mere two points in front of Vancouver and three points from falling out of a playoff spot altogether.

Southern California iconic broadcaster Jim Hill asked Blake about his level of frustration with a team that was not meeting expectations, with Blake’s response belying Hill’s confident, matter-of-fact tone.

“I’m not sure we’re that far off where those should be. We’ve been, up until last week, in the top 10 in winning percentage all year, and we’re in the top three in our division,” Blake said.

In a news conference that was otherwise refreshing, that statement felt like a cheap sell to a room full of sophisticated buyers.

The reality was much clearer: The Kings not only had little that could be accomplished in the trade market, but they didn’t have the impetus of a contender to take a big swing in the first place.

Even the frank, gregarious Drew Doughty spoke the muted, mixed language of acceptance and denial, saying no matter what other teams did to load up at the deadline, the Kings felt they could still “frustrate teams,” later clarifying that their goal was also to “win some rounds.”

The Kings did attend to some internal business, re-signing Andre Lee, a 2019 seventh-rounder who became a depth forward for them this year, on Saturday.

More prominently, Blake revealed perhaps the worst-kept secret in the business, stating that his management team and defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov were progressing confidently toward a lengthy contract extension.

Gavrikov had been represented by Daniel Milstein, who negotiated a two-year contract with a full no-movement clause for his client, which got Gavrikov on track to hit free agency at age 29 and just as the NHL salary cap was set to take a series of leaps.

Yet a few days before the deadline, Gavrikov abruptly changed agents, now employing none other than Pat Brisson, the close associate of not only Blake, but also and especially President Luc Robitaille and special advisor Marc Bergevin. Brisson also represents Kings captain Anže Kopitar and was the agent of embattled former King Pierre-Luc Dubois – who’s enjoying a career season on a Presidents’ Trophy contender just a season later.

“There was really no negotiation prior to that change, actually [none] at all,” Blake said. “What it did was that the new agency gets to know Gavi a little bit, too.”

Many fans, admittedly frustrated, have begun to plaster the internet with “Fire Rob Blake” pleas through avatars, handles, sound, fury and more. Yet Blake is every bit the sound man seen Friday, and he was also the executive who jump-started a rebuild that blazed past those of other battered 2010s contenders like the Ducks, San Jose Sharks and Chicago Blackhawks.

Removing Blake, who is in the final year of his contract with a stated goal to at least escape the first round, would do little to curb the insularity and disingenuousness that have produced such a mediocre and unentertaining product on the ice.

​ Orange County Register 

Dodgers’ Tyler Glasnow feeling sharp and injury-free

• March 9, 2025

GLENDALE, Ariz. — So much for getting in your work in the relaxed atmosphere of the Arizona sunshine.

All eyes were on Tyler Glasnow’s final Cactus League start Saturday against the Chicago White Sox as the team moved closer to Wednesday’s departure for Japan and the upcoming season-opening games March 18 and 19 against the Chicago Cubs.

Glasnow still is expected to pitch in one of two exhibition games in Japan, and again in one of the three Freeway Series games against the Angels from March 23-25. The Dodgers are now looking for some results amid the chaotic schedule.

“I think this is an important start that I expect him to have that preparedness, be ready to go and to pitch well,” Manager Dave Roberts said Saturday morning before Glasnow took the mound. “It’s not just a run of show. I expect him to be good today.”

Glasnow obliged by striking out six over three innings, while throwing 53 pitches. The only run he allowed was a home run in the second inning from former teammate Miguel Vargas.

“Felt pretty good,” Glasnow said. “I think the rhythm early on wasn’t as good as the next two innings, but I felt sharp for the most part.”

The right-hander was a solid 9-6 with a 3.49 ERA in 22 starts last season, with his season coming to an early close with injury issues that have plagued his career. Glasnow did not pitch after Aug. 11 with elbow tendinitis.

“I think with Tyler, my opinion is he gets too mechanical at times and not let his natural athleticism and compete kind of drive his outing,” Roberts said. “I think this spring, that’s where he’s been. He’s freed himself up a lot more this spring.”

Roberts added that Glasnow continues to operate injury free after struggling with soreness last season.

“The main thing with Tyler is after starts, and sometimes during starts, he didn’t feel comfortable with his arm and there was some residual (discomfort),” Roberts said. “So right now, it’s really free and easy and he’s recovering really well.”

In Japan, Glasnow will face either the Tokyo Giants or the Hanshin Tigers. Off the field, he can’t wait to experience the spectacle that will come with the Dodgers’ arrival and the homecoming of Shohei Ohtani.

“Ohtani’s like Justin Bieber times 10 over there, so it’s probably going to be insane,” Glasnow said.

WELCOME ABOARD

The smiles on the mound Friday night are what confused the family of Dodgers right-hander Matt Sauer the most.

After a roller-coaster of an outing Friday against the Seattle Mariners that started well before ending by allowing four runs in the ninth inning without recording an out, Roberts turned Sauer’s disappointment into a smile.

“I got into the clubhouse right after the game and my dad and my wife had already texted me like, ‘We need to know what that conversation was,’” said Sauer, who noted that he happened to have 10 family members at the game.

The conversation was Roberts breaking the news to Sauer that he would be on the traveling roster for the team’s trip to Japan. Whether or not he is on the active roster for the two games against the Chicago Cubs in a week and a half, he still will earn a $70,000 bonus.

While being extended to a third inning on Friday, Sauer’s ERA ballooned to 8.22 in four spring outings. He also has eight strikeouts and one walk in 7⅔ innings. The former New York Yankees top prospect could end up being another key bullpen find by the front office. He was also a starter as recently as 2023.

“The staff here, in the offseason, everything we talked about where I could become a great pitcher just clicked with me and I felt this would be the best spot for me,” said Sauer, who had his first taste of the major leagues with 14 innings for the Kansas City Royals last season. “So far, I’ve been loving it.”

DON’T GET BURNED

White Sox roster hopeful Shane Smith made a memory for a lifetime when he struck out Shohei Ohtani twice in the first three innings. It might help the Rule 5 draft pick from the Milwaukee Brewers get his first call to the major leagues in a few weeks.

“Just have to mix and match with him,” the 24-year-old Smith said. “He sees things very well and he’s aggressive, so if you can play to the aggressiveness, that’s great. I think I fooled him on the last fastball; I don’t know what he saw. But he’s unbelievable. So you’re playing with fire a little bit.”

CRUNCH TIME

After he added a walk to his two strikeouts Saturday, Ohtani is not expected to play Sunday against the Athletics.

According to Roberts, Ohtani will play the Dodgers’ final two Cactus League games at home – Monday against the Arizona Diamondbacks and Tuesday against the Cleveland Guardians. It will be the first time Ohtani has played consecutive games this spring.

The Dodgers are scheduled to fly to Japan on Wednesday.

​ Orange County Register 

UCLA women rout Ohio State for Big Ten Tournament showdown with USC

• March 9, 2025

The UCLA women’s basketball team needed that one after what has not been the easiest of weeks for the fourth-ranked Bruins.

They had suffered yet another loss to crosstown rival USC for the Big Ten regular-season title last Saturday, followed by the players initiating a let-it-all-out meeting, then opening the conference tournament with a closer-than-expected victory over 10th-seeded Nebraska on Friday.

All that led to an enormous exhale in the form of a 75-46 thumping of Ohio State in the Big Ten Tournament semifinal Saturday in Indianapolis, setting the stage for a third shot at the Trojans with another trophy on the line.

Londynn Jones found her shooting stroke, hitting 8 of 16 from the field and 6 of 12 3-pointers for a game-high 22 points. Gabriela Jaquez sparked the Bruins early, scoring all 12 of her points in the first half on 5-of-5 shooting.

UCLA (29-2) now gets another crack at beating the No. 2 Trojans (28-2), who are responsible for the only blemishes on the Bruins’ record. USC advanced to the tournament final earlier Saturday after pulling away from Michigan for an 82-70 victory.

The Buckeyes came into the game ranked 13th in the country, having lost only four times – two coming during a rough trip to L.A. against UCLA and USC last month – and shooting 45.5% on the season and 34,3% from the 3-point line.

UCLA held Ohio State to 19-of-57 shooting (33.3%) and 3 of 10 from 3-point range. The Bruins, meanwhile, shot 32 of 63 (50.8%) and drilled 11 of 24 (45.8%) 3-pointers, all while racking up a 43-25 rebounding advantage.

The Bruins jumped out to a 22-8 lead after one quarter without star center Lauren Betts scoring, let alone tempting a shot. Instead, Jaquez led seven Bruins in scoring with seven points, as they shot 11 of 15 (73.3%) from the field.

Meanwhile, the Buckeyes opened shooting 3 for 14 (21.4%) in the first frame.

In the second quarter, Betts got cooking, cashing two layups for a 29-12 advantage with seven minutes until halftime.

Ohio State closed within 35-21 on a Jaloni Cambridge jumper with 3:09 left in the second quarter, but the Bruins went on a 9-0 run to close the half. Betts added a layup and jumper, followed by a Jones 3-pointer with 43 second left and a 17-footer from Jones just before the buzzer.

The Bruins finished the half 20 of 30 (66.7%) from the floor compared to 9 of 30 (30.0%) for the Buckeyes. Betts had eight points on 4-of-5 shooting, finishing the game 6 for 7 for 12 points.

​ Orange County Register