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ASSOCIATED PRESS
At left in a Feb. 28, 2015, file photo, Gonzaga head coach Mark Few instructs his team during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against BYU in Spokane, Wash. At right, in a Feb. 11, 2015, file photo, UCLA head coach Steve Alford directs his team against Oregon State during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Los Angeles. Gonzaga and UCLA play on Friday, March 27, 2015, in the regional semifinals of the NCAA Tournament in Houston.
HOUSTON » UCLA lost just once at home this season and it was Gonzaga that dished out that defeat.
To say that 87-74 loss in December is serving as extra motivation for the Bruins (21-13) as they prepare for a rematch against the second-seeded Bulldogs (34-2) in the NCAA Sweet 16 on Friday might be an understatement.
"We take pride in defending our home court and they’re the only team that came in there and beat us this year," UCLA freshman Kevon Looney said. "We’ve got a chip on our shoulder about that."
Gonzaga coach Mark Few knows the Bruins will be looking for revenge for that loss and that they’re dangerous despite being an 11 seed.
"They’re playing with a high level of confidence right now," Few said. "They’re on a roll."
Gonzaga’s Byron Wesley said Few keeps reminding them that the UCLA team they’ll see Friday is not the same team they beat in December.
"They’re a much better unit (now)," Wesley said. "Coach has really told us not to get too caught up in last game that we had with them because they’ve made it to this point in the season for a reason."
Gonzaga is in the round of 16 for the sixth time and is looking for its second trip to the Elite Eight in this weekend’s South Regional in Houston. UCLA is in the regional semifinal for the second consecutive year and the fifth time in 10 seasons.
Gonzaga’s streak of 17 straight NCAA Tournament appearances is the fourth-longest active streak and the Bulldogs are 21-17 in 18 trips to the tournament overall. UCLA has a storied history in the tournament, having won 11 national championships, with the last coming in 1995.
These teams have met just three times, with Gonzaga’s only loss coming in a 73-71 defeat in the Sweet 16 in 2006.
The Bruins have been great in the second half of the season, going 14-6 since a five-game losing streak that started with the loss to Gonzaga. UCLA coach Steve Alford was asked how his team is different than it was in that first meeting.
"Well, hopefully a lot," he said. "Watching that tape a couple of times over, I think we’re a much more mature basketball team than what we were there."
Gonzaga enters the game having won five straight behind the stellar play of Kentucky transfer Kyle Wiltjer. The 6-foot-10 Wiltjer leads the team with 17.1 points and 6.1 rebounds and had 24 points in the first meeting with UCLA.
Looney will try to slow him down on Friday.
"He’s really versatile," Looney said. "So I have to try to get him out of his comfort zone and speed him up, and make it a more athletic game for him."
But Wiltjer is far more concerned about his team’s defense than anything he does on offense.
"(Our defense) anchors our offense," Wiltjer said. "When we can get stops we can run out and start to win games. We’ve been making it tough on opponents and hopefully we can continue that."
FAMILY AFFAIR
Alford feels lucky to get to share this experience with his sons Bryce and Kory, both players for the Bruins. He said he makes a point of taking time to not only be their coach, but also their father. He sometimes watches the game film once in an official capacity and then a second time with his sons just as Dad.
"Part of the journey is making sure you enjoy it and have fun," the coach said. "So the last thing I want to do is have my children on the team and them not enjoy it and me not enjoy it."
Bryce loves that he’s getting to have this experience with his father and brother.
"This isn’t something a lot of people get to have," Bryce said. "You have to enjoy it and not only enjoy it with those two but enjoy it with these guys on my team. My teammates are brothers to me as well. It’s a family affair, not only with us three but the whole team."
MASKED MAN
Looney has to wear a mask after suffering a facial fracture against USC in the Pac-12 Tournament quarterfinals. Since then freshman has finally found a mask he is comfortable with.
"I never used to wear glasses or anything on my face. To have something on my face was kind of distracting but now I’m getting better with it," Looney said of the mask that is similar to the one Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook wears. "I’m starting to get used to having something on my face."
