Los Angeles is a hoops hotbed. Three professional basketball teams play at Staples and three local colleges made it to last year's Big Dance. But just because some of the players come from around the country and overseas, don't think LA needs to poach outside talent. The city boasts an amazing legacy of high school basketball. Local courts are responsible for current pro stars like Baron Davis, Gilbert Arenas, Paul Pierce and Jordan Farmar. Many... more ›

Dallas 108, Lakers 72 - The last time the Lakers lost at home this bad, "home" was Minneapolis. Things got so ugly that LAist writers were wondering if Smush Parker's ejection (after a second technical) might help the team. But with three players sidelined with injuries, the it turns out a streamlined roster wasn't much of a solution. Dallas rolled to its 17th win in a row and held Los Angeles to within two points... more ›

The most exciting college sports action is going down this weekend in Los Angeles and this time there's no pigskin involved. The Pac 10 Men's Basketball Tournament is taking place Staples Center. It's a little like that awkward moment just before the Big Dance. It can be expensive to go, you wish you were with one of those cheerleaders, somebody already got upset (big time), and somebody hopes to get lucky. Come to think... more ›

Winning never gets old. The UCLA men’s basketball program has had more than its fair share of winning over the years, holding the majority of the major NCAA team records, including championships, Final Four appearances, consecutive winning seasons, consecutive games won, and weeks ranked #1. Nevertheless, last night’s hard-fought win in hostile Pullman over an excellent Washington St. team, which clinched an outright Pac-10 championship (and likely top overall seed in the Big Dance),... more ›

Call us the Grinch, but LAist has never liked conference tournaments. Sure, they're fun. And it does give plenty of underdog schools a chance at the Big Dance. But the overall concept stinks. How many great seasons in mid-major conferences have been ruined by these tournaments? Tons. more ›

The win was enormous for UCLA. Going into the contest, UCLA had essentially one quality win-- a come-from-behind thriller over Washington early in the season. The Bruins desperately needed another big win, and thoroughly dominating a good Big East opponent on the road was the perfect elixir. The win also helped the entire Pac-10 conference. When the NCAA Tournament committee thinks about whether to take 5th Pac-10 team or a 6th or 7th Big East team, this game can serve as a decent barometer. more ›