Morning briefing

UCLA should avoid tie

The last time Western Kentucky was this close to UCLA in the NCAA tournament, the Hilltoppers were full of shenanigans.

To get out of the first round in 1971, Western Kentucky pulled the old sneaker trick to beat Artis Gilmore’s Jacksonville team.

With the score tied in the final seconds, Jacksonville turned the ball over and “everyone on both teams rushed to that sideline,” former Hilltopper Clarence Glover said. “I started walking down the sidelines. Everyone lined up for the inbounds play and I knelt down like I was tying my shoe.”

When he stood up, Western Kentucky was headed to the second round.

“I still have the tape of Curt Gowdy screaming, ‘Glover has the ball. The shot. It’s over,’ ” said Glover, now an assistant principal at a middle school in Louisville.

As to whether that play has been passed on to the current Hilltoppers, Glover said, “That only happens once in a lifetime.”

Note to UCLA Coach Ben Howland: That is not a denial.

Trivia time

When was the last time UCLA and the Lakers were both No. 1 in the West heading into the postseason?

Turn back

the clock

Western Kentucky made it to the Final Four in 1971, losing in double overtime to Villanova, which then lost in the title game to UCLA.

“We really wanted to play UCLA,” Glover said.

As for the chore the current Hilltoppers face tonight against No. 1-seeded UCLA?

“It’s 50-50,” Glover said. “I know what’s supposed to happen, but this is not like the Tour de France. You only have to beat them once.”

Davidson squared

The odd, slight differences between John Davidson, singer/actor, and Davidson College, which is in the Sweet 16:

Davidson is the son of Baptist ministers. Davidson College was established by Presbyterians. John Davidson was a guest star on “Fantasy Island.” Davidson College is residing there at the moment.

Next week, Tony Orlando and the Orlando Magic.

Art of war

Art Aragon, the “Golden Boy” boxer who died Tuesday, was remembered by reader Nick Beck of Sherman Oaks, who e-mailed: “ . . . After listening to Lyndon Johnson’s State of the Union speech -- in which the president declared the famous ‘War on Poverty’ -- Art fired off a telegram to the White House: ‘I surrender.’ ”

The mail’s late

A news release Wednesday touted this World Series prediction by astrologer and psychic Monte Farber: N.Y. Yankees to face S.F. Giants. Good call . . . if this were 1962.

Charles not

in charge

Los Angeles Times sportswriter Mike Terry belongs to a rare club: people who got the last word with Charles Barkley.

Barkley, then a player for the Suns, was holding court before a game against the Clippers, telling reporters he was going to get along with everybody that day. Barkley pointed to Terry and said, “Even this [jerk] here.”

Terry fired right back, “That’s Mr. [Jerk] to you.”

A stunned Barkley had no response.

Terry took a buyout from The Times and will be leaving this week. He will be missed.

Trivia answer

1977.

A bad omen. UCLA lost in the Round of 16 to Idaho State (where’s “Western Kentucky” again?).

The Lakers lost in the Western Conference finals to the Portland Trail Blazers.

And finally

Davidson Coach Bob McKillops has a theory about his team’s popularity, telling the Charlotte Observer, “We don’t blow anybody away with our layup lines, and I think people relate to us.”

Sure, makes them want to holler, “We got next.”

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