LAS VEGAS -- UCLA went into the season with the uncertainty that comes with a new coach. Vancouver Canucks Jerseys . The Bruins suffered their share of setbacks, a notable one just a week earlier. Once the Pac-12 tournament got rolling, the Bruins took off. Now, after trading body blows with one of the nations best defensive teams, UCLA takes home a Pac-12 championship in its first season under Steve Alford. Outlasting one of the best closing teams in basketball, UCLA knocked off No. 4 Arizona 75-71 in the conference tournament final on Saturday. "Weve got an edge to us now, its a lot of fun," Alford said. "To win a championship means a lot to us." They definitely earned this one, emerging from a battle of the Pac-12s best teams that featured big plays, big blows and floor burns. The Wildcats locked UCLA down in the second half after an offensive show in the first. The Bruins countered by doing the same thing to Arizona down the stretch, and then made the big plays against the big-play Wildcats to finish it off. UCLA point guard Kyle Anderson was at his all-around best, finishing with 21 points, 15 rebounds and five assists. Jordan Adams made a big 3-pointer with 45 seconds left and scored 19 points. Norman Powell scored 15 points and combined with David Wear to hit four free throws in the final five seconds. After three games in three days, the Bruins are Pac-12 champions and on a big roll headed into the NCAA tournament. "This gives us the confidence that we not only play with anybody, but beat anybody," Alford said. "But youve got to get hot and stay hot." Arizona (30-4) started flat defensively, clawed back behind its offence and shut down the Bruins through most of the second half. The Wildcats were unable to finish it off for one of the rare times this season, hurt by 10 missed free throws and questionable shot selection down the stretch. Nick Johnson led Arizona with 22 points and Kaleb Tarczewski added 12. Aaron Gordon had 11 points, eight rebounds and eight assists for the Wildcats, who may have lost out on a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament with the loss. "We lost a game we could have won," Arizona coach Sean Miller said. "Jordan Adams hit a great shot and I believe some of the things we learned in todays game will better serve us for the biggest prize, why we all do this, and thats to hopefully advance next week in the NCAA tournament." After 10 games in three days, the Pac-12 tournament came down to UCLA and Arizona, the top two seeds, on a big roll since arriving in Sin City. Arizona, the conferences regular-season champion, overwhelmed its first two opponents with its dont-let-them-breathe defence. The Wildcats raced into the tournament record books with their 32-point win over Utah in the quarterfinals and cranked up the highlight reel in the second half of its semifinal rout over Colorado, allowing 82 combined points in the two games. UCLA swamped Oregon in its opener, turning what was supposed to be a track meet into a stomping. The Bruins did the same thing to Stanford in the semifinals, all but putting the game out of reach in the opening five minutes. These teams met once during the regular season, Jan. 9 in Westwood. Arizona ended a three-game losing streak to the Bruins in that one, escaping with a 79-75 win despite 17 turnovers and blowing a 13-point lead in the final 6 1/2 minutes. UCLA had the advantage early in the rematch by doing what two previous tournament opponents couldnt: Score on the Wildcats. Pushing the pace at every turn, the Bruins got shots seemingly wherever and whenever they wanted. UCLA used a 12-0 run to go up 14-3 and kept pouring em in against one of the nations best defences. The Bruins hit 18 of 31 shots and scored 43 points in the first half -- more than Utah did the entire game against Arizona and matching Colorados total. "They came out and punched us in the mouth," Johnson said. The Wildcats kicked their offence into gear to get back in it, shaking off some questionable shots in the opening minutes with a string of 3-pointers, including three by Gabe York. Arizona shot 16 of 30, including 5 of 8 from the arc, to close to 43-40 at the half. The game turned from an offensive show to a defensive shutdown in the second, every possession a struggle to get off a pass, much less a good shot. Travis Wear and Gordon typified the effort of the entire game late in the half, sprinting from beyond midcourt, simultaneously diving and skidding across the floor for a loose ball. Wear came up with the ball and the Bruins the win, giving them a big notch on the belt in their first season under Alford. Daniel Sedin Canucks Jersey .J. -- New Jersey agreed with Petr Sykora to terms of a one-year deal on Wednesday, completing the former Devils bid to return to the NHL after an 18-month absence. Custom Canucks Jersey . -- Tyreke Evans is still making the adjustment from point guard to small forward for the Sacramento Kings.ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Peyton Manning is the only player in this Super Bowl who has won the big game. Hes also lost one. So, he knows both the elation of putting his fingerprints on the Lombardi Trophy and the anguish of watching it slip through his grasp, and he admonished his Denver Broncos teammates not to cut corners as they prepare to face the Seattle Seahawks on Feb. 2. "I think the biggest thing hes said is eliminate distractions, making sure youre taking care of the little details, doing extra, watching film, working out, getting your body right," receiver Eric Decker said. "And then I think the biggest thing is he says hes won one, hes lost one. And its a complete high; its a complete low. So, really understand to give everything youve got because this is the last game of the year." Tight end Jacob Tamme was also Mannings teammate in Indianapolis when the Colts lost to the Saints in the Super Bowl in 2010. "Its an empty feeling," Tamme said. "I mean, youre certainly proud of what you did to get that far. But its an empty feeling to get to this game and not win it. So, were going to prepare hard and do everything we can to let it loose on Sunday and just play our best ball. Thats all we can do, just play our best ball. We know weve got a stiff challenge." Wes Welker caught 11 passes for 103 yards for New England in the Super Bowl following the 2007 season, but the Patriots shot at perfection ended when Mannings brother, Eli, threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress with 35 seconds left to give the Giants a 17-14 win. Welker said Friday thats the lowest point of his career and the driving force in his life. "I think its the reason I get up in the morning in the off-season and even now," he said. "Were close again and Im just trying to make the most of it." Broncos cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie nearly won a ring with the 2008 Arizona Cardinals, when he had five solo tackles and broke up two passes against Pittsburgh in the Super Bowl only to watch Ben Roethlisbeergers 6-yard touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes with 35 seconds left give Pittsburgh a 27-23 victory. Kevin Bieksa Authentic Jersey. DRC said hes "excited, anxious, nervous, ready to get there" for his second chance at the ultimate prize. None of the Seattle Seahawks have ever played in a Super Bowl, the first team with zero previous Super Bowl experience since the Bills lost to the Giants in 1991. Besides the four Broncos who have played in the Super Bowl, three of their coaches have won rings: defensive co-ordinator Jack Del Rio (linebackers coach for Baltimore in 2000), offensive consultant Alex Gibbs (O-line coach in Denver 1997-98) and secondary coach Cory Undlin (defensive assistant with Patriots in 2004). Of course, Executive Vice-President John Elway has two rings from the back-to-back titles he won in the late 1990s following three trips to the Super Bowl that ended in losses. "Weve got some guys who know the drill and are trying to pass down whatever little bits of wisdom theyve been able to and hopefully well take advantage of that," Tamme said. "Its all about this one. Its about the preparation for this game and how we go out and play come next Sunday. Thats the bottom line." Notes: RB Knowshon Moreno said he was relieved X-rays after the AFC title game showed only bruised ribs and no fractures. "I knew it wasnt anything crazy," he said. "Feels good, its getting better so Ill be ready to go. You can play through anything, especially in a game like this." Moreno was limited Friday for the second straight day of practice. ... Welker said he was "never really worried" about getting fined for his hit that knocked Patriots CB Aqib Talib out of the AFC Championship even though Bill Belichick complained about it. Welker declined to respond to Belichicks comments that Welkers hit, which didnt draw a flag, was one of the worst plays hed seen in 39 years of coaching. "I dont really have any reaction," Welker said. "Im just happy we won the game and happy about going to the Super Bowl." cheap jerseys ' ' '
