Stupid motivational technique

Last month, Nic Wise gave an apparently controversial quote to the Tucson Citizen. He told the paper that every day in practice, associate head coach Mike Dunlap tries to motivate the Wildcats by delivering the following message:

“You can beat UCLA in Pauley Pavilion.”

Now, obviously, Arizona can’t beat UCLA in Pauley Pavilion, or anywhere, but Dunlap is using the saying to get the young team’s confidence up.

It’s a sign of weakness for Arizona and a sign of respect towards UCLA. Or so you’d think.

UCLA’s coaching staff placed copies of Wise’s quote in every Bruin player’s locker this week.

Give me a break. Really? A sign of respect for your team, and that’s your motivation for beating Arizona?

How about not losing to a mediocre opponent so you can stay in contention for a 1 or 2 seed in the NCAA tournament?

How about not losing a home game you should win so you can remain the team to beat in the Pac-10?

How about not losing to your one-time rival, who you’ve dissembled 7 times in a row?

How about playing for self dignity and not losing to a team you should never lose to?

Who cares what Dunlap says? Arizona is a young team and needs any help it can get for motivation.

As for UCLA, apparently Howland is looking for anything he can get his hands on to motivate his players.

So here’s some more motivational material.

Alex Jamison’s Arizona vs. UCLA prediction:

Arizona 250, UCLA 2.