Technical difficulties be damned! Time for some more blogging in semifinal #2.

8:54 PM: Great start to this game…uh, yeah. Really great. Two fouls on Afflalo, neither team hitting anything. Four combined points in the first 3:30. Now UCLA hits two free throws, giving the Bruins as many points as they have fouls.

Now FIVE fouls on UCLA. Where were these foul calls earlier in the tournament?

8:57 PM: UCLA leads 4-2 in points, and 5-2 in fouls. LRMAM now has two fouls, and is seated next to Afflalo on the bench. You’d think the Gators would be jumping all over UCLA on the offensive end, but no — the Gators appear completely out of rhythm.

9:05 PM: Timeout on the floor with 11:52 left in the first half; UCLA leads 6-5. Neither team is in much of a rhythm, but at least they’re trying to push the ball down the floor a bit. There’s really not much to say so far in this game. I don’t expect UCLA to do much offensively, and Florida will probably come on at some point, although they’re not showing much at this stage.

In other news, Billy Packer has finally confirmed what we already knew.

9:09 PM: UCLA makes the first major mistake of the game, as Afflalo picks up his third foul and now has to sit the rest of the first half. Smart play by Florida to take it right at him. Hopefully Thad Matta is taking notes in the stands.

9:20 PM: I’m glad this game is airing at night — it might help cure thousands of insomniacs across the country.

Game flow has been a foreign concept so far in both contests. The officials have basically forced UCLA into playing their 9th and 10th men — of the eight fouls on the Bruins, seven are on UCLA starters. Florida, meanwhile, is just pissing away their advantage, missing free throws and field goals. 13-12 Florida, 7:39 to play in the first half.

9:29 PM: Watching this game is painful. Blogging this game is even more painful. Florida’s hit a few good shots to take a 9 point lead. UCLA looks completely inept on the offensive end. Plus, UCLA now has only two timeouts remaining for the rest of the contest. There’s really not a lot more to say, other than that we’ve been spared any major Joakim Noah outbreaks so far.

9:41 PM: Okay, this game is officially sapping my will to live. UCLA makes a small comeback and closes to within 7 (or is it 6?). Whatever. Nothing from this game is very compelling. The most exciting part of this game for me is watching that day-glow green on the sidelines, expecting Slimer from Ghostbusters to pop out at any second.

It’s halftime. I guess I’ll be back for more later.

10:11 PM: UCLA is 11 down. Unless the Bruins come up with some offensive spark out of nowhere, this game is over.