Hollywood is a place that can make or break dreams.
The script figures to play out this week when the ASU men's basketball team travels to the Los Angeles schools.
Act 1 starts tonight against UCLA.
The Sun Devils (16-7, 5-6 Pac-10) faltered Saturday in their latest chance to solidify themselves as an NCAA Tournament contender in an 84-82 loss to California.
Now, ASU must make the most of this week's road trip to keep its NCAA Tournament hopes alive.
"There are a lot of teams out there that are about like us that have a chance to get there," ASU coach Rob Evans said. "I can't say a number [of wins needed], but we've put ourselves in position. Now we have to finish strong."
UCLA (12-7, 6-5) sits in the same boat as ASU. It beat ASU 86-82 last month at Wells Fargo Arena.
The Bruins used a formidable defensive scheme that double- and triple-teamed ASU junior forward Ike Diogu, holding him to 15 points.
Keeping Diogu in check won't be easy this time around.
Diogu is coming off perhaps the best week of his career. ESPN's Dick Vitale named him National Player of the Week, and Diogu took home Pac-10 Player of the Week honors after averaging 37 points and nine rebounds in a split against the Bay Area schools. Diogu posted a career-high 39 points in ASU's 74-67 win over Stanford.
"He had an unbelievable week, and he was really focused," Evans said. "I think the little criticism that he got after the Washington game really spurred him on to play even better."
Even if Diogu provides an encore performance, ASU needs contributions from someone else -- like a perimeter player.
Senior guard Steve Moore remains in a shooting slump, meaning sophomore guard Kevin Kruger, the team's second-leading scorer, might ditch his sixth-man role and work his way into the starting lineup.
Kruger is capable of making a difference. He has averaged 14 points the last four games. He's averaging 12.7 points in Pac-10 play.
Perimeter scoring will be pivotal, especially if ASU continues to struggle defensively and on the boards.
"Each time we talk about a loss, it boils down to one thing: defensive rebounding," Evans said. "We need to take care of the details."
Reach the reporter at matt.reinick@asu.edu.