Turning the corner ...

by Nestor on Dec 30, 2005 6:52 AM PST in Basketball

Huge win last night at Pauley. Make no mistake about it. Last night's 71- 54 win over a 4-4 Stanford was big for a number of reasons. It was one of the most dominating Pac-10 performance of an injured Bruin basketball time over an opponent, who simply owned us through the Lavin years. Last night's win despite so many injuries (which I will get to in a bit) was a clear message for rest of the Pac-10 that their heady days of gravy train ride from the Lavin days are officially over:

The Bruins, growing more resilient with every new disheartening MRI result plopped onto Ben Howland's desk, took apart Stanford 71-54 in one of their most dominant Pac-10 performances in years.

The win was the eighth consecutive for No. 11 UCLA (11-1, 1-0) and gives the Bruins their best start since their 1994-95 NCAA Championship team. That team started 12-1, a record UCLA can match with a win Saturday against Cal.

"This was a great win for this team," Howland said.

Stanford, picked to finish second in the Pac-10 by conference coaches, had beaten UCLA six straight times and eight of the last 10. The Cardinal (4-5, 0-1) had not lost to the Bruins at Pauley Pavilion since 1996-97.

And the key to last nights big win was once again was Howland's trademark relentless defense, which he used to turn Pittsburgh into an overnight national sensation. DN report has more on that BRUIN DEFENSE:

What the Bruins lacked in personnel against Stanford they made up for with a ballhawking defense that harassed the Cardinal into 29.2 percent shooting (14 of 48) and 13 turnovers, with many of the misses and turnovers converted into points on the other end.

Stanford missed its 12 first shots from the field, resulting in an 18-1 UCLA lead. The Cardinal never got closer than 13 points the rest of the half and trailed by as many as 24 points in the second half.

The key was a series of traps and double-teams that continually confused a typically disciplined Stanford offense. The defense was spearheaded by Farmar and Afflalo.

"Their defensive leadership was critical," Howland said.

Now I want to go back to the Michigan game for a second. After the game at Ann Arbor, some of the comments I was reading in other Michigan blogs and message boards seemed to indicate that those guys were thinking Wolverines lost the game because of their inabilities to adjust Bruin's double teaming at the low post. Could be. But then again ... it may also have to do with how effective our athletes are double teaming down low and swarming all over the court. Matt Haryasz is one of the best bigs out West and he is no Courtney Simms. And the way we stifled their offense by effective double teaming down low was extremely encouraging. Let's hope we can keep this up as we are going to face some more talented athletes (i.e. Leon Powe on Saturday) as Pac-10 gets into full swing.

Now on to the bummer note from last night, which is Ced's injury. The kid has a torn cartilage in his left shoulder. This really sucks ... more for Ced than for the Bruin team in general. I have written year before - this was the one kid I was specially rooting hard for given what he has had to go through since he has been at UCLA. But perhaps it will all work out. I am keeping my fingers crossed that he will be able to come back in few weeks and help us right in time for the Big Dance. Meantime, according to the LA Times Jordan reinjured his ankle, which he sprained earlier in the season. Seems like he will be back, besides DC has been doing an incredible job running the point coming off the bench. Speaking of incredible, again we really have to put the job Howland is doing in perspective having the Bruins at 11-1, at no. 11, and our best start since that magical 1994-95 season, given the incredible list of injuries this season:

The big hurt

Add Cedric Bozeman to the long UCLA injury report this season. The senior guard injured his left shoulder and could be out for the rest of the season.
Notable UCLA injuries this season:
PLAYER, POSITION    INJURY
Cedric Bozeman, guard    shoulder
Jordan Farmar, guard    groin, ankle
Arron Afflalo, guard    quadriceps
Michael Fey, center    groin, ankle
Ryan Hollins, center    groin
Lorenzo Mata, center    concussion
Alfred Aboya, forward    knees (surgery)
Josh Shipp, forward    hip (surgery)

Again this is really amazing. And, we still have to temper our enthusiasm for rest of the season given the injury of Jordan. But there are genuine reasons to be beyond excited this program. Howland has clearly established a rock solid foundation for this program, which is already proving that it can weather injury after injury and still keep on winning against good teams. This is unheard of in UCLA's recent history in either major revenue history (for example check the excuses coming from football program for its pathetic defense). Anyways, I am fired up about rest of the season. This is going to be fun. If we can pull out a tough win this Saturday, we are going to be sitting pretty at 12-1 going into a tough Zona trip. Make no mistake about it - it is still going to be awfully difficult to take on and beat teams in Tucson, Seattle, Palo Alto, Berkeley, and Eugene, but we know our boys are going to be coming out firing - playing that fierce brand of NO FEAR DEFENSE, which gives this team a fighting chance to bring home the Pac-10 title for the first time since 1997. And now that is what called the experiencing the true feeling of the turning the corner of a program that was demolished and destroyed under the previous coaching reign. Exciting times for a UCLA basketball fan. Enjoy it ... we are just getting started. GO BRUINS.

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Comments

Fired up

There is a lot to be excited about- as you well note. I'm very impressed with the team's depth and resiliency. Also, the freshman have, for the most part, really stepped up- particularly Mbah a Moute.

Hopefully, the injury bug has run its course. I'm not so concerned about Hollins and Fey- they are wastes of oxygen. Ced's injury doesn't really bother me either (besides feeling bad for a good kid), since he seems like the odd man out with Shipp's return.

The key is Farmar. Don't know if you saw the game, but it looked like he tweaked the ankle pretty good. Note sure I agree that Collison is all that "incredible"- he looked bad last night, and was also shaky against Sac. St. Sure, he's had some good spurts, and shows great energy off the bench, but he's no replacement for Farmar.

by brewinTK on Dec 30, 2005 7:34 AM PST reply actions

Farmar

I am holding my breath over that. Let's hope it's not serious. I don't think DC was incredible last night. However, I think he has been extremely impresssive the whole season (Tyus Edneyesque) the way he has jump started the team off the bench. We are going to need more of that rest of the season, while giving Jordan some much needed rest to heal his ankle.

by Nestor on Dec 30, 2005 7:57 AM PST up reply actions

COY

Ben Howland is looking to be my early favorite for the Coach of the Year honor. Only two season ago, the Bruins were 11-18. UCLA is now 11-1. A dramatic improvement, eh?

by ucla2k3 on Dec 30, 2005 7:47 AM PST reply actions

Isn't it amazing...

...how a proven head coach can come in and turn a program around so quickly?

by Ajax on Dec 30, 2005 8:02 AM PST reply actions

and not just a charade of a turnaround

turnaround based on rock solid wins over good teams, a good schedule, and doing it despite of injuries without making whiny excuses.

by Nestor on Dec 30, 2005 8:06 AM PST up reply actions

A couple of injuries not on your list

At the beginning pre-season practice, Mbah a Moute missed around ten days with a shoulder injury. He didn't miss any games, but then neither did Afflalo with his quad injury.

Also, last night Ryan Wright sprained his ankle, and it looked pretty bad on the replay. He finished the game, but it probably is going to be very sore today. I'm hoping it's not going to affect him too much tomorrow or even beyond that.

by diomedes on Dec 30, 2005 9:00 AM PST reply actions

Wow ...

I read about the Wright injury ... but didn't think it looked all that serious. Took that list from the Times report this am. Also, what was your impression of Roll last night? How did he look?

by Nestor on Dec 30, 2005 9:04 AM PST up reply actions

Wright

Watched it a couple times on Tivo; doesn't seem serious to me. He rolled his ankle; I'd be surprised if he misses any real time.

by brewinTK on Dec 30, 2005 9:47 AM PST up reply actions

Thanks brewin ...

Just read on the Bruin Basketball Report ... that he came back and finished. Now I am little worried about Jordan.

by Nestor on Dec 30, 2005 9:50 AM PST up reply actions

Roll sucks

He is Brandon Lloyd reincarnated. Basically, he is used as a ball-holder. When someone needs to get rid of the ball, they throw it to him, and he throws it back to them. I think he took 2 or 3 shots, and maybe made 1, but he is not especially good on defense or offense. I think the only reason he played so much was the injuries. I hope he doesn't play for extended periods of time. They might as well play Janou Rubin instead.

GO BRUINS. HOOK 'EM HORNS.

by uclawarren on Dec 30, 2005 10:34 AM PST up reply actions

I don't think so ...

Roll from his appearances seems to know what his role in his team this is. And I think Howland will turn him into a good college player. To early to make thise kind of conclusive comparisons with Brandon Lloyd.

by Nestor on Dec 30, 2005 10:36 AM PST up reply actions

The biggest thing that stands out to me

Is the way Howland's team defends. And the way Mata and Mbah a Moute hit the boards is incredible. Watching AA come off screens and curl around the elbow is fantastic.

This is how basketball is supposed to be played.

Good fundamentals. Something that the football team lacks. This is why I am confident in Coach Howland.

by Odysseus on Dec 30, 2005 9:04 AM PST reply actions

Check out the Stanford POV ...

Money grafs from SF paper

The Cardinal were outshot, outrebounded, outhustled and outsmarted. To their credit they kept after it, not that UCLA (11-1, 1-0) seemed to notice. The margin grew to 24, and the crowd of 10,984 wanted more. The Bruins did get somewhat slipshod and let the Cardinal come to within 13, but were never seriously threatened.

"That is a very good basketball team, without many weaknesses,'' Stanford coach Trent Johnson said. "We got off to a horrendous start and never recovered. It seems like every hustle play every key rebound they got. ... They beat us on the glass, they had more energy. They are better than we are.''

Outhustled and outsmarted. Just one word - coaching. We have it in hoops, not in basketball.

by Nestor on Dec 30, 2005 9:22 AM PST up reply actions

Mata

If Mata can keep playing like he did last night, he will be our starting center and potentially a dominating starting center for our squad. I was quite impressed with his effort and performance last night. We can only dream once Howland fully develops Mata into a dominating center.

by ucla2k3 on Dec 30, 2005 9:05 AM PST reply actions

Mata ...

A number of people were down on this kid when the season started overlooking the fact that he started out the season hobbled. I feel good under BH, Mata is going to turn out to be all right. If Harrick and crew did wonders with Zidek, I am sure Howland and Doniels will do the same with Mata.

by Nestor on Dec 30, 2005 9:06 AM PST up reply actions

Solid, but not dominating

I like Mata. But, I don't think he'll ever been in the neighborhood of dominating. He hustles, rebounds and has a great attitude. If he continues to develop and bulks up some, he might even be a good defensive center. That said, his offensive skills (beside garbage baskets) are, and likely will remain, virtually nonexistant, so I think "dominating" is a bit overly optimistic.

The good news, of course, is that we don't need him to score, and that contribution will probably be enough.

by brewinTK on Dec 30, 2005 9:42 AM PST up reply actions

Mata showed a few offensive moves last night

His development is still progressing, but it's amazing how far he's come already

by Odysseus on Dec 30, 2005 9:51 AM PST up reply actions

Mata is far advanced at this point ...

than where George Zidek was during his soph. year at UCLA. Shoot ... I think Mata is advanced and certainly lot more tenacious than Rodney Zimmerman ("CO Player of the Year!"). That is why I am excited to see how he turns out by the time Howland is done coaching him in Westwood.

by Nestor on Dec 30, 2005 9:54 AM PST up reply actions

I hope your right

I really do, especially since I like the guy so much. I just haven't been impressed. The moves he has shown seem to be weak little hooks, etc. And he doens't have Zidek's frame, and is unlikely to develop into a wide load 7 footer anytime soon, but who knows.

by brewinTK on Dec 30, 2005 10:01 AM PST up reply actions

Not impressed yet

Mata has always been an "energy guy." That means he will block shots, play okay defense, and commit stupid fouls. He always plays excited, which sometimes is good, but he also needs to be able to calm down. He also keeps trying to do this turnaround jump hook, but it is ALWAYS short. ALWAYS! I understand he is a raw athlete, but he definitely needs work in his post game. Even Ryan Wright has more offensive post game than Mata, and he is also considered "raw." I think Mata will develop into a solid defender if he can learn when he has to go all out crazy and when to just play solid defense.

GO BRUINS. HOOK 'EM HORNS.

by uclawarren on Dec 30, 2005 10:38 AM PST up reply actions

We don't need a dominating center

We just need someone who can competently match-up with the opponent's 5. We have scoring from our big 3.

With just a little inside presence, this team can make a serious run.

by Ajax on Dec 30, 2005 3:18 PM PST up reply actions

The D was SCARY last night

Our aggression on D last night impressed me more than anything else during that game. Our players just hustle. Stanford never really had a chance. Our team was just hungrier. Keep it up, Bruins.

by Bruin Roar on Dec 30, 2005 9:27 AM PST reply actions

Kobe

I want to see Arron Afflalo get some direct lessons from Kobe Bryant. It was mentioned during the telecast that Afflalo was watching Kobe workout tapes. It would be great if AA could get together with Kobe. Get Farmar together with Baron Davis. There is nothing like learning from the pros.

by 5214 on Dec 30, 2005 9:36 AM PST reply actions

Yikes

I sure don't. Others will disagree, but Kobe isn't exactly the role model I want Afflalo following.

It seems to me that Afflalo is the most likely to leave early. Also, AA has struck me as having a bit of a bad attitude at times. Chirping at officials, sulking around after fouls/bad calls, etc. It is just as likely that I'm misinterpreting his intensity and competitiveness, and I hope I'm worrying unnecessarily- particularly since most media reports seem to indicate that he's a stand up guy. But I'd be interested in other folks impressions.

by brewinTK on Dec 30, 2005 9:56 AM PST up reply actions

Hmmm ...

I don't see that from AA at all interms of attitude. If anything ... I love the kid's instensity! and re. the main point - I'd bet Jordan, AA and co. have already been playing with Kober and other NBA stars during those famous summer pickup games at Pauley. One of the great reasons for any elite recruits to come out to UCLA (hello Love and Singler).

by Nestor on Dec 30, 2005 10:07 AM PST up reply actions