Director of BBall Operations Speaks

by Give me a B... on May 16, 2008 12:25 AM PDT Comment 37 comments

Bumped. GO BRUINS. -N

Joe Hillock, UCLA Director of Basketball Operations spoke at the UCLA Club of the Desert's Annual Scholarship Dinner tonight. I took some notes that I thought might be interesting to others on this site.

His role is basically that of another assistant coach. I got the impression he has been with CBH for several years dating back before UCLA and maybe before Pitt, but he didn't say specifically.

One of his jobs is "breaking down" the film taken at practices. Each practice is filmed, then he compiles the film to review with CBH the next morning at 9am. He typically is up til 2am every night during the season analyzing the film from the previous practice and/or game. He also is the "liason" with the medical staff (there are 4 doctors on staff) with whom he meets weekly.

A typical "day in the life" of a Bruin Basketball student-athlete

Breakfast at 6am (training table)
Class
1 1/2 hrs in weight room 4 days/wk
Athletic training 4 days/wk
Practice 6-7 days/wk (practice starts Oct.15 and runs until April...)

The team's GPA for the last term was 2.99. Four players made Honor Roll. He made a specific point of mentioning RW's GPA as being somewhat higher. (I'm not going to post the number, as I wouldn't want my GPA published for public consumption) The point being that he's not turning pro because he can't hack the schoolwork. Overall, not bad for a team that played in 39 games and won 35. On away trips, they leave campus early Wednesday mornings, meaning they miss classes W - F. An academic advisor travels with the team. The team for the first time ever has hired a nutritionist and an "athletic performance" coach. The weight room has recently been re-done.

Regarding specific players:

AA2 Sited the Andy Katz article. Stated he is in summer school and is likely to be back.
LRMAM "testing the waters"
JS "90% sure" he is coming back
RW "not coming back" . Likely lottery pick
KL "probably not coming back"
ND "false rumors" regarding him leaving. Some problems with his diet in that he put on 8 lbs during the season despite the training, but has already lost 7 since the season ended.

Regarding recruits:

Could not comment on a specific player not yet signed due to NCAA rules.
Gordon is also a track & field athlete competing either in shot put or discus. He has an outstanding HS GPA.
J Holliday is the second coming of D. Wade. His mother is a coach. He would be NBA caliber out of HS if he could be.
M Lee has a 7'2" wing span
J Anderson is the #2 PG in the country.

Recruits will be early entries in July to get acclimated to the campus and the academics before the season starts.

UCLA will play in the Coaches v Cancer Classic which will also include Duke and Memphis (possible rematch?)

Pauley renovation will cost $175M. 3 - 4 plan options are being considered. Naming rights may also be negotiated but the name will still include Pauley and the court will still be the Nell and John Wooden Court.

He also played the highlight video for the season. Some of it I'd seen before on this site (the one that has the montage that starts with stills and words like Intensity, Leadership, Defense, Focus, etc. but this one was longer). He said afterward that it wasn't yet available on YouTube. I might be able to get a copy from our club president. I also asked him about Chase, and he gave me the diplomatic response.

BTW I used to post on this site as UCLAMD89 and used the BN upgrade as a chance for a better username. I'm a geezer-in-training so no avatar yet. This is my first fanpost, so please be kind.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of BruinsNation's (BN) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of BN's editors.

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Comments

holy cow

great information! thanks for posting and welcome to BN.

by bruinbunz on May 16, 2008 12:43 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

this is great stuff...

am sure this will get bumped up to the front page, I really like the fact of us pulling in specialists like the nutrition person…this stuff makes way more of an impact on performance than most people realize…is too bad that RW is out of here but it makes complete sense…

great news on the coaches vs cancer classic too!

by glassbruin on May 16, 2008 12:57 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Nice post

Thanks for the info. Great first FanPost. Keep ‘em coming.

by Menelaus on May 16, 2008 3:39 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Very good stuff

And despite the fact that you’re an MD, I could read your handwriting.

by Fox 71 on May 16, 2008 3:59 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Ha Ha

by Give me a B... on May 16, 2008 9:36 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

KL "Probably Not Coming Back"?

An interesting “qualified” answer in light of the “not coming back” label RW got.

And, I wonder if we will ever understand the back story on Stanback. Most of us thought he showed great promise and from what’s been said he’s a great kid.

GMAB - Great post. Thanks for taking these notes. This is the kind of stuff that makes BN so special - especially to use Bruins in Exile who have no shot at learning this any other way.

sjh

by Class of 66 on May 16, 2008 6:03 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Those were both direct quotes.

by Give me a B... on May 16, 2008 9:35 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not Posting GPAs

The team’s GPA for the last term was 2.99. Four players made Honor Roll. He made a specific point of mentioning RW’s GPA as being somewhat higher.

..as the others have said, this is excellent work! There were some very interesting facets of the UCLA athletic program reported here. For example, the importance of a training table breakfast made available to the basketball players instead of a couple of toaster tarts and black coffee on the way out the door to their 8:00 AM Soc class.

Also concur with not posting GPAs but do marvel that RW could manage > 2.99 with the demands of BBall and demands of the classes he had to take.

(insert gratuitous dig here about Senora Rosa and the Condomites)

by WHP '68 on May 16, 2008 6:52 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

BB of operations

This was great info. Very cool of you to share…it’s no wonder, after reading your notes, why CBH and the team are perenial champions. Clearly we have the best organization in college basketball, and let’s face it, you must have a great organization, players, coaches and personel as keys to success. GO BRUINS!!

by jraucla on May 16, 2008 7:53 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Thanks

Great info. Can’t wait for next season.

by GoBruins98 on May 16, 2008 9:05 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Thanks N

Its quite an honor to be bumped on my 1st try.

by Give me a B... on May 16, 2008 9:37 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Any time

Keep it coming.

by Nestor on May 16, 2008 4:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Would that I could

However, I fear I have used up my “insider” info for the year. Although, as noted below, these events occur all the time. So we need all BNers out there reporitng on them.

by Give me a B... on May 16, 2008 4:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also

Mr. Hillock was quite a dynamic speaker. I think the club organizers were a little disappointed at first to not get a “bigger” name (e.g. CRN). In the past, we’ve had Coaches Toledo, CTS (better in person), CBH, CHP and DG. Last year we had Coach K (the towel waver). However, Hillock was a great motivational speaker, esp. for our incoming freshman who all get scholarships from our group. They all seemed quite excited to be there. No one was disappointed by the end.

Again, thanks for all the nice notes.

by Give me a B... on May 16, 2008 9:47 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

CRN and NC at another event

CRN and NC weren’t at this event because they were at another one. A fundraiser for the Asian Pacific American Alumni Club. A very worthwhile event, in my opinion.

Unfortunately, I was tied up with work and could not attend this event. Did anyone else go?

by UCLAbruin920 on May 16, 2008 11:19 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

DARN!

I didn’t know about that one, or I definitely would have gone. Great timing too, since it’s Asian American History month.

by freesia39 on May 16, 2008 1:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I have a friend that was supposed to go. I’m waiting for some details from him.

by UCLAbruin920 on May 16, 2008 2:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

update!

Just heard from my friend who went there. Norm Chow wasn’t there because he was in Maui recruiting an OL transfer. I wonder if it’s the same guy someone else posted about that we landed today.

He also said that CRN is hoping to win some games with special teams, seeing that he brought the special teams coach from the Ravens in.

by UCLAbruin920 on May 16, 2008 4:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is Truly Terrific!

This is simply a marvelous post—thank you!!

One question: I thought KL hired an agent, and therefore, could not come back. Please correct me here. (Not that I actually think he would come back, given his circumstances, but, I’d like to know, regardless.)

Again, thank you so much. I love this “insider” info, with all the nitty gritty details. I’m a Bruin In Exile…I live for this stuff. :)

Love My Bruins

by Bruingirl83 on May 16, 2008 9:50 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

According to Chad Ford @ WWL

KL has hired an agent as his name does not have an asterisk next to it which would mean that he is preserving eligibility:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2008/columns/story?columnist=ford_chad&page=InOut

Also, for you insiders, apparently KL and Luc are doing well @ workouts:

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft2008/insider/columns/story?columnist=ford_chad&page=DraftWatch-080516

by bruinhopeful on May 16, 2008 10:27 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Luc

actually that article seems to suggest Luc “still has a ways to go” before he develops into a solid NBA player and that Ford doesn’t project him as a 1st rounder. I think it would be a mistake for Luc to stay in the draft this year. Another year to polish his mid range jump shot, ball-handling skills and basketball acumen would be to his benefit.

by godblesstyus95 on May 17, 2008 9:04 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeap

by Nestor on May 17, 2008 9:20 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I am just curious as to when Love hired an agent? I have never seen that reported, yet on the Chad Ford article he has no asterisk by his name, like you said. I know he’s going to stay in the draft, i just didn’t ever hear about him hiring an agent yet. Anyone know?

by uclafan11 on May 19, 2008 1:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Free preview

ESPN insider free preview! You can read the whole article on KL and Luc, but i’m not sure how long it will last.

They are doing well it seems.

by UCLAbruin920 on May 16, 2008 11:31 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Also quite interesting..

..I commend reading the article as long as it is available. It says, in effect, that KL has made remarkable strides from his time at UCLA and attributes a great deal of success to his dietary changes and weight loss. Also, it would appear that KL has shed the spare tire he carried. While this seems like a condemnation of UCLA’s conditioning, the article points out that he now eats “structured meals” and worksout 5-6 hours per day.

I prefer to think that KL has just shed baby fat and, far from being a damning of UCLA’s athletic program, it could be construed as an adherance of KL and others to the academic rigors instead of just phoning in the classes and devoting all day to the gym..

..unlike some other cross-town university who shall go unmentioned here.

by WHP '68 on May 16, 2008 1:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

good point

and let’s not forget that KL shed significant weight while he was at UCLA too. Howland said from the beginning that KL needed to get in better shape and he did as the season progressed. The way I see it, he just continued to lose weight…

by UCLAbruin920 on May 16, 2008 2:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Easy explanation

No matter how strict a regimen a college coach (even someone as ultra disciplined as Howland) puts his athletes in … they are still kids who work through a college schedule. That means eating during odd hours in between classes/studying/practices etc.

Since he declared for the draft KL prolly hired a personal trainer … who had him zero in one one goal one … improve draft stock. That prolly regimented his eating habits to strictly sync in with his workout schedules.

I think it’s remarkable what KL did as a freshman. If he were to stay in college a little longer he would have adjusted to the schedule of a college student which would have shape him up even more. But he is now doing that at an accelerated level in this pre draft shaping up period.

by Nestor on May 16, 2008 4:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That was the emphasis, if not the point..

..of the article. It was linked before but I was unclear as to whether it was part of the ESPN paid venue or a freebie. Nonetheless, Chad Ford pretty much agrees with you:

However, I’ve been in enough gyms over the years to know that players can get a significant advantage to both their draft stock and rookie years if they get in the right program. Players can change and, with great trainers like a Tim Grover or a Joe Abunassar, the results can be impressive.

Kevin hired Abunasser who put him on the strict regimen.

Thinking back to my freshman year (first significant time away from parental restrictions and without the discipline of school sports), I marvel that i survived at all, so pathetic was my dietetic integrity. That these kids can handle school and big-time college basketball (and get a 2.99 GPA at UCLA) is nothing short of a miracle.

by WHP '68 on May 19, 2008 5:22 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Question About Staffing Personnel

When you mentioned there is a “athletic performance coach” what exactly is that person’s job? Did he mention?

by sprtpsych on May 16, 2008 11:40 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Didn't say specifically

but I got the impression this coach would be like a personal trainer type. Could be reading into this tho. No mention of any sports psycology component.

by Give me a B... on May 16, 2008 3:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is actually Hillock's first year...

...at UCLA; he was previously the head coach for women’s basketball at Southern Utah for quite some time. I’ve come across him on several occasions to relay stuff from marketing to the men’s basketball office and on gameday, and he’s a great guy…really nice and down-to-earth.
Btw, great update on the team!

GO BRUINS!

by jlegs on May 16, 2008 11:49 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Malcolm Lee's wingspan

He was measured before the Nike Hoop Summit and it was listed at 6’9”, which is already exceptional for a player at 6’4”. I’m pretty sure his wingspan is NOT 7’2”. I’ve seen him in person and his arms don’t hang down to his ankles.

by 805Bruin on May 16, 2008 4:44 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

AA2

Spoke to Department of Public Policy Student Affairs Officer at the 10th anniversary of the MPP degree. They met with Alfred yesterday, are impressed with him (particularly finishing undergrad in 3 years) and hope he does indeed apply to the Master of Public Policy program.

by britishbruin on May 16, 2008 11:11 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Regarding Chace

Just from word of mouth around campus, from what I’ve gathered it seems like he was probably told that it would be in his best interest to transfer.

by sevascisum on May 18, 2008 3:40 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Rumor

We don’t care much about rumor/”word of mouth” here on BN. There is always a message board to spread/post unsubtantiated information. Thanks.

by Nestor on May 18, 2008 7:03 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry, but...

and I mean this with the utmost respect, but weren’t there numerous posts her about J’Mison Morgan possibly leaving, Ryan Mallet transferring, CTS firing an assistant coach via text message, Spurrier being our next coach etc. without any substantial evidence? I just thought since I’m actually on campus and people have been asking about it in this thread, I’d post what (little) I know about it. I’ll just refrain from that from here on out though.

by sevascisum on May 18, 2008 7:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Andrew Gordon Discus star

Indeed, Andrew Gordon is a very good discus thrower. He’s currently rated #1 in the CIF Central Coast Section, #8 in the state of CA and has a PB throw of 179’ -6”. He’ll be competing at the State Track Meet on June 1 at Cerritos College in Norwalk.

Not quite the level that will get track coach Art Venegas overly excited, but with his height and considering it’s clearly his second (or third) sport, he could be a great project. Hope CBH is cool with him working out with the throwers, that’d be great.

Easy money and faithless women, red-eye whiskey for the pain...

by rich87 on May 18, 2008 5:53 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs