Attention Howlandwood: 2009-10 Ben Ball Season Officially Around The Corner

by Nestor on Oct 14, 2009 7:53 PM PDT in Basketball Comment 15 comments

Ben Ball Warriors Singing Happy Birthday To Coach. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Talk about perfect timing. The entire Bruin Nation was celebrating Coach's 99th Birthday today and it was the same day Wooden's program officially kick started the 2009-10 Ben Ball season by having it's annual Media Day at Pauley.

Haven't seen a lot of write ups on what went down today at Pauley except for pictures hitting the AP wire like the one above in which the guys were singing Happy Birthday to the Coach. AP has a write up with some very interesting news on JMM who per the report "shed" 25 pounds this off-season:

"Nobody had to tell me, I could definitely feel that I needed to work on my body to play college basketball," said Morgan, who averaged 2.3 points and 1.0 rebounds last season. "Not only was I out of shape, I wasn't as strong as I needed to be."

Howland estimates that Morgan, who is listed at 6-10, 248 pounds, had about 17 per cent body fat last season and quipped that he was jealous Morgan is now down to seven per cent.

"(I expect him) just to be able to change ends of the floor better," Howland said. "That was an issue for him last year in terms of getting fatigued quickly when the game was going up and down. He can provide a low-post threat because of his length and he has a nice jump hook that we want to take advantage of so we're expecting him to have a good campaign for us."

That's not the only good news trickling out from media day.

Lot of folks have been wondering about the status of TH who was diagnosed with a lower back stress fracture earlier this summer. Per the AP report he has been officially cleared to practice with the team which starts on Friday night:

"Tyler being healthy and able to play is important because we're counting on him," coach Ben Howland said Wednesday at the team's media day.

Meanwhile, JK's left shoulder is getting better. His MRI already came back with negative results. He is already doing some light workout drills and it sounds like Howland is not all that worried about it right now:

"Yesterday we were doing one-on-one shooting and he was able to go through it, follow missed shots, dunk it," Howland said. "I think he's a lot better off than maybe was first feared."

I am sure we will have more on these guys and especially our freshmen as more stories come out of Media Day. The news early on should be a huge relief to everyone who lives and die with Ben Ball around here on BN (that would be all of us).

There will be lot of questions surrounding this team heading into the first part of this 2009-10 season. Many of the returning guys will be taking on key roles after getting so used to following the lead roles of guys such as DC, PAA, JS and the Ben Ball warriors who preceded them. While they are getting used to taking control of the team on the court they will have to provide leadership for yet another core of freshmen who will be anxious to make their impact in Howlandwood. Of course it will all start and end with defense.

So, it is going to be fun to see how all of these guys mesh with each other and learn to play as a team. Just three more weeks to go till we all start seeing all this unfold.

GO BRUINS.

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It's appropriate that the Caretaker would take time to recognize Coach

You can’t think about Coach and realize how blessed we all are just to be associated with UCLA. You think of all the qualities you wish you had, and all the qualities you hope will somehow get instilled in your kids, and then you look at Coach, and think how proud Coach’s dad must be. Every one of us is a better person for knowing him, even if it’s vicarious. And it probably wouldn’t be vicarious to Coach. I’m sure if any one of us went up to shake his hand, he would welcome us, and make us feel like the most important person on the planet.

by Fox 71 on Oct 14, 2009 8:01 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

+1

Amen, a thousand times.

Formerly UCLA Class of 86

by Class of 86 on Oct 14, 2009 9:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It makes me proud

It’s definitely a good thing to say, “I’m happy to be a Bruin”

There's no one in the world that wants to beat UCLA more than _______.

by ucla13_usc9 on Oct 14, 2009 8:14 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm excited to see the new team.

It really was the end of the era with the departure of DC, Shipp, and The President. I look forward to a new batch of recruits picking up the Howland mentality and asserting themselves against our conference foes. I look forward to watching players progress from game to game, putting up some unexpected performance, or hit a clutch shot that makes Sportscenter.

The fools in the MSM have made comments to the effect that Howland’s recruiting class is not all it could be and our run of conference championships and Final Fours are over. I look forward to watching CBH’s team proving them wrong

A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment. John Wooden

by MexiBruin on Oct 14, 2009 8:57 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Basketball..... one word

Aaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!!

by rbeachdude on Oct 14, 2009 8:59 PM PDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs

Bobo

Bobo looks fantastic and I am extremely excited that he is playing for CBH. A lot of the MSM has anointed ML the hidden gem of the Pac 10 but with the lack of size in the Pac 10 this year, I think Bobo is going to dominate. I already bought my tickets to the Wooden Classic and am looking forward to seeing Bobo go against one of the top frontlines in college from Mississippi State with Varnardo, Riek, and Sidney. I am more than confident that JMM and the commissioner DG will be up to the challenge.

by bruinponcho on Oct 14, 2009 10:04 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree with that sentiment

If J’Mison Morgan is in shape and can be a contributor, that would be an incredible boost to this team. It sounds like he has the right work ethic to get his conditioning where it needs to be for Coach Howland’s defense. My concern would be with foot speed when it comes to hedging the screen up at the top of the key and then recovering down low in the post. Then again, Kevin Love wasn’t exactly blessed with sprinter’s speed either, and the defense was able to adapt that year- mostly thanks to Luc Richard’s freakish athleticism in the post. I think it will be up to Tyler Honeycutt and Drew Gordon to fill that role this year.

Ok…I’m getting too excited just thinking about it. Still a month away. Gotta calm down. Deep breaths….

by insomniacslounge on Oct 14, 2009 10:41 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Long arms

After hedging on screens, CBH has his bigs run back towards their man with their hands outstreched behind them. This cuts down the passing lanes and buys enough time for slower players like Love and Morgan to get back to their man before a pass can be made to him. The advantage Morgan has over Love is his arms are much much longer than Love which should prevent him from getting burned too many times on hedges.

Of course, if the opponent only has one big who plays outside and has another that has a post up game, you are absolutely right that DG will be out on the perimeter with JMM guarding the basket.

I hear ya though, so excited. Lakers preseason ball will have to do for now.

by bruinponcho on Oct 14, 2009 11:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh and as for the Wooden Classic

I think it’s pretty unlikely that Sidney will be certified by then.

Of course, I’m almost always wrong when it comes to guessing issues with the NCAA.

by insomniacslounge on Oct 14, 2009 10:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hmm

I hope you are right poncho. I am still bit skeptical. Will have to see how much his footwork has improved and you know as well as anyone he is not getting on the court if he is not Ding up in practice. So yeah the practices I am sure are going to be interesting!

by Nestor on Oct 15, 2009 4:47 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs