Center Court: Ben Ball (Portland) Second Half Open Thread
by Nestor on Nov 26, 2009 9:17 PM PST
in Basketball
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PrintWell UCLA basketball just put together perhaps the worst half in Coach Ben Howland's career in Westwood. They are down by a score of 19-36. Here is the box score if you care to look. Simply put we are looking ugly on fronts. We have absolutely no semblance of offense as our guys are just aimlessly moving around the court without any sense of direction. After all these years we still have no answer on how to handle a zone.
Howland's personnel decisons have been simply awful in the first half. Have no idea why he is obessesed with giving Nikola Draogic so many mins on the court, who has looked absolutely ineffective and clueless on both ends of the court. Absolutely no idea Howland is giving this guy so many mins on the court at the expense of more promising talent on the bench who have shown lot more hustle and desire than what we have seen from Dragovic this season. Also, speaking of ineffective, except of ML our back court looks non-existent.
I have no idea whether UCLA will come back. Right now they looked lost, beaten, confused and more depressingly thoroughly OUTCOACHED. It is disconcerting to say the least. If the Bruins keep this up, forget making the NIT, we might not finish this season with a .500 record. We will give Coach Howland benefit of the doubt given what he has accomplished in his tenure in Westwood. Still there is no excuse for what took place against Cal State Fullerton and the debacle we just had to witness in the first half in Anaheim. Carry on.
GO BRUINS.
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I can't say I wasn't warned
CBH was interviewed on the radio after the last game saying how tough this Portland team was gonna be
If you listened to our podcast
You’d have heard all about them. Portland can really play and shocker, they’ve been coached. I can’t same the same for us.
Formerly ryebreadraz
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Nov 26, 2009 9:20 PM PST up reply actions
clicking that link felt bad =/
Here’s to ML and DG taking over in the 2nd half!
I will just offer this
The Howland works in mysterious ways…
Oh UCLA you sweet bitch, you've BRUINed me for anything else.
Well
its worked in the past. Don’t see why it wouldn’t work again. Say all you want about personnel, but the basketball season is not a sprint. CBH brought UCLA basketball back from the ashes. I don’t so easily forget this THREE GAMES INTO A SEASON.
Oh UCLA you sweet bitch, you've BRUINed me for anything else.
His system worked in the past with different players
It will not work with this one.
Formerly ryebreadraz
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Nov 26, 2009 9:26 PM PST up reply actions
I hear you but …
Getting blown out in three consecutive final fours is not a way to finish a season. We should have been much more competitive against villanova last year too.
Howland has made big strides repairing the program but seems to have plateued IMO.
by hongerelli on Nov 26, 2009 9:28 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
howland's offense all flows from the man on the ball
JF, DC, RW… they knew what to do with it.
JA has been lazy with his passes and reluctant to do anything with it.
Lazy implies that he's not putting the effort in
JA has been working, but he lacks command of the offense and doesn’t have a feel for what’s going on. In over his head, yes. Lazy, no.
Formerly ryebreadraz
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Nov 26, 2009 9:21 PM PST up reply actions
Part of it is lack of playing time last year
CBH needs to learn from this year that you have got to be developing future players, even if you have great senior players.
"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"
by silverlakebruin on Nov 26, 2009 9:21 PM PST up reply actions
gordon
I would hate to see the +/- but would guess at half Gordon out is when the lead ballooned twice. 2 fouls was not worth watching the 1st half get away like that with ND and JK out there being worthless. I would rather go down with a spirited RN and effective DG drawing weak fouls. Gordon is improving by leaps and bounds over the 1st 4 games in my opinion and we can’t afford to have him out.
And it is obvious they know who are shooter is and made sure to cover up Roll and we seem to have no idea they can shoot the ball.
We are playing an experienced team -- I'll take experience over High School star ratings, anytime
I’ve always felt I’d rather have “lesser players” who stay 4 years and play together for 4 years than a bunch of hot shits who leave and force us to play young players before they are ready
sjh
And has averaged ~16-18 min/game
True that this is Roll’s first stretch in the starting lineup, but he has plenty of PT behind him.
AND
a fourth year PG. Thats a pretty big deal.
Oh UCLA you sweet bitch, you've BRUINed me for anything else.
portland
They can’t defend Gordon… We should have one mission on offense… figure out how to get him the ball!
that's why they play a zone...
"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"
by silverlakebruin on Nov 26, 2009 9:22 PM PST up reply actions
They can't defend him because they're not that big
yet we keep defending the inside and leaving space on the perimeter defensively. Hmmmmm?
Formerly ryebreadraz
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Nov 26, 2009 9:22 PM PST up reply actions
Phil Jackson was humble enough to let Kurt Rambis handle the defense
for the Lakers and they won a championship. We need to hire an assistant coach who can help improve the offense. How many times have we talked about the inept offense during the CBH era.
by UCLA Championships Made Here on Nov 26, 2009 9:22 PM PST reply actions
I am a basketball coach
so I like to think I know a little something about the sport. I love CBH and believe in him as a coach. I hate to criticize him, cause what he has done is amazing in his time at UCLA. However, why won’t he let these guys run? We are a very, very poor shooting team. We need to create some shots off the break, and let some of our athletes run and do their thing. We aren’t doing that. This is the same type of offense against the zone we have been playing for years. Guys won’t/can’t/aren’t allowed to penetrate the zone and create shots. I don’t understand. If you can’t shoot, you better find ways to get easy shots. RUN!!
Also, why we play ND is beyond me. MR has earned his time and is awesome. I love him. I wouldn’t bury any seniors, but for ND to be taking valuable minutes from Nelson and Lane is not good for the program in the long run. If we are going to play like this, let the young guns struggle so that by the end of the year, we are ready to make a run in the Pac-10 tourney. ND doesn’t deserve to play. Not because of any legal problems, but instead because he isn’t doing anything well on the court. NOTHING!!
I am really concerned because we are running the same stuff we have for the past few years, but we just don’t have DC their to bail us out of empty possessions. The young guys (Gordon, Anderson, Lee, etc.) are actually playing their butts off, but they just lack experience to be successful right now against good teams. That will come. Roll and Keefe are doing fine, but they are limited and one-dimensional. Their is no excuse for Drag…………he is simply not that good and he isn’t going to get better.
The guy is as stubborn as can be
It’s undoubtedly his biggest weakness. It’s burned him before in individual games, but this is the first time it looks to be burning him for a season. Hopefully he can make a change.
Formerly ryebreadraz
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Nov 26, 2009 9:24 PM PST up reply actions
This is ugly
and doesn’t look like it’s going to get better. I’m thinking .500 this year. Yikes.
I have total confidence in CBH to turn this around
if he will adapt to his roster and learn from his recruiting mistakes. Every business has to constantly evolve and change, and being successufl iin basketball is the same.
But this roster and play this year is just horrible.
I give CBH the same leeway I give CNW based on their accomplishments, but there is a lot to be critical of this season so far.
"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"
by silverlakebruin on Nov 26, 2009 9:23 PM PST reply actions
the way he handles ND ... is going to tell me a lot
and might be the first issue that will lead me question him vigorously on BN. What he did with ND tonight in first half was inexcusable. Just pathetic.
Part of me can't blame him
Because he might think that ND is the only other guy on the team who has any hope of making a 3-pointer. At this point, it’s not worth hoping for that to happen.
even before the legal stuff blew up
ND wasn’t playing anywhere near well enough to earn the minutes he was getting.
Whether he's still running the same offensive system to the T
that he’s run for years and is running now is a much bigger indicator than ND to me. At least ND has the potential to get hot at some point. There’s some upside, even if it is tiny and I don’t think it’s remotely worth the risk. I see ZERO upside to this offensive system with this personnel.
Formerly ryebreadraz
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Nov 26, 2009 9:26 PM PST up reply actions
Our offense has alternated between OK and bad
I can’t really think of a CBH squad that I thought was great offensively.
"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"
by silverlakebruin on Nov 26, 2009 9:28 PM PST up reply actions
What he did with him against CSUF was even worse, IMHO
we could have wont that game with ND being on the bench, instead, we kept hotter players on the bench to keep him in the game..
"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"
by silverlakebruin on Nov 26, 2009 9:27 PM PST up reply actions
It is
It goes to the old saying: would you rather be “right” or would you rather be successful? If being “right” is more important, you we will fail, because sometimes what you think is the right thing to do isn’t and you have to watch the evidence of how it is working..
"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"
by silverlakebruin on Nov 26, 2009 9:26 PM PST up reply actions
I've heard grumblings about Scott Garson's role
And lately he does by far the most yapping during timeouts, even though he’s barely out of being a graduate assistant. With all the coaching gaffes — on the court and in recruiting — these last two seasons I wonder if our staff needs some changes
Must have missed the recruiting gaffes?
I see what’s happening on the court, but what happened in recruiting?
Yea
I was just wondering if he did something to actually hurt us, rather than just not helping.
Can any one of our last 10 recruits shoot the ball?
The lack of getting a PG because they thought Holliday would stay?
Perhaps we need to get Ed O, Tyus, etc.
on the staff
by UCLA Championships Made Here on Nov 26, 2009 9:26 PM PST up reply actions
I'd be happy to have Cameron Dollar
but I know that’s wishful thinking for him to be an assistant…at least I would think so
Coach Daniels
Is a good closer. That’s all about all our assistants have shown in recruiting.
Formerly ryebreadraz
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Nov 26, 2009 9:27 PM PST up reply actions
I like Daniels.
I’ve seen nothing from Garson or Duncan.
Same frustrations
For the past two games I have been at pauley and yeah there was a huge improvement between the two games but still major problems this team has no go to guy they are a mess on offense it looks like they never know what to do. We can’t ever get the ball inside. It’s so frustrating to try to explain to people that our problem isn’t our recruits and that I simply don’t understand why we don’t have an offense. It’s a consistent problem but last year we had people to bail us out and now we don’t. This team needs a leader and I needs some offense. Were not the same defensive team that can keep a teams points down either. 36-19? Where are you on either side of the court bruins?
i think UCLA wasted alot of scholarships on alot of these guys…guys like andersen,morgan,keefe,drago and some others for what i see
JMM was def. a questionable
We all fell for the star ratings. But I wonder if the staff scouted him thoroughly.
I would play him, tonight
yes, practice is important. But, none of the guys playing ahead of him is doing anything in the games.
sjh
JA is my biggest problem
It seems like he just doesn’t recognize anything on offense. I’m even scared when he’s running a fast break, which is something that CBH coaches very well.
WERD
We were spoiled by Collison and Farmar.
by hongerelli on Nov 26, 2009 9:33 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
I would love to see
Lee given the PG job and the green light to run and shoot
Howland
Put it on the coach. This team plays like it’s up by double digits. ALWAYS walking the ball up the court. No offensive pressure whatsoever. Portland is dictating the pace of the game against powerhouse UCLA. Those guys race it up the court even after a made freethrow and looking for shots quickly. It’s been this way since Howland has been here. Is Howland’s D that good or is offense so bad that the Bruins just burn the shot clock on each possession shortening the game. I think so. It’s got to be embarrassing. I agree with the earlier comment. It’s a poor shooting team, so let them run and get quick buckets and layups. Howland is too freaking stubborn and AD will get tired of that in a hurry.
by LouisianaBruins on Nov 26, 2009 9:29 PM PST reply actions
Oh good
LBruins is here. Aren’t you supposed to wait till we’re up by 20 before knocking the team?
Oh UCLA you sweet bitch, you've BRUINed me for anything else.
Uhhhh ...…
Dude, A lot of people here are doing a pretty good job of beating on the team.
by hongerelli on Nov 26, 2009 9:35 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Wow
Rolls man fell down and they don’t find him.
Oh UCLA you sweet bitch, you've BRUINed me for anything else.
The more I watch JA
the more I am confused with CBH’s assessment that makes him think that JA will be a great PG. I can’t see him having any future in the NBA as a player, let alone a PG.
Agree for now
but Howland’s track record with the guards he’s recruited is pretty damn amazing
One SLIGHT consolation
Portland is good. They are a tournament team. I know, not much but something to try and cheer us up on this Thanksgiving night. :)
"The entire world that bleeds blue and gold ... they have been dying for this." - Coach Rick Neuheisel
Airball foul shot by them
3 by us, Mr. Momentum, are you turning?
Oh UCLA you sweet bitch, you've BRUINed me for anything else.
We need the Mo gentleman
that appeared at Gonzaga for this to work out! lol
"The entire world that bleeds blue and gold ... they have been dying for this." - Coach Rick Neuheisel
Re try
Just tweeted this
Dear Coach @Ben_Howland – you have some serious explaining to do. This is UNACCEPTABLE at UCLA
Losing would be understandable
losing like this, isn’t.
We are not that talented or experienced.
But, we are not playing with passion.
sjh
you can lose to portland
you can’t get blown out and embarrassed in Anaheim.
"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"
by silverlakebruin on Nov 26, 2009 9:33 PM PST up reply actions
No team can ever beat a zone without being able to shoot
Unless they’ve got a bunch of NBA-level drivers.
Getting kinda negative in here
We haven’t lost yet, let’s focus on making a comeback before calling for Howland’s head.
I'll admit it's an exaggeration
But it seems a bit premature to criticize Howland for having a bad game before the game’s over. He’s had a bad half so far, not a bad game.
He's had a bad season
This is all too similar to the rest of our games this year. Not a single adjustment.
Formerly ryebreadraz
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Nov 26, 2009 9:41 PM PST up reply actions
A Moser sighting...
unbelievable…
"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"
by silverlakebruin on Nov 26, 2009 9:34 PM PST reply actions
Arrrgh
RE: the replay on the double screen: and that is why you try to remain equidistant from your man and the ball when the ball is that far away.
Oh UCLA you sweet bitch, you've BRUINed me for anything else.
Interesting that CBHs half time comments
were about playing better defense.
We scored 19 points in the first half.
"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"
by silverlakebruin on Nov 26, 2009 9:35 PM PST reply actions
Happy Thanksgiving, Bruins
We need to stop and give thanks for lots and lots of things. One of the things on my list is Coach Howland. We may not be a title contender this year, but does anyone think we need a new coach? If so, say so, and let’s see if anyone will put up a Fire Howland website. This is the same guy who lead us to great victories in the past. Let’s let him coach and teach our guys.
And with that bit of Geezerdom, I am off to bed. My digestive tract has a lot of work to do.
Agreed completely.
I love CBH and all he’s done so far, but we also reserve the right to hold him accountable.
uh no
I just want him to grow. Players can improve and coaches can improve. Howland is a very good coach obviously. We probably have had to decent coaches since Larry Brown, so beggars can’t be choosers considering our hires over the years. That being said I have wanted to believe he is an elite coach on par with a Roy Williams both coaching and recruiting. And I believe in that regard the verdict is still out, but hopefully he can achieve that level. I see no natural competitive edge for Roy other than ESPN hype. It is big, but that school is not located in Westwood either.
i agree with the sentiments
i know it’s early in the year, cbh is a great coach and produced, and we are super young but play the young gunners. i dig the loyalty to the upperclassmen who stick with the program but they don’t seem to offer anything. the equivalent of starting mata-real with kevin love on the squad, you just don’t do it, you play the talent to get the w’s… i want moser,and lane, and nelson and JA needs to wake up asap
Across The Face
looking better this half...
lets hope we can cut it to 10 by the 8 minute mark…
another turnover… never mind
"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"
by silverlakebruin on Nov 26, 2009 9:36 PM PST reply actions
Knock of all CAPS
and ignorant comments. This is not your personal playground. If you make one more ignorant comment here, you will finally be gone. I have given you enough warnings and don’t have time or patience to deal with morons here tonight. Thanks.
Thank you, N!
Driving me crazy.
"The entire world that bleeds blue and gold ... they have been dying for this." - Coach Rick Neuheisel
2-9 on FT's
I just don’t get it.
Not a matter of experience or game plans or anything like that. Can’t blame CBH for that.
sjh
No worries
If I want to read criticisms, I rather read it from the regulars. :-) Not trolls doing drive by.
That's a momentum changing move for sure!
Let’s GO BRUINS
These are
suppose to be top 50-100 recruits? We suck against zone defense. Every team will just play zone against us
26 points in 25 minutes
will not win you many games.
"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"
by silverlakebruin on Nov 26, 2009 9:41 PM PST reply actions
Rebuild??
UNC lost 4 starters and they just reload. We have to rebuild??
Howland needs to recruit tougher players
What happened to the International recuiting? Where are the Abboya’s and Luc’s? He was special because he could identify talent and nurture the unknown. Now he’s recruiting like every other coach and he’s losing control…
How many programs out there have international guys?
Luc and PAA were flukes. You can’t depend on them. 98% of international guys worth a damn are playing pro ball by 16.
Formerly ryebreadraz
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Nov 26, 2009 9:44 PM PST up reply actions
you prove my point
we are becoming like “every other program”. Our success in the 90’s was largely b/c of international talent. To say that Luc and AA were flukes is simply not true. They were average players w/ raw talent and had zero NBA options. Those players still exist. Basketball, more than ever, is an international game.
No, you clearly have no idea of the basketball world
Other programs don’t have international players because they are not out there. In the rest of the world, they start playing pro ball when they’re 16. That makes them ineligible for college. There’s nothing we can do about it and you may want to get a clue about how the basketball world works.
Formerly ryebreadraz
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Nov 26, 2009 9:50 PM PST up reply actions
Even if you can find one that wasn't ineligible
Could we get them past admissions? That’s a whole different headache.
do your research
remember last years tourney? Hasheem Thebeet, Daniel Hackett, Zisis Sarikopoulos… list goes on
Uh oh
We have a guy who thinks he knows what he’s talking about, but is skipping majorly important parts. This game has me in no mood to deal with half-baked theories. You can pretend you got the best of this one.
Formerly ryebreadraz
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Nov 26, 2009 10:01 PM PST up reply actions
so up by 25
when does portland empty the bench?
"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"
by silverlakebruin on Nov 26, 2009 9:43 PM PST reply actions
OUCH
Nice to see a fellow Asian on the court. There’s Korean dude on Maryland too. Man, I’m going off on tangents. Shows how unimpressed I am by this game.
glad to see Howland's committment to dragovich
how ridiculous.
"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"
by silverlakebruin on Nov 26, 2009 9:44 PM PST reply actions
No one will agree with me but I want JMM in
he cannot be worse than some of the players we have on the floor
sjh
At this point
I’m willing to entertain anyone out there!
"The entire world that bleeds blue and gold ... they have been dying for this." - Coach Rick Neuheisel
Sorry to prove you wrong
But I agree. I’m also not at all impressed with the current state of the freshmen not named Nelson. JMM seems like a much better option.
I hope Portland makes the Final Four ;-)
by UCLA Championships Made Here on Nov 26, 2009 9:45 PM PST reply actions
They will..
make Final Four of the 76 Classic
Is Brendan Lane alive?
Or is Keefe too awesome to warrant a sub?
Bruin Faithful
Wow! Here it is Thanksgiving day and instead of being ‘thankful’ for a university which has won more NCAA Championships than anyone else, BN ‘faithful’ are sounding less than loyal. And this after someone ‘called the student body out’ for not supporting the football team. In my book, you’re either a loyal fan – or NOT! And I have lived in AZ for over 20 years now but still ‘bleed’ Blue and Gold!!! Examine your loyalty and ‘represent’. Go Bruins!!!
by az4Bruins on Nov 26, 2009 9:45 PM PST via mobile reply actions
WHAT?
No ine here is not loyal. You can be loyal and still be disappointed and want to vent about your team. Don’t ever question the loyalty here.
"The entire world that bleeds blue and gold ... they have been dying for this." - Coach Rick Neuheisel
oops
should read “no one”
"The entire world that bleeds blue and gold ... they have been dying for this." - Coach Rick Neuheisel
Not question about loyalty here
but I do think that 3 straight final fours should give CBH a bit more room for error than we’re giving him.
We have given CBH more than enough room
We have been protective of him more than any one else. This is unacceptable. PERIOD.
You have and it is unacceptable
I just have a feeling that he’s a better coach than we’re seeing right now. Every time I’ve ever seen this happen to a CBH team, he made an adjustment within a week, and it worked. Question him isn’t a problem, I just hope that it doesn’t escalate beyond that anytime soon.
I hope it's a lack of working on fundamentals
and not a lack of talent. It’s increasingly looking like a lack of talent to me, with the exceptions of ML and DG.
you can be faithful
but still question the decision-makers at the same time. i personally believe in CBH, but i’m not going to be a lemming like the idiots at FSU.
Don't question our loyalty to the 4 letters again
You will not get another warning next time around.
Yeah, the 75% of us here who have been posting for years
and commit hours of our time to UCLA aren’t loyal. Blindly supporting a program and not recognizing a pathetic performance and demanding better is disloyal. That’s how programs grow stagnant. Try disagreeing with anything we’ve said. Anything? How can you defend this.
Formerly ryebreadraz
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Nov 26, 2009 9:48 PM PST up reply actions
Wasn't Keefe . . .
. . A McDonald’s All American?
Yes
but so was Ray Young. That moniker never seemed to mean much to me after that.
Oh UCLA you sweet bitch, you've BRUINed me for anything else.
good thing we aren't playing bobo
I mean, you wouldn’t want to feed a huge post player against a zone when you aren’t scoring. He might compromise our defense so we better stick with ND
"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"
by silverlakebruin on Nov 26, 2009 9:46 PM PST reply actions
Its CBH stubborness
he made a decsion at some point that certain guys were his guys and he will not change or adapt regardless of result
"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"
by silverlakebruin on Nov 26, 2009 9:49 PM PST up reply actions
I've got a massive headache
And this game ain’t helping. I want Bobo in if for no other reason than to keep Drago off the floor. He has been a disaster tonight.
JA
should be able to take Lance Ito all day!!!!
Yup... against any decent team..
Going to be a huge struggle just to make the tourney this year
Go Bruins!
I'm going
to throw up my dinner during this tv timeout
Me too . . .
. . and those candied yams were so good!!!
Finding it necessary
to open another bottle of wine.
"The entire world that bleeds blue and gold ... they have been dying for this." - Coach Rick Neuheisel
I hate to say this
but Steve Lavin never had a squad as untalented as this one.
They undersacheived a lot more, but they were always talented and had at least a few guys who could create their own shots.
"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"
by silverlakebruin on Nov 26, 2009 9:53 PM PST reply actions
LAV
Had players with the uncanny ability to pull wins out of his ass that kept his job for all those years.
Lav was also a shitty recruiter
who went for gymnasts over actual players. Kind of like what we’ve done in recruiting the last two years
they went to the steve 16 every year solely on talent
it wasn’t Lavin’s coaching.
"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"
by silverlakebruin on Nov 26, 2009 10:00 PM PST up reply actions
Yeah, but look what he left behind
There was definitely some talent there, but it was very brief.
And don't forget
Baron Davis was not his recruit
annoying
If we are really trying to win then freakin’ press! If not then yank some of these clowns out and get some other guys minutes.
bruin 8clap
Where the heck do you live? Apparently you aren’t at the game and if u live in socal then shame on u for not attending the game. We flew out last weekend to see our bruins. You probably werent at the Rosebowl last week either. Make your weak comments and i’ll still voice my thots.
by LouisianaBruins on Nov 26, 2009 9:54 PM PST reply actions
Heh
I was at the game last week as I am every home football game. I also attended a couple away games. I am not at today’s game because I own my own business and guess what? No one wants to work on Thanksgiving!
Will there be any other questions? You might want to go pick on someone you can handle.
Try some ESPN forums or better yet, youtube.
Oh UCLA you sweet bitch, you've BRUINed me for anything else.
by bruin8uclap on Nov 26, 2009 10:00 PM PST up reply actions
There is a culture change
at least in the players this year. There is no leadership, no tangible sense of urgency on our squad. We need someone to step up with solid fundamentals and play with heart. At this point, its not even that we don’t have an offense (zone or no zone), it feels like our players aren’t playing to win.
thats the results of knowing that players like ND will get minutes
and players like Bobo will not, regardless of performance.
It is a total killer of teams.
"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"
by silverlakebruin on Nov 26, 2009 9:57 PM PST up reply actions
Portland is shooting lights out in this game.. reminds me of that horrible NCAA loss to Tulsa..
But our O is depressingly bad as well
Go Bruins!
There is no Ed O'Bannon on this team
There is no Tyus. And that team didn’t have pathetic players such as Dragovic.
4-0 against USC from 92-96... good times
Go Bruins!
Potential felon pathetic player at that
Go Bruins!
1995 was awesome..
Esp 4.8
Still remember watching it at Dykstra FSL
Go Bruins!
That team
Harrick put together was one of the best recruited teams I had ever seen.
That was on JK.
Does he still thinks he can post up at this level after 4 yrs of being a bust?
May be Drago can "attend" another concert after this game
and gets himself suspended for few more games (joking but that’s all I have left at this point).
he'd be reinstated again
I am revolted he only got two games for embarrassing ucla twice in two years with run ins with law enforcement.
"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"
by silverlakebruin on Nov 26, 2009 9:59 PM PST up reply actions
What Howland is doing with Dragovic
is very similar to how Toledo handled Paus. It’s potential cancer ravaging the program and harming it for the long term.
even my mom asked me if he's the one who beat up his girlfriend
she made the turkey so I can’t get mad about it
the fact that ND is in the game now
makes me believe Howland feels he is a key to the rest of the season…. cringe
Rye is doing the post game recap today
Should be very “interesting” to read tomorrow am. I am just too mad right now to write anything.
I look forward to Ryan's writeup
even if he doesn’t. Someone who’s been following this team closely needs to tell me how they can be this shockingly bad.
by DexterFishmore on Nov 26, 2009 10:02 PM PST up reply actions
Neither of our seniors has played significant minutes or been a leader before
we have no juniors.
Our sophomores have had very litle experience.
And, the rest are freshmen.
MR is probably the best of the older guys but he’s no DC, AA, PAA or JS (who quietly got it done).
Me? I’d let Bobo play. Pull ND. Play DG and Bobo at the same time. And, go deeper on the bench
sjh
Anderson
This team maybe better with Lee at the point. When Anderson was hurt against Pepperdine, the offense ran so much better with Lee running the show. Anderson has no shot , so he does not have to be defended tightly. It’s too bad. It is mentioned that Holiday leaving hurt this team, but most everyone knew he wasnt going to stay. Gotta play with what we have.
by LouisianaBruins on Nov 26, 2009 10:00 PM PST reply actions
Lee doesn't attack when he's at the point
Look at the last game. The first half he was our SG and got a ton of points. The second half he played point and barely took any shots.
by Class of 09 on Nov 26, 2009 10:01 PM PST up reply actions
BLAARRGH!!!
Oh UCLA you sweet bitch, you've BRUINed me for anything else.
by bruin8uclap on Nov 26, 2009 10:02 PM PST up reply actions
Howland needs to learn from his second year here
When he stuck with his future because he had no choice. Nobody on this team is as good as Farmar or Afflalo, but if our young players don’t develop significantly next year will be no picnic either
I give up
Don’t think I’ve ever given up on watching a game. Not that it’s midnight here, but there’s no point in watching. Never thought I’d say that. Hope to see some heart, and maybe a different look or two (I can dream!) tomorrow as we take on the #10 team in the land.
Come on man!!!
We’re only down by 22 points with 5:32 left. Plenty of basketball left!!
I don't know if we can win tomorrow, but they need to show more
character and be ready to fight. I feel bad for guys like AA, Jordan, DC, Luc, etc. because they helped put this program back on the map, and to have this happen. Yikes! It is a step back.
by UCLA Championships Made Here on Nov 26, 2009 10:00 PM PST reply actions
as he hits a 3
lol. FINALLY!!!
"The entire world that bleeds blue and gold ... they have been dying for this." - Coach Rick Neuheisel
Tried it last game too
Formerly ryebreadraz
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Nov 26, 2009 10:03 PM PST up reply actions
Maybe we should save for the end of the second half?
Thats when ND stills to make his shot.
This Team
Hey…..this team is going to getter better. No where to go, but up. Get them ready for next year.
by LouisianaBruins on Nov 26, 2009 10:04 PM PST reply actions
Can't remember a worse game by UCLA during the Howland era...
This is approaching the Maples Massacre for me overall
Go Bruins!
To recap
the entire team played like garbage, there were no meaningful adjustments, the roster substitutions are a total mystery and the recruiting the last few years has clearly been a failure, yet we will not change what we are doing.
I am very, very, very discouraged.
"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"
by silverlakebruin on Nov 26, 2009 10:05 PM PST reply actions
hey Silver
We have a football game Saturday. Perhaps God is trying to even things out a bit? That’s the only encouraging thing I can come up with right now.
I'd like to add
It takes Howland 3 years to rebuild a team. But when he does, they’ve all been national championship worthy. We lost a lot of players to the NBA, and it takes time to establish a team, especially when all that hard work ends up going to the NBA.
Other than Kevin Love, who came in with the talent, Howland was able to take not very well buzzed players and make them into NBA first round draft quality players. Look at Russel Westbrook or Luc Richard Mbah a Moute. Darren Collison came to UCLA after being passed over by Arizona. Overall, Howland’s been able to work his magic. This is a rebuilding year.
Remember, John Wooden was head coach for UCLA for 15 years before he won his first National Championship. He was able to go the the big dance numerous times, and there were years where he had to rebuild too. Either way, UCLA gave Wooden time, and it bore fruit in his 16th year coaching for the school. Whatever happens, I hope that fans like you would remain patient about this.
well,,,
im not ready yet to dismiss the level f talent on this team or question recruting yet… this offseason was murder with the injuries so we are behind schedule. still the commitment to players that are solid backups at best, is troubling, because it is a trend of cbh
Across The Face
I am not giving up on this team yet
but they have some serious issues to fix to have any chance at making the NCAA’s
Go Bruins!
Agreed.
There is talent, but we need to explore them a bit more. We need to give them time, give them confidence and let them express their talent. Sitting them on the bench is not going to help
On a positive note
UCLA football might outdo UCLA basketball this year finally
Go Bruins!
I'm going to say something positive
Let’s be honest, we lost 5 starters last year (ND counts as lost because he’s a ghost so far). We are breaking in ALL NEW PLAYERS. I think that Howland will bring them around, but this year is going to be tough. Be patient and believe. We will get better.
Roll is the upperclassmen who should retain the majority of his minutes
After that, I want to see some fresh faces
I'm with, well, everyone
When we ask WTF on Drago getting so much run. He contributed nothing early, and then he followed that up by contributing nothing later.
the only reasons those players have no experience
is because they weren’t played at all last year. Nothing was done to develop them in game time situation.
"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"
by silverlakebruin on Nov 26, 2009 10:07 PM PST up reply actions
The only way this could be worse
is if the Bruin is splattered in Portland colors tomorrow morning.
by DexterFishmore on Nov 26, 2009 10:06 PM PST reply actions
bruin8uclap
Why are you dogging me, man. A lot worse has been said vs my comments.
by LouisianaBruins on Nov 26, 2009 10:06 PM PST reply actions
You criticized my UCLA Bruin loyalty
Nobody does that NOBODY!!!
Oh UCLA you sweet bitch, you've BRUINed me for anything else.
by bruin8uclap on Nov 26, 2009 10:10 PM PST up reply actions
Chill fellas. . .
I got slammed last time for bad mouthing and I’ve read worse comments here. I will give the benefit of the doubt that most people here are loyal fans.
I was just joshin'
George Constanza style.
Oh UCLA you sweet bitch, you've BRUINed me for anything else.
I guess we won't see bobo because he wants the rest of the tea to play itself into shape
but, he can’t be worse than what we are seeing.
In the few minutes we’ve seen him, we’ve seen good footwork and hands inside.
ND is getting scored on at will. How much worse can bobo be?
sjh
Our talent isn't near what it was in the past few years
but it’s not awful either. They have different talents than previous teams. There is athleticism. There are some decent ball handlers. There is an abundance of length. We don’t have Final Four Talent, but we don’t have -30 point talent either, no matter the opponent. This talent is still good enough to make the tourney. it takes a whole new approach to take advantage of the talent we do have though.
Formerly ryebreadraz
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Nov 26, 2009 10:08 PM PST reply actions
Other than Lee, who has dribble-drive talent or can shoot?
I’m assuming Honeycutt has a lot of offensive potential — won’t know for a while. But who else? How can Anderson do anything on offense without being able to shoot?
Lee can get to the rim
JA can handle the ball in space just fine. Roll handles the ball well in space, as does Moser and Honeycutt, when he gets back. Every player on the time, minus Bobo, runs the floor extremely well. What does that mean we should be doing, even if it means adjusting the D?
Formerly ryebreadraz
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Nov 26, 2009 10:13 PM PST up reply actions
I haven't seen a single decent fast-break this year
So I guess I just don’t see a fast-paced style working either.
How much time are we allocating to practicing it
and how much game experience do we get doing it. You don’t just say go do it and you do it.
Formerly ryebreadraz
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Nov 26, 2009 10:17 PM PST up reply actions
agree
I agree Ryan. But with this athleticism shouldnt we been pushing the ball on offense?
by LouisianaBruins on Nov 26, 2009 10:11 PM PST up reply actions
It does mean that CBH needs to develop his system around their strengths because he is not
flexible enough. The offense needs to change drastically.
by UCLA Championships Made Here on Nov 26, 2009 10:11 PM PST up reply actions
I really worry about increasing the pace
Because our fastest players can’t handle the ball and our best ball handlers are slow. I know we’re turning the ball over a ton already, but I think this virtually guarantees that we will.
We have fast guys who struggle to handle the ball in tight spaces
They are all good enough ball handlers in space though and Keefe, Gordon, Nelson, Lane all run extremely well.
Formerly ryebreadraz
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Nov 26, 2009 10:14 PM PST up reply actions
I see some ball pressure coming at us in the future though
We’re going to have to learn how to handle those tight spaces.
At least
Bruin Nation will be free next march. Why is ND still in the game and not JMM?
What should we be expecting from moser?
He seems like a super athlete, but lacking ballhandling AND shooting?
Needs to get stronger and improve his shot
He has enough skill to merit a few minutes in spurts though.
Formerly ryebreadraz
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Nov 26, 2009 10:11 PM PST up reply actions
Gonna be hearing about this...
bird-dogged one of my friends into making the drive from the Westside to Anaheim to attend this game. Guessing that I will be hearing an earful in another 2:53
Just what we need
“Coach” Lav’s Early Season Keys. PUHLEEEEZE!!!
"The entire world that bleeds blue and gold ... they have been dying for this." - Coach Rick Neuheisel
I think we're getting an "over-rated" chant
which is odd, considering we’re unranked.
by DexterFishmore on Nov 26, 2009 10:12 PM PST reply actions
I think Portland was the favorite going into this game?
They are the ones picked to make the tourney.. but I did not expect anything this bad
Go Bruins!
Nope
We were favored by 5.
Oh UCLA you sweet bitch, you've BRUINed me for anything else.
by bruin8uclap on Nov 26, 2009 10:14 PM PST up reply actions
This is why I don't like the NBA draft
Not an excuse, more just wishful thinking. It’s as if teams get too good, and then have to be down for several years because they recruited and performed too well.
Drafts
haven’t affected teams like UNC, Kansas
Which is why it isn't an excuse
But if you discover a player like RW in football, you get him for at least three years. And that’s just one example. It’s almost better to recruit players who are just good enough to contribute, but bad enough that they won’t be leaving early.
by Class of 09 on Nov 26, 2009 10:14 PM PST up reply actions
Systems are much simpler there
Such a precise system reliant on spectacular execution isn’t great for today’s college basketball world where players move on to the NBA so quickly.
Formerly ryebreadraz
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Nov 26, 2009 10:15 PM PST up reply actions
NBA draft more like NFL???
Don’t college football players have to play for 3 years before they can go to the NFL? What a different look our teams over the last few years would be if the NBA had the same rule.
Well, we'd still be having problems
because only some of our problems right now are due to the draft…the UNC and Kansas note is valid. What concerns me is the lack of talent in the NCAA because of the rules. Imagine Kareem leaving after his first year. It’s not so much that we would be better than everyone else, just that games wouldn’t have so many foolish mistakes, and teams could run more complex systems, players could get used to playing together, etc.
by Class of 09 on Nov 26, 2009 10:19 PM PST up reply actions
You know you're breaking the zone well
When you’re chucking the ball across court consistently to move the ball.
I'm ready for some FOOTBALL!!!
GO BRUINS!!!
"The entire world that bleeds blue and gold ... they have been dying for this." - Coach Rick Neuheisel
I know what KP wants for his birthday!
GO BRUINS!
Draft
I agree about the draft. Ucla should not be in this situation at all. The bigs, Kansas, unc, duke, mich st, uconn, are always competitive. No excuses…..none.
by LouisianaBruins on Nov 26, 2009 10:15 PM PST reply actions
74-47
The score is a palindrome :(.
Oh UCLA you sweet bitch, you've BRUINed me for anything else.
by bruin8uclap on Nov 26, 2009 10:18 PM PST up reply actions
Lavin did something classy
in mentioning Sally Harrick.
"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"
by silverlakebruin on Nov 26, 2009 10:16 PM PST reply actions
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