Ben Ball Roundup: Regrouping Without Gordon With "Fundamentals" & "100 Percent Effort"
by Nestor on Dec 2, 2009 7:06 AM PST
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Well I guess the only modicum of good news right now is that we don't have a basketball game to play during the middle of the week. Given the bombshell news from yesterday our team has few days to get it together before taking on Kansas (gulp) at Pauley on Sunday. We have already read highlights of Howland's comments from yesterday in earlier posts. Wanted to excerpt another graf that ran today in the LA Times (emphasis added throughout):
Some teammates were not sorry to see him go, a source close to the program said. Certainly his relationship with Howland, who values discipline, had grown increasingly tense.
"We have expectations of how our players represent the university on and off the court," the coach said. "When those standards aren't met, there are consequences."
Obviously everyone here agrees with that point. From what I have read so far, I am supportive of the coach's action in this case. However, I couldn't help but wonder about Howland's actions with respect to Dragovic when I read that quote. Forget Dragovic's off the court troubles (I have already made my thoughts clear on that front as I think he shouldn't have come back until his legal issues were resolved). I am having a hard time reconciling those words from Howland with what I have seen from Dragovic over the years (and not just this season). Yes, Dragovic came on a little last season when he made some clutch 3s in some games. However, most of the time from what I have seen from Dragovic, hasn't been someone who has lived up to the Ben Ball standards of playing solid team defense and patient/methodical offense.
Anyway, I will not dwell too much on Dragovic for now. I will let it go and see how he performs in next few games. Meanwhile, the veterans like MR doesn't sound too upset about Gordon leaving the team:
"As far as it going down, I don't really know," senior guard Michael Roll said. "I came into lift today and I heard the news. It's unfortunate for both him and for us, and hopefully it works out for him. We're going to make it work for us here." MR's comments seem very poigant these days. I especially remember the following ones after the Long Beach State game. I believe I have excerpted this on BN once already but they are worth highlighting again: "Practice," Roll said, when asked what the Bruins can do to get better. "This whole week (in practice) we're going to have to listen to coach, get back to the fundamentals and get back to 100 percent effort every day." I think those kinds of quotes provide even more context around Gordon incident. More after the jump.
The 6-8 freshman with the faux-hawk hairdo has been a bright spot, averaging 7.3 points and 4.7 rebounds in 14.8 minutes.
"He's a really strong kid," senior Michael Roll said. "Just comes in and tries to bully people, get rebounds, play physical, just do the dirty work that we need."
That attitude might be UCLA's only way out of a hole.
Hopefully RN will provide the much needed element of smart intensity (not out of control street ball) around the rim. Coach Howland is going to need that intensity from his team even if he tries out a zone on Sunday:
"I coached in the Big East for four years, worked against Syracuse, the best zone defense in the country, and they really work hard at it," said Howland, who coached at Pittsburgh from 1999-2003.
"One thing we can do at times is have length and size in there. You have bigger, longer players in that zone and it's difficult to play against. But you have to understand you have to work really hard in the zone.
"Defense, whether its zone or man, is meant to be played with intensity."
Keep those words in mind if we get to see JMM in a zone defense in the coming days. Watch how he defends the paint. Watch whether he is making an effort to provide help to his team-mates defendind down low and whether he is doing his part prevent dribble pentration. I always hear the loud cries of people wanting PT for him. I think for that to be justified he really needs to prove himself on the court defensively.
I don't think we need to give up on JMM. However, at the same time I think we need to watch him closely instead of holding on to perceptions based on the news clippings we read about him as a hot shot recruit. From what I have seen from JMM so far, he reminds me more of Rodney Zimmerman than PAA, when it comes to toughness around the rim. Like I said, I hope he proves his doubters (like yours truly) wrong by earning mins by proving himself during practices, and then translating the practice efforts into solid (defensive) showing during games. Like MR said it all goes back to sticking with fundamentals and giving 100 percent effort every day. Hope JMM is getting the message.
FWIW it sounds like JA struck the right note in terms of our outlook against Kansas:
"Our morale might be down and the season's not looking good," Anderson said. "But we're at UCLA. We have to fight back."
We expect nothing less.
GO BRUINS.
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That last quote from JA
is right on the dot – for the team and for the fans.
Adversity is an opportunity. Maybe this can be our turning point.
greg in denver - UCLA guy for life
regardless of what I think of his play on the court
the quote from JA shows the kind of mindset a UCLA player should have.
formerly AZBruin
I'm disappointed
that Gordon didn’t fit in.
that the Bruins are spinning this so negatively instead of just letting the kid go. He’s 19 or 20, for God’s sake. Are all of us responsible for everything we did at that age?
that the Fab Five, the #1 recruiting class in the country last year, is down to three, including one who rarely plays (though will get his shot now), one who underachieves, and Malcolm Lee, a good player but not considered the best of the bunch.
that ND continues to be the apple of CBH’s eye, even though he underperforms on the court and is a disaster off it.
As a Bruin hoops fan of some 50 years or more, back to my childhood, back to Walt Torrence and Willie Naulls, I just hope we can see some stability now. I have no great expectations for the next few games, but if the Bruins can regroup by Pac-10 tournament time, with Honeycutt back and more experience for the freshmen, they just might surprise what appears to be a very weak conference.
Yes, I was responsible for everything I did at that age.
by Orz on Dec 2, 2009 8:21 AM PST up reply actions
Name the last starter in big-time basketball
Who quit on his team 6 games into a difficult season.
I don’t see how any of those quotes are spinning it negatively. The one from CBH is just typical coach-speak and all I read from it is “We had a disagreement; I won.” MR didn’t seem like he wanted to talk about it, but when there’s a reporter in your face asking questions, what else are you going to do? All he really said was “I don’t know how it happened, sucks for him, but we have games to win.”
I’m glad that nobody on the team is overly worked up about this. It’s never nice to see a teammate leave, but I’m not looking for this to be a crushing blow, you know? He couldn’t get along with the coach, so he left. End of story, get back to practicing.
Actually, if some of the rumors are true (DG leading a campaign against CBH’s offensive scheme, trying to convince Bobo to transfer too, etc.), then CBH is pulling a lot of punches for this kid. He’s been nothing but classy through this whole deal; a lesser coach would have aired the nature of the “disagreement” to the public and shifted the scrutiny off of himself and fully onto DG.
If anybody is putting a negative spin on it, it is his parents..
And yeah, they are old enough to be responsible. I think CBH was very diplomatic. He usually is. I can’t ever recall cringing at anything he has said.
by 84 on Dec 2, 2009 11:18 AM PST up reply actions
This Is The Age
Where people vote, fight in wars, sign binding contracts, obtain credit cards….
Yes, they are responsible for what they do and say at his age.
(You get some leeway when you’re 6….and when you’re 96, I suppose…but in between, you wear your big-boy/big-girl pants and own your own behavior.)
Love My Bruins
Another bright spot:
At least I won’t have to look at DGs shoulder anymore and wonder “What the hell is that tape for?” That really bugged me.
"I don't forget very much" Rick Neuheisel, 11/28/09
Kinesio taping
It’s a therapeutic taping method that is gaining popularity with athletes. The Celtics even brought in a Kinesio specialist beause several of their players are using it.
Its essentially a placebo
The whole idea behind kinesio tape is that it lifts the skin thus increasing blood circulation in the problem area. If you believe that, I have some magic beans to sell you. Of course, athletes (and their trainers) who are always looking for a slight competitive advantage are willing to try anything if they think it might help.
Umm, okay
I’m going with the placebo theory as well. I think you can put this kinesio taping in the same category as the eye black. Won’t be long until these players start writing things on them as fashion statements.
"I don't forget very much" Rick Neuheisel, 11/28/09
I was referring to putting writing on the tape themselves
similar to the writing players put on the eye black nowadays
"I don't forget very much" Rick Neuheisel, 11/28/09
I have no chapter and verse or reference article..
but a physical therapist in my building says the studies support it being effective and not a placebo. I used it for a lower back injury and did feel better within two days. Whether the tape did it or not there is no way to be sure.
Same topic kind of…Does the arm sleeve on Drago’s shooting arm help, or is it placebo also. I think “The Answer” started this trend a few years back and was a prolific scorer.
by 84 on Dec 2, 2009 11:22 AM PST up reply actions
Based on comments like that from JA
I wonder if the whole “JH is telling all his 08 buddies to transfer” rumor is just a rumor. I don’t have a whole lot of confidence in JA as a player yet, but with that attitude I wonder if he could turn it around soon (and it’s like N is always telling us…it’s only been 6 games).
JH should focus on...
…not being a bust in the NBA.
JA will be fine, he just needs confidence (easier said than done).
Anxious to see how the team responds...
During a bumpy season, this could send things one of two directions. Either the kids will respond and show more fight, or they’ll just lie down. Here’s hoping for the former — I still have a lot of confidence in the staff and the character of our kids, as evidenced by MR’s words (“…hopefully it works out for him. We’re going to make it work for us here”).
As for the comments about ND, I respectfully disagree that he hasn’t lived up to Ben Ball standards. Is he my favorite? No. Is he frustrating to watch? Yes. Are his off-the court issues troubling? absolutely. But he has a role and he is working with his limited athletic tools.
Where DG had the athleticism to meet and exceed CBH’s defensive expectations, ND does not — and I assume CBH knows and accepts this. ND remains on the court for his offensive promise and because he does hustle.
We have no offensive threat. ND and MR are our best shooters and MR is distributing the ball and always covered because no one else can score. ND has been shooting terribly, but if he ever puts it together (not holding breath) he will add points and free up MR. With limited options, i’m not sure CBH has a choice but to keep ND out there.
Sorry for the rant. Definitely not a ND apologist, but I think we have to appreciate what these kids give out there, like MR. He may not have the tools to dominate, but he works his butt off and does everything he possibly can to help the team. We need that mentality, it seems, more than ever.
I support Coach Howland
If there was a serious disagreement between the two.. Howland gets my vote base on his track record and he’s the coach. Good luck to Gordon, I had high hopes that his passion would be channeled into becoming a great or at least good player for us. I think he had a greater chance of success had he listened to Howland (look at others who are doing well in the NBA), but ultimately if he didn’t buy into the message or was generally unhappy at the UCLA program than it is best that both parties move on. Maybe now with Nelson and those who step in, we’ll have more commitment to what coach Howland is trying to teach.
I'm chastened
If Gordon was genuinely a bad seed, especially in the locker room, then he deserved to go.
But let’s try this on for size: CBH’s biggest successes have come with the non-blue chippers. RW was lightly recruited, and CBH turned him into a true superstar. The prince and AA2 were like found treasure, and LMM has become a solid NBA player. LMR was big and tough, and he prospered at Westwood. KL went to UCLA on his dad’s advice to learn defense, and he did, and while he was a blue-chipper, he was there to learn, not to just show off.
A lot of the rest of these guys—and JH, of course, is the prime example—think they’re God’s gifts to basketball. They’re not. The courts of Europe are littered with guys like them. And so they need either to realize this and allow themselves to learn or they might as well be somewhere else.
As I said above, I think the players that we have now can jell into something special by the end of the year. I’m prepared to wait for the Pac-10 season and ignore this unhappy beginning. And who knows? We damn near beat Butler, maybe we can surprise Kansas.
I always preach that every D-1 team is tough
All the guys on our team are good players. All of them have monumental skills (well, I guess with the exception of free throw shooting.) If they mesh those skills, and play hard every trip up and down the floor, and concentrate on what Coach Howland taught them, then sure, they can beat Kansas, or anyone else.
Would someone cue up the Westbrook "LET"S GO" tape? Our guys need it, I think.
Gordon's mom (emphasis mine):
“The timing is terrible: It looks like he’s leaving because THEY lost a bunch of games.” Not we. That is the real problem.
Sigh. Bruins Downward Spiral Highlighted at Halftime
So, I live in New Mexico, and am watching the local Lobos playing Cal…..Lobos up by 2 at halftime. Bruin chatter began the half-time commentator rants about “What’s going on in Westwood? Losing four games to mid-majors,….and now Drew Gordon is gone.”…….Just when I thought I could let my UCLA angst go for a while and watch Cal vs. UNM. Glad BN is here for support. ( Another audible sigh here.)
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