Poor James Keefe. (Photo Credit jcoria (flickr))
Only if he had gotten himself in trouble with the law (including wrapped up with allegations of beating his girlfriend) TWICE, never bothered or made an effort to play any defense (getting torched game after game forcing his coach to change defensive schemes just to HIDE him as a weakness), grew a pathetic beard, jack up one brick after another to shoot his team out of big games, he too could have averaged more than 30 minutes a game.
Silly him for allowing his coach to mismanage his development, screw around with his redshirt season (as admitted by his own head coach), and never complaining about his role via twitter. He clearly went about earning playing time in Howland's rotation the wrong way.
GO BRUINS.
over 2 years ago
Nestor
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Come on Nestor
Don’t be so negative. Why wouldn’t you want a big, slow, lethargic defender defender like Suckovic in there? He’s all the rage. He earns every minute he gets with incredibly bad defense. Oh, and those rainbow jumpers that clank off the rim with so much beauty…….it is a sight to behold.
No, we gotta keep playing him so that we could have a chance to finish .500 and maybe win a game or two in the Pac-10 tournament. Why the hell should we play Moser and Lane? After all, they may actually give a great effort and ruin the flow and mojo that this team currently has. You can’t disrupt that. We wouldn’t want actual athletes playing out there. They could never miss those shots as beautifully as Drago does. Defensively, Rago is a beast! The way he gets sealed by screens against the zone is not something that just any player can accomplish. That is a skill, and one that Moser and Lane can’t bring to the table yet. They are just too young.
But don’t worry. When we are stuggling at the beginning of next year cause guys like Moser and Lane have to gain their experience, we’ll still have something to be thankful for and have a reason to remember the beauty that is Rago. He’ll be the gift that keeps on giving.
JK is a BBW
He has given honest effort, sacrificed his body (and his redshirt) for the team, played thru injuries, and stuck to CBH’s game plans on D and O to the extent of his abilities.
He may never see a drop of PT in the NBA, and he may have all the footwork on offense of a Laker victory-parade Mark Madsen after 5 Jack and Cokes and three Vicodins, but his heart, hustle, and flat-out hardwork are unquestioned.
He’s a BBW.
"In this program your passion bucket must be full to play SC." -- CRN, to Dan Patrick, 1/2008
JK is definitely a BBW
he really got screwed by CBH, and also those injuries
is 'BBW'
an intentional acronym pun? If you Google BBW you are unlikely to find many sports sites. Not sure it is a good one for the Lexicon…
by britishbruin on Feb 6, 2010 10:29 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Oops. Hmmm...
"In this program your passion bucket must be full to play SC." -- CRN, to Dan Patrick, 1/2008
This is the real world, and the only thing that counts is results...
Keefe seems like a great kid, but he’s getting the minutes he deserves. All the Dragovic arguments aside, the bottom line is that JK has NOT developed as expected. If Keefe’s game had developed as expected, he’d be the starting PF and we wouldn’t be wasting time complaining about Dragovic.
I agree
He is as loyal as they come and always gives an honest effort. He just isn’t very good. However, he has always represented himself and the university positively. I know that on senior night I will be there to give him a nice ovation, but for Rago I will be respectfully silent.
Yep
Note the post above is not meant to argue that Keefe should be getting 30+ minutes a game, it is meant to point out something seriously wrong with the way Howland has mismanaged this rotation and not to mention mishandled Keefe’s career in Westwood (and appears to be doing the same with other freshmen in this year’s team). Not going to relent on this point until we get clear cut explanation from Ben Howland.
Maybe he needs one of those cool "shooting sleeves"
on one of his arms!
"I don't forget very much" Rick Neuheisel, 11/28/09
Could we make a rule
that we never post a picture of Rag on this site ever again…….or at least give us a warning before you do. I almost threw up on my scrambled eggs and bacon when that popped up.
Sorry no can do man
Tasser sent me this:
We have another one.
On another note there is freaking 3 feet of snow outside and I am still heading out to watch this clown in a UCLA uniform. WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY am I doing this to myself?
by Nestor on Feb 6, 2010 9:30 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
About that snow
This was last night in my neighborhood:
We have had another 12-20 inches over night and continuing till 10 pm tonight.
Trying to roundup friends to come out and watch
No one is excited to watch the Matador from Belgrade (again credit to Tasser):
Agreed.
It’s nice to have the games on Fox College Sports. Not sure I’d seek out a place to watch today’s game even if I wasn’t spending the day with my son. (He’ll be in his UCLA sweatshirt, like his Daddy, but at 2 he’s not going to be able to sit with me for 2 hours to watch a game, unfortunately.)
Nic the Brick
I don’t know if that one has been mentioned yet!
"I don't forget very much" Rick Neuheisel, 11/28/09
thanks
I’ve been hit and miss finding places willing to put us on TV when I haven’t been able to watch at home; but I’ll start with DirecTV places.
by britishbruin on Feb 6, 2010 10:27 AM PST up reply actions
Can you get to a Metro?
If you can try Bar Louie (in Chinatown). They should def. have the game I think.
yup
I live a couple of blocks from Rosslyn metro, so Chinatown is totally accessible. Thanks.
by britishbruin on Feb 6, 2010 10:32 AM PST up reply actions
Also
You might able to watch the game at Summers Grill, which is a sports bar near CourtHouse (one stop away from you). Give them a call as well.
that's a good call too
will give it a shot.
by britishbruin on Feb 6, 2010 10:38 AM PST up reply actions
It's official
I am cleaning up the orange juice I spit up as that last picture of Brickola came up. Thanks. But that was a classic pic.
Lane
I have a feeling that CBH is doing the same thing with Lane who will be the next ‘poor James Keefe’. The guy is 6’10" with a good shooting touch and I still don’t know why he doesn’t get some minutes. Like honeycut, guys like Lane and Moser need minutes to develop and not pulled out because of one mistake. Unlike Rag’s multiple lapses.
by hongerelli on Feb 6, 2010 9:41 AM PST via mobile reply actions
Appreciate
James Keefe. During the “season of love”, he was really coming on (in spite of injury and giving up redshirt), culminating in the big game against the Hilltoppers in the Big Dance. Seems like he lost his shooting touch last year (lack of confidence, injury)? Note his missed FTs against Stanford and poor 3 point attempt. I am not a sports coach, so will not comment on CBH’s handling of JK, but JK will always be a favorite UCLA player in my book (for his attitude, effort, and contributions). I am hoping his offsets Drago’s defensive errors today, while D makes some 3s and we upset a tough Cal team.
I wonder about lingering effects of his injury
He always has the bandage. He always puts a towel on it as soon as he sits down.
I wonder if he still has issues.
by Bruin Dad and Grad on Feb 6, 2010 10:28 AM PST up reply actions
I think that's exactly the reason for JK's limited minutes
None of us are privy to what goes on in practice and on the trainer’s table. I like Keefe’s heart and hustle, but he just doesn’t seem right to me. I think that shoulder injury’s hampering him a lot more than anyone’s saying publicly.
+1
“JK will always be a favorite UCLA player in my book (for his attitude, effort, and contributions”.
I have always liked him for various reasons and am saddened to see his senior year be less than his best.
my prayer is for JK to have a Hollins transformation by Pac 10 tourney
how crazy would that be!
I, along with most of you, don't get the minute allocation for Ragu/JK
I can understand if CBH put in Rag if we were down by 10 and we needed that one game per season where he goes off from 3 point land. But if we are ahead than why not JK in that defensive slot. Has to be significantly better on D. Of course JK does have a tendency to draw the zebras attention and get into foul trouble. If he did play 30 minutes he would likely have about 7-8 fouls. I believe he would be better offensively if he got more time on the floor. We have all seen that he does have a good stroke, he just needs the time to get it back, much like the time that CBH gave Rag earlier in the year.
As for BL I think he would be a defensive liability as well. Maybe if he had been playing all along he would be better, but I gues we’ll never know. It seems that MM is more athletic and minutes to him would have led to TH/RN like improvement. Again, sadlly we may never know.
For all those who defend Rago here on this site, I strongly encourage you to watch him without the ball. Watch him run slow motion through the playsets, as if it is a scene from Chariots of Fire. His game is more than just ill advised shots and matador defense. It is the listless play and lack of hustle that riles us as well. Watch his lazy bounce passes. Watch his poor fundamentals for rebounding position or protecting the basketball. If on occasion he does make a play or dive to the floor for a loose ball, contain yourself and remember to count the bad plays along with the rare good one. Keep a tally and then you will understand the frustration all the rest of us have.
+1
that’s exactly right… it’s those off the ball things that drives me crazy… sad things is most people who watch bball only watches the ball and watches the person who scores, so to them watching drago drop some rainbows is very enticing
yup
this is why some people underestimate the importance of an Alfred Aboya or Lorenzo Mata-Real to the offensive performance of a team in their hard-but-legal screen setting; why James Keefe’s moving screen fouls (which are effectively turnovers) are so infuriating; and why missed shots and subjectively-called turnovers should not be the only indications that a player is not pulling their weight offensively.
One of my favorite basketball memories is watching LMR screen the same player 4 times in about 6 seconds as our point guard (DC, I think) dribbled back and forth at the top of the key. Much more ‘enticing’ than a jump shot, however perfect the arc…
by britishbruin on Feb 6, 2010 10:57 AM PST up reply actions
It's nice that JK gets to start
but it’s hard to develop any kind of rhythm/confidence/feel for the game when you only play for 2 minute spurts. I’d love to see him finish the year strong and get a great send off. He’s got the skill set but his confidence may be at an all time low…love that he gives it his all on D though…
Uncomfortable
I agree that Dragovic is a very weak link on this team and has not been of much use (and I’m being VERY generous with that), especially given the number of minutes he’s been getting, but I think we should ease up and be a bit mindful of the nature of our attacks on the guy. Why? Because – regardless of his basketball skills – he is a member of the Bruin family, just like all the rest of us. While it’s perfectly reasonable to critique his gameplay – and there has been plenty of very good critique of that! – when we start giving players pejorative nicknames and photoshopping them – our own players! – I feel like it’s just disrespecting UCLA. Obviously, these are my own views and I don’t mean to impose them on others. Just wanted to vocalize my own discomfort.
Exactly
These kinds of photoshopped caricatures should be reserved for opposing players. I’m not a fan of Drago either, but here we are battling Cal for 1st place and supposed UCLA fans are devoting time and energy to tearing down one of our starting players. I root for the name on the front of the jersey. That tagline GO BRUINS should mean something, and unless CBH says otherwise, Drago is a Bruin.
What ever happened to "In Howland we Trust"?
I too am very disappointed in our season. This is no where near our standards at UCLA. Obviously Rags sucks donkey balls on the court and his off the court behavior is not acceptable. There’s obviously a void in talent or getting that talent to produce on a consistent basis. Lets not throw CBH under the bus. He’s put us back on track after the lizard. Let’s believe in our school, team and CBH.
JK has been a good Bruin and I agree with all the points on him and the ones on Rags. Let’s remain positive and not be quick to forget our Final 4 seasons. We’ll be back!!
+100
I’m starting to get a little tired of this constant CBH bashing. Last I checked, we’re in first place. Has this been a perfect season, no, but we’ve been getting better. We’ve lost a lot of talent the last couple of years and we can’t always replace it. As I said in a fanpost (that got removed for some reason), even the current National Champs are having an off year. The difference being their getting worse, we’re getting better (2-6 vs 5-4 since Jan 1st) Keep the faith Bruins nation, it’s gonna be okay…
by SoCalBroncsFan on Feb 6, 2010 11:45 AM PST up reply actions
When you compare North Carolina to UCLA's records since Jan 1
Please keep in mind the conference each team plays in. You are comparing apples to oranges when thinking about this years SEC and Pac 10.
It is my guess that if NC was playing our Pac 10 schedule their record would be vastly different.
by 84 on Feb 6, 2010 11:54 AM PST up reply actions
to me there was never in CBH we trust
i do like CBH, good coach, but i think he can’t put us over the top because of his stubbornness that results in slow and poor adjustments
evident in our back to back blow outs by Florida, 2.5 seasons to utilize a zone (should have used a zone when we had KL)
unless we get ridiculous overall talent who stay for at least 2 years, i think it’s really hard for us to go over the top, CBH’s schemes are not well suited for one and dones, his man defense requires commitment and chemistry to work (check CBH 4th year, 2nd final 4), it’s something typical bball kids aren’t willing to buy into quickly
our offense is overly complicated with the sets, and takes too long to set up
i really don’t know, maybe if CBH continue to recruit well (which is one thing he does well for sure), we can have enough talent to put us over the top…. but as a coach on the court….. i’m not too confident
never?
Wow, so when he was leading our team to the Final Four those years, what were you saying? “We got this far, but you know, we’ll never beat that LSU team” Man, he sure can’t coach!!!!
by SoCalBroncsFan on Feb 6, 2010 11:55 AM PST up reply actions
i didn't say he can't coach
don’t get defensive, all i’m point out is, i don’t see him putting us over the top because of his slowness to adjustment (maybe if it’s the nba with 7 games playoff we will do well)
mind you 3 final 4s are great, but @ UCLA only championship banner counts… do you see any of those CBH final 4 banners hanging at pauley….. that’s exactly how much we have achieve under the reign of CBH
it would be great if he’s coaching elsewhere…. but @ ucla, not good enough…. too high of an expectation? yes! but all coaches should know that when they come here
So...
You would run off a proven winner because he’s had a bad year and because he couldn’t get over the hump in his first few years? Wow, If we did that a couple decades ago, we wouldn’t even have those Championship banners. It took Coach Wooden 16 years to win a championship!
by SoCalBroncsFan on Feb 6, 2010 1:19 PM PST up reply actions
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