UCLA Hoops Roundup: "Well Prepared" Collison, Next Prospects, NBA Lockout & Wooden Drive
by Nestor on Jul 11, 2010 7:18 AM PDT
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PrintGot a bunch of hoops related notes to pass on this Sunday but before I get to that let's start with a World Cup Finals note. We will have an open thread today to take in the last game of the month long party down in South Africa. We kind of lost steam for open threads after the Red, White and Blue exited in Sweet-16, but doing an open thread today would be a great way to close out a fun month of soccer many of us have been following this summer. The match is scheduled to start around 2:30 pm EST. We will put an open thread up in the Fanpost section (and bump on the home page). On to Ben Ball.
So yesterday I was channel surfing and stumbled into some NBA summer league action on NBA TV. I was about to skip over it, right when highlights of DC popped up on the TV screen. Obviously, my channel surfing came to a screeching halt right then. What happened afterwards was some extremely interesting commentary from New Orleans Hornets General Manager Jeff Bowers, who was hanging out with the announcers, talking up the importance of summer league actions. They were showing the DC highlights because they were discussing the classic Ben Ball Warrior's explosive debut as a rookie.
What I found interesting was Bower's comment about UCLA and how DC's college experience prepared him for the NBA. I wish I had the exact excerpt or could locate the clip. So I will do my best to paraphrase what Bowers had to say about Coach Ben Howland's program. Right off the bat Bowers described DC as "well prepared" and "disciplined" coming from a great program. Bowers then mentioned that it was UCLA's "half court game" that formed the foundation of DC's full court explosion in the NBA.
So while blowhards like Chad Ford takes cheap shots against CBH for "hiding NBA talent," an actual pro like Jeff Bowers was gushing about Howland's preparation of DC and instilling him in the fundamentals and discipline that formed the rock solid foundation for a fantastic entry in the NBA. I really hope someone else saw that clip and captured it because once again it was pretty riveting testimony on Coach Ben Howland's program ability to prepare kids as disciplined and well grounded professionals at the next level. More after the jump.
Speaking of professionals and UCLA basketball, John Wilner from the San Jose Mercury News listed his "top prospects for the 2011 NBA draft". Not surprisingly couple of Bruins on the list:
UCLA SF Tyler Honeycutt: In case it wasn't clear during the season, the Hotline loves his game. He possesses more all-around skills (ball handling, passing, shot blocking) than anyone in the league. All he needs is more experience, more muscle and a more consistent jumper.
UCLA SG Malcolm Lee: That Lee is third on this list tells you something about the Pac-10 talent pipeline - and what it tells you isn't all that flattering. Lee's an athletic, skilled wing guard, but his jumper is awful (25 percent behind the line).
While those two are clearly our best players and should be the core leaders of the program next season, they still have some ways to emerge as true Ben Ball Warriors. They will get there when they can bring defensive intensity consistently game after game and lift each other and team-mates' level of performance as well.
As far as those guys jumping to the NBA, there is another word to keep in mind: "lockout." I am not completely sure if it is going to take place but the talk about it at this point is little more than whispers. In fact the discussion around it is kind of loud. Who knows there can always be an agreement in the last hour but if we are heading that way, guys like Honeycutt and Lee would be better off staying at UCLA for at least one more season. Something we have to keep an eye out for next season.
Lastly, very cool news out of Purdue:
John Wooden, the former Purdue All-American basketball player and legendary UCLA coach, will have a Purdue University street named after him.
Today the Purdue University trustees approved a resolution to rename part of University Drive as John R. Wooden Drive.
University Drive stretches along the northern part of campus, from Cherry Lane to West Stadium Drive and cuts between Ross-Ade Stadium and Mackey Arena.
I kind of wish UCLA and Purdue scheduled each other in every sport each year to commemorate Coach. It would be very cool if UCLA and Purdue played football in "Wooden Bowl," go at it in baseball, and of course play each other in hoops. Okay. That is not realistic but at least in hoops, to me it kind of make sense for UCLA and Purdue to have each other in schedule every year from here on out. It would be a great way to cherish the amazing common link that connects the two programs.
GO BRUINS.
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Life Size Bronze of Coach
Re Purdue’s Wooden Drive, here’s commentary from Jon Gold’s site:
Does the athletic department have any plans to commemorate Coach Wooden during the upcoming seasons for all the various sports, especially basketball? Special armbands/insignias on the uniforms, perhaps? – Steve B.
Many different scenarios to honor Coach Wooden are in the works, but as far as I know, nothing has been decided yet. Obviously, the baseball team got it started with the JW initials on the hats, but that’s the beginning I’m sure.
4 Comments
Ron Speers B.A.’55; J.D. ’58 said:
First, you are a wonderful reporter and analyst. We are blessed to have your hard work and excellent insight. Many thanks and please keep it up!!
Second, has anyone considered a life-size bronze of Coach? I was just on the campus at Hillsdale College in Michigan where sculptor Bruce Wolfe has rendered several life-size or even larger, e.g., Maggie Thatcher, Churchill, Lincoln, Jefferson, etc. — each in a wonderful pose. Coach with a rolled-up program (in his seat in Pauley? Patrolling the sideline?) would be exciting and respectful. Samples online at Bruce Wolfe.com I don’t know the guy and had to look him up. See also hillsdale.edu and type in Bruce Wolfe.
55BRUIN
July 10, 2010 5:25 PM
Csuf09 said:
“Obviously, the baseball team got it started with the JW initials on the hats”
Let’s give our softball team some credit: they wore black wrist bands that said JW in the WCWS. It was cool to have both teams make the finals to bring more opportunities to honor JW.
July 10, 2010 6:07 PM
MichaelRyerson said:
A life-sized bronze of Coach Wooden is a wonderful idea. Perhaps sitting in his chair with the rolled up prgram looking back over his shoulder to make eye contact with Nell as happened every single time I saw a game at Pauley. If there’s a fund raising for it, count me in.
July 10, 2010 6:42 PM
A life sized bronze of Coach
would be nice in front steps to Wooden Center looking at the Bruin bear.
Well, The Pauley "remodel" is $40M under budget
so it seems that would be a great place to do something.
by silverlakebruin on Jul 11, 2010 11:03 AM PDT up reply actions
Like to see it in an indoor location
It would be a tempting target for vandals from that other place.
CBH
I’ve been very critical of CBH’s half court offense but for point guards it’s probably the best prep for the NBA as there is so much leeway given at the PG spot. However, I think it’s too much leeway when you have a PG that is average, such as JA. Hopefully we have a solid PG this year or dramatic improvement from JA.
by hongerelli on Jul 11, 2010 8:48 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
That is an interesting point
Fact. CBH is a great teacher for PGs. UCLA is becoming point guard U.
Is CBH’s offense too point guard dependent? I am not sure. Our best offensive player on the CBH final four teams were:
JF a PG
AA a SG
KL a PF/Center
While you need a good PG for it to work, I am not sure he has to be great. (This year might be the true test .) But I am also not sure how any team can go far without a very good PG in basketball today. It can work with a strong 2 guard who helps the PG (see the Lakers) but basketball today is geared toward the PG position the same way basketball of the 60s and 70s keyed on the Center.
Should make this year interesting to watch.
Part 2; We did not have an average PG last year
If we had an “average PG” last year, I don’t have any doubt we have a winning record. Our assist leader last year was Michael Roll in Assist per game, a SG/SF for us. The most assist in a game last year was Tyler Honeycutt, a PF for us last year, with 9.
During the PAC 10 season, the players in the PG position had more than 4 assists only four times. The year before DC averaged almost 5 a game for the season.
JA was arguably the worst defender on the team last year. Malcolm Lee was a very good defender but was tentative and out of position as a PG. We did not have an average PG last year.
Hopefully, JA loses the nagging injuries and comes out with a purpose. Even if he does not, we have Jones and Carlino who hopefully can contribute and give us an above average PG.
Agreed
I was being way too nice when I referred to JA as being average. I must be getting more tolerant in my old age. Too bad my sciatica doesn’t agree with me.
by hongerelli on Jul 11, 2010 1:23 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Interesting comments re: half court
Seems sensible enough to me that a guy who can read and break down a defense in the half-court set can excel at picking apart a team in the open court; whereas the converse is not necessarily true. DC is a lightning quick athlete, and at some schools would have been able to get away with that and that alone. Playing for CBH he learned to take advantage of small chinks in the defense’s armour and developed an all-court game that serves him well now.
If New Orleans has the financial attitude I think they have, I will not be at all surprised to see them let CP3 walk, or even trade him for draft picks and cheap contributors, given they have a very solid DC waiting in the wings.
OT
Bob Sheppard, the legendary voice of the Yankees, has passed away at the age of 99. He was born two days before Coach.
R.I.P.
Next Year, It is Tyler Honeycutt's Team
As Wilner says, Tyler is the most talented UCLA player. TH has to be the leader on the team next year. Yes we need to improve our defense and we need solid PG play but assuming those two happen the team will depend on TH. As our best athlete it is time for him to be our best player. A few stats on TH from his Freshman year:
1. We were 7-2 in games when TH scores in double figures.
2. On the flip side, in the last five games of the season TH shot only 19 times with a result of UCLA going 1-4.
IMO, TH is the rare player who needs to be more selfish.
Nice if it happened
But the most talented player isn’t always the best leader. I don’t care who the leader is… I just want someone to step up and take that mantle. Last season there was no clear leader on the team. Couple that with The Name That Dare Not Be Mentioned, and you have a recipe for disaster.
I think Roll was the leader
He made several big shots and set a good example. There were a lot of other problems, include the person you mentioned but I think Roll did his part.
Also you are right the best player is not always the leader. I would only add that I feel that it should be TH to some extent stepping up statistically and otherwise. I mean TH does not have to be the leading scorer but he does have to take some of he who should not be named shots. He does not have to lead the team in assists but I hope he becomes the non-PG assist leader. He probably won’t get as many rebounds next year in his natural 3 position but hopefully he will be a force there.
I guess a better way to put it, is TH Has to do much more and come close to his potential for UCLA to be successful next year. I also think he is likely the go to guy but that is hard to say with Ship, Jones, etc. not even being seen yet.
If there's a JRW statue
I want it indoors, perhaps at the “new” Pauley’s lobby.
If that thing is outdoors, the SUC kids will vandalize it just like they do with the Bruin, and we can’t have that.
Hopefully
we’ll have enough of a crew around the statue when it matters (this time) that there will be no vandalism to need cameras.
In the immortal words of the pin I got while an undergrad: Roses are red, violets are blue...f*** $C.
I would have always thought that
if we were to do a tribute to the Coach, that he wouldn’t want it to be something about him (like a statue).
Not sure what else would be fitting of what the Coach would want, and would represent him well. Perhaps the pyramid of success?
Josh Smith
Any news on his conditioning midway through summer?
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