UCLA Basketball Remains Winless Against Division I
by DCBruins on Nov 23, 2011 6:55 PM PST
in Basketball
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PrintThis is a low point. The box score is here but does not tell the story as it was not that close. ESPN is hyping and acting surprised at any point the game is close. Bruins fans "everyWear" are making bad puns that are not as bad as Travis and David's defense and shot selection. The fat jokes are there every time Smith is in which isn't long because he gets tired so quick. Our best player right now some, including myself, thought should be suspended longer after he stole a laptop. Our next best player was also suspended and followed his suspension by missing the bus.
The game was a forgone conclusion but still painful to watch, looking at it from ESPN's perspective I can see why they were hyping UCLA as only down seven and acting surprised at halftime.
I have never seen a worse UCLA team on offense. Our starting PG can only score on an out-of-control- drive and hope to get fouled; it is how Zeek got most of his points. There is only one player I think who is playing smart, for the most part, and it is Jerime Anderson. It is so bad the kid who stole the "unattended" laptop is exercising the best judgment on the team. There is no flow. It is also sad to watch Norman Powell, an explosive freshman, wait at the three point line and hardly move.
The defense has huge issues. We can't stop any Division I team from shooting over 50%. Our best defender right now is known for taking possessions off. Our supposed defensive stopper (Tyler Lamb), has been burned in every game, although his offense has improved.
And then there are the bizarre lineups. In the past CBH has changed for better defense. Sometimes now it looks like he is pulling names out of the hat (except for Lane and Stover.) This team is broke.
Time is running out for CBH to fix it.
Go Bruins
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Likely the Wear twins will be involved in one of the worst seasons in program history at not just UNC, but UCLA. Impressive.
by TheFountainAndTheMountain on Nov 23, 2011 7:05 PM PST reply actions
The era of Howland is officially over
He had a good run, but it’s been obvious to everyone who follows UCLA basketball, players have tuned him out and do not like playing for him. His plodding, deliberate offense is horrible to watch and must be painful to play. I am pretty sure we will be hearing of more dissention from the team in the coming days, and I would’nt be surprised if someone transfers or asks to be let out of their Letter of intent.
Yes. Stubborn and overbearing
It wears on you. Doesn’t matter if it’s a boss, parent, coach, significant other. You just get tired of it. It’s clear the players are tuning him out, the effort’s just not there any more.
And really, why should the players change THEIR bad habits (RN’s attitude, JS’s FAT) when he’s too stubborn to change his OWN. (see: substitution patterns, losing to Florida the same exact way, not using Westbrook on Rose sooner)
Problem with the offense is not that it's "plodding." That's all perception.
The problem is that no one on this team appears interested in executing it.
Yes
Exactly. Everyone stands around. Except Zeek and the Wears who just charge at the basket.
This team is largely the same as last year, minus Honeycutt & Lee
All of our current rotation played major minutes last year. You switch out Honeycutt & Lee for Travis & David and all of a sudden the wheels fall off. Is it the Wears? Is their presence on the team affecting the others that much?
I see your point
but it goes deeper. Zeek went from being the fifth option to thinking he is the first option. He should still be the fifth option or fourth (if Stover is in).
Smith got worse and his attitude seems like he does not always care. Remember the first game last year when he dived for the ball? Now he can’t bend over for it.
Then there is Lamb. He looked bad on offense last year but like a good defender. This year it is the opposite. I don’t get that one at all (although I give him credit for improving his shot.)
Nelson is the same. But Nelson on a losing team is toxic. On a winning team he is eccentric.
So every player we kept is worse (in some way), except Anderson.
Honestly I can't blame Nelson any more
I have been very critical of him but I can see now why he is so frustrated. Of course no excuse for yelling at team-mates and missing practices but I can see the pain in his face. The kid doesn’t like losing.
Seems like the pivotal moment this year
In any sport, was Rick’s “I CAN’T BE THE ONLY ONE WHO CARES!?” outburst. It applies so many ways. To our entire football season. To Reeves. To us @ Morgan Center.
Not blaming Nelson
If we beat LMU and MTSU as any UCLA team should, he does not have his issues or at least not as bad. You are right he is frustrated and CBH is going to lose him (if he has not already).
Oh I didn't think you were blaming Nelson
I was making a general observation on the kid. Last two games – his body language has been very interesting to watch. You are absolutely right. Nelson on a team with good athletes would have been very eccentric to watch. This is just a shame.
Let's wait and see for the Wears..
The team played much better without Smith in the lineup.. yes he can score underneah if you can feed him the ball..but his lack of defense is costing much more than the Wears which needs to get adjusted to a holland defensive style.. I would bench smith until he loses more weight.. but even if he did he would still be a liability defensively because it has never been is forte. When I saw him the first time in High schol I knew right away this guy was way overated. I did mention it in this forum long time ago. I was casted as an idiot .
Based on last year
You were an idiot. Unless you’re saying that you called him coming into his soph year +30 pounds rather than -30 pounds, then nothing has changed since then.
Agreed
A motivated, 265-275 Josh Smith is a top 5-10 player in college basketball easy, based on his play last year. I don’t know what could possess a kid that talented who presumably wants to play professional basketball to allow himself to regress physically the way that he has.
Josh Smith = Eddie Curry
(If Eddie Curry played college ball). consumed with Josh’s gametime behaviour, I couldn’t get out of my lazyboy chair.. it’s f-ing contagious
wanting to be able we certainly wished,
... but being allowed to try we didn`t dare
What is there to wait for? They're know quantities. We know what they bring
What needs to happen is for theirs and Zeek’s minutes to be minimized.
Is it officially time
to turn our attention completely to the women’s team?
First it was "oh I can't wait for basketball"
Basketball is here. Oh.
I think I’ll be moving on to baseball or gymnastics next.
Can't wait for game vs Tennessee
I’ve already bought 3 more tix for Women’s BBall than Men’s – three.
Can’t wait to see the atmosphere at the Wooden Center (which sounds great) and see a team that actually looks like a team. I also hope to see Pat Summitt.
What if Reeves Nelson misses the flight back to LA
by TheFountainAndTheMountain on Nov 23, 2011 7:21 PM PST reply actions
Had the saddest, sickest feeling tonight
As the game neared its pathetic end I got a call from my seven year-old son’s basketball coach, informing me that the name of his team this coming season will be – the Bruins. The coach is a Bruin as well, and commiserated with me as we watched Howland’s team go down in flames.
Never thought I’d be embarrassed by the thought of having that name on my son’s chest.
Don't worry about that
We will display our colors proudly. What we need to worry about is people who are in charge of running this show. It’s clear to me that UCLA administration has no sense of pride in those four letters and no respect for tradition. It’s these guys who have to be booted out in masse.
Be proud, Dad. I called my boys team the Bruins when they were in youth basketball
(now they’re in there 20’s). It was awesome and fun. I was head coach. We started out the Bad News Bears. After our first couple games, I was bewildered as to why we couldn’t score. So at practice we played 5 on Zero. That’s right… 5 on offense, Zero on defense. Those kids still couldn’t score. Funny. So we learn the proper way to do a lay-up. We learned the purpose of the square above the hoop. We had a brainy bunch. Once I explained angles and relationship of how hard to put the ball on the backboard to score a bucket… we started scoring. Since all kids could run, we decided to double team the opponents best kid (“just run where ever he runs and don’t let him get the ball. He’ll get mad and start crying.”) Worked like a charm. Ended up pushing the 1st place team to the limit at the end of the season. We finished 3rd out of 8 teams. Coaching makes a big difference! Good luck, Bruin!
U-C-L-A Fight, Fight, Fight! Go Bruins!
NBA: Where Greed Happens. RIP 10/10/11.
This fiasco is about toxic players
RN, JS, JA failed to provide team leadership. How do you fix that? Terrible role models having nothing to do with the coach other than he recruited them. So coach has to man up and admit his recruiting mistakes, correct the problem and find some gutty little Bruins who can be coached into D-1 players.
Not sure
Take Sidney Wicks. The best bruin between KAJ and Walton. He was a flipping head case. Wooden made him great.
Nelson, on a much similar scale, is similar. He is always going to be difficult but he can be a good player on a good team, like last year. But on a losing team, he is a cancer, like his Freshman year and maybe this year.
We have average to under average players.. even
Nelson do not look as strong physically as last year. (he looks thinner).. he missed so many good opportunities under the basket
So you're criticizing Nelson for supposedly being weaker than last year
But you’re calling for patience upthread on the Wears who are way weaker than Nelson (combined)?
No I am not...
I just noticed (on TV) that he might have lost some weight and/or muscle…
no it's not
These are not toxic players. It’s a combo of poor talent, poorly employed. That’s a coaching issue.
The Wears are good kids, just not good ballers. We added them and Powell and Parker to a team that lost its most toxic player Honeycutt. The kids are fine. The talent may not be, and the execution is absent.
This is a coaching issue. (And even if the players were toxic, it’s a coaching issue because the coach is responsible for getting the players.)
by GoldenGate93 on Nov 23, 2011 8:04 PM PST via iPhone app up reply actions
Looking back at it
A good coach with good people management skills may have gotten the best out of Honeycutt, keep him motivated and inspire him (along with Lee) to come back for another season.
Per BN Expectations for this season...
1) Win Pac-12
2) Play Defense
I’ll simply sit back and watch Ben work his magic to get this squad ready for league play. First game is Dec 29, IIRC. No sense of getting riled up before the beginning of Pac-Play. Until then… throw out all predictions of wins-losses. The next few games will be used to “find the way”.
U-C-L-A Fight, Fight, Fight! Go Bruins!
NBA: Where Greed Happens. RIP 10/10/11.
Denial
Isn’t just a river in Egypt. 0-4, all losses in double digits. No miracle cure for that. The only questions are whether our win total will reach the teens or merely double digits, and whether this will be so abysmal that a coach 4 years removed from 3 straight final 4s will himself be removed.
by GoldenGate93 on Nov 23, 2011 8:08 PM PST via iPhone app up reply actions
I'm ranting but can't help it...apologies in advance
I’m forever grateful to CBH for restoring pride in our BB program and for the multiple FF’s. Having said that, this is going to get much worse and we’re witnessing the beginning of the end IMO.
CBH is a defense 1st, 2nd, 3rd coach. I love defense and I don’t want to see a UCLA team that just runs up and down the court without ever playing any defense. However, CBH doesn’t have a clue on what to do on offense. He has no idea on how to modify or mold his system to maximize the talent on hand.
In 07-08, we had a starting 5 of DC, Westy, Shipp, Luc and Love. That is 4 NBA guys in our starting five. Playing virtual HC, that is a roster full of speed. At every position except for center, UCLA had the quicker/faster player than the opponent. In addition, you had a guy who could clean up the backboard and ignite your transition offense with his passing. Yet, we continued to play the same methodical, slow as snail pace offense.
When you have talent (UCLA will always have talent), you have a greater margin for error. We’ve seen many teams that look like their dead who come back because they were the more talented team. They simply wake up and the talent just takes over. Instead of using his talent advantage, he puts shackles on it. Our teams not only have to face the opposition’s defense but must also overcome the shackles put on them by CBH. The end result is that it neutralizes our talent advantage thus creating a small margin for error. Instead of opening things up (more possessions/higher tempo increases margin for error), taking more risks and being flexible to take advantage, he pretty much chop blocks himself. How many times were we bailed out by Farmar/DC/Westy/AA with the clock running down. Their talent allowed them to create for others or themselves. They were straight isolations with no coaching involved.
The guy is a borderline defensive genius IMO but he has no clue what to do on offense.
Next, he is beyond stubborn. How long did it take for him to recognize that M2M was not going to work and he went zone? How long did it take for him to recognize that DC was getting abused by Rose? I’ve even seen Timmy come out with a Box and 1 because he recognized the matchup problems. Yet, CBH lives and dies by his M2M. ONLY when he is desperate and it is beyond crystal clear that it is not working, he reluctantly switches. To me, that is an epic failure at the coaching level. A coach needs to be flexible to identify these issue pre-game as well as in-game.
This roster is flawed but it is his own creation. He is one stubborn coach.
Lastly, people are crazy if they think Anderson, Adams, Shabazz (if he inks), etc are going to save this program next season. Shabazz is a 1 and doner. Howland doesn’t know what to do with a talent like Anderson. I wouldn not be surprised if they didn’t finish their careers at UCLA. They came a looooong way and they didn’t come this far to not get utilized properly/get opportunities.
CBH better fix this because as of now, our program is in shambles and Zona is cleaning house. Zona is inking all of the best Cali ballers who love Miller and his style. UCLA should never be shut out for the top ballers from Cali and have to get guys from across the country. There is a reason why Matthews and McCrary were hired. I’m very concerned and you should be to.
Also
a guy like CBH does great with under recruited and self motivated guys. Guys with a chip on their shoulder because the major program didn’t recruit them. He can convince them to run through a wall. But, UCLA will always get talent based on our history. That will never be a problem but he simply doesn’t know how to manage these type of kids.
To me, Howland is a very good coach who belongs at a lower end D1 or mid major program. Amongst the Bo Ryan’s, Charlie Cole’s, etc. of the world. Coaching wise, they would run circles around a crook like Calipari. It’s just that they don’t have the talent to match up.
Class Warfare. Good observation.
Ben’s great with dudes that have chips on their shoulders “those blue-bloods think they’re better than us… we’ll show-‘em who’s boss”.
Now that Ben’s a blue-blood… his entire schtick is lost… and he’s not developed a game or a style that caters to thourogh-breds.
Ben Howland.
U-C-L-A Fight, Fight, Fight! Go Bruins!
NBA: Where Greed Happens. RIP 10/10/11.
"In 07-08, we had a starting 5 of DC, Westy, Shipp, Luc and Love. That is 4 NBA guys in our starting five"
Correction: That 4 NBA Starters, 2 of which are NBA ALL-STARS during years which they woulda been in college. Ben Howland was absolutely stacked. Jim Harrick didn’t have that kinda talent. And we still got blow the F off the court when it came to the last game. But, umm, I said no need to get riled up. I too cannot help it. As you were, soldier…
U-C-L-A Fight, Fight, Fight! Go Bruins!
NBA: Where Greed Happens. RIP 10/10/11.
I disagree
This team’s failure is precisely because the team cannot defend. Perhaps Ben wasn’t as great a defensive teacher as we thought. He just got guys who would defend and let them be.
Perhaps Ben isn’t all that great, he just lucked into two otherworldly defenders, Luc and Arron, and several guys including those two (and DC, KL and RW) who just play balls out, refuse to lose.
by GoldenGate93 on Nov 23, 2011 8:13 PM PST via iPhone app up reply actions
"...who just play balls out, refuse to lose"
Ladies and Gentleman… This is what I call UCLA Bruin Basketball.
Forget about ben ball. ben is at UCLA. This is UCLA BALL. Refuse To Lose.
Love it Love it Love it.
U-C-L-A Fight, Fight, Fight! Go Bruins!
NBA: Where Greed Happens. RIP 10/10/11.
Matthews and McCrary were a response to assistants leaving
It was a late response and the poor evaluation or recruits has put the team in it’s current state. The question is whether you blame this on Howland or Guerrero? I don’t know what assistants make on the Bruin bench but they should be the highest paid in the conference given the basketball reputation and market. The high quality hires must continue for Howland to work at UCLA. He can coach, that’s obvious from his 3 straight final fours. Then there’s also the “UCLA Factor”. However, as almost every other coach (Maybe Coach K is the exception) he has weaknesses. He needs recruiters and great offensive minds to balance his tough/defensive mind.
The recruiting hasn’t been a disaster as far as online ratings go but there’s been too many busts. Entitlement has caused other problems ranging from: looking past the present to the NBA, attitude, laziness, off the court legal problems, roster balance, to conditioning. Then there’s the lack of positional balance.
Matthews and McCrary seem to be off to a good start. Both Adams and Anderson are known as winners. Adams is the captain at loaded Oak Hill Academy. He provides the team with an outside sniper, something it’s been missing for a few years now. Anderson shows the ability to make others better. Guys respect and want to play with him.
They’ve started recruiting on a national scale again. Now they need to regain California as it’s staple. Losing Artis hurts but I wonder if we can steal him back after, his Drew Gooden Soldier buddy. Jabari Brown is already leaving Oregon.
Shabazz, another known as a fierce competitor, and a big puts this as the top class. So, I have to disagree that this wouldn’t fix the program. They’d have the talent and attitude to excel in Howland’s system.
Look at the potential of next year’s lineup:
Starters:
Powell
Anderson
Mohamed
T Wear or recruit
Smith (275-80 version.. wouldn’t let him step on the floor until he makes weight)
Bench
Drew or recruit
Lamb or Parker
Adams
D Wear or recruit
Stover or recruit
I left off Nelson because I’m sure he’s off to play in Korea or something next year.
I certainly hope Howland can turn this team around because I would like this future lineup come to fruition. There’s a chance the next labor agreement keeps these guys around for 2 years too.
Despite everything that’s happened there is some hope going forward. First, the rest of the Pac-12 has played below expectations so far too (save Stanford and Oregon St). Second, Smith’s conditioning will get improve (probably the biggest sign of upside). Third, the drama situation with Nelson should play itself out by the time Pac-12 play begins. Fourth, Parker should start to get healthy and some more time at SF. Finally, Parker will learn more basketball skills to start matching his athleticism.
The only guy on the roster with the talent/ability to uplift his teammates on the roster is Smith.
He’s so incredibly out of shape right now that he’s actually a liability. That should change as the season progresses and will put others in better position succeed.
OK, done rambling for now
by abasketballfan on Nov 24, 2011 6:03 AM PST up reply actions
Smith's conditioning didn't significantly improve over the course of last season
He only played more because he stopped fouling every 30 seconds. I wouldn’t be as confident that it’ll improve over the course of this year, although he is in worse shape than last year, so maybe he can play himself into last year’s conditioning. Just a sad situation all around though.
As far as recruiting goes, it doesn’t look as bad when you only look at what goes in, but when you take transfers into account, that’s when you see the depth of the problem.
Good point about the transfers
I missed the Kansas game but I noticed Smith moving much better than he has at the start of the 2nd half against Michigan. Of course he was only able to sustain it for about 5 minutes. It may be a combination of getting into shape and motivation.
Transfers have been too frequent. Although it seems to be a big trend everywhere recently, UCLA has had more than it’s fair share. Gordon especially hurt but Moser and Stanbeck are doing well at UNLV too. Stanbeck I understand because he would have been buried on the bench. Moser and Gordon would have been starters on this team. Communication during recruiting is key as well. These guys need to know that they’re not coming in with the likelihood of starting right away. A good cop, to Howland’s bad cop, can keep emotions under control as well.
If there’s a clear cut upgrade to Howland great. If not, then UCLA needs to put/force him into the best position to succeed.
by abasketballfan on Nov 24, 2011 3:58 PM PST up reply actions
Well, at least we have football. Go Bruins! Beat SC! The Gap Has Closed. lol
U-C-L-A Fight, Fight, Fight! Go Bruins!
NBA: Where Greed Happens. RIP 10/10/11.
While I personally think 2013 will be BH's last year, what do you guys think it
would take to see him jetisoned this year. I suspect nothing(but losing by double digits in your first 4 D-1games with absolutely no glimmer of hope for improvement given BH’s stubborness does beg the question). Of course, you would have to include in your calculation the most clueless AD in North America…I hope the donors in Maui make his professional life miserable…
Realistically?
I think it will take a bottom 3 pac-12 finish to see him fired this year
Realistically, I don't see Dan and Gene ever firing Ben.
Even if this season is a complete failure (less than .500 ball, no tournament)… if good kids are coming in, Dan and Gene will give Ben another crack at it. Then if THAT season is dismal, then even Ben will take his buy-out and walk. No matter what, I’m thinking Ben is back one more season.
U-C-L-A Fight, Fight, Fight! Go Bruins!
NBA: Where Greed Happens. RIP 10/10/11.
Yeah. Barring a last place finish, I don't see him getting fired.
But given how weak the Pac12 appears to be again this year, I suspect this team, warts and all, will come close to winning 20 games.
If that happens, the Pac will only get two teams in the tourney... 3 at best.
The Automatic Bid. The Regular Season Champ. And anybody else who has 20 wins. All season the pundits on the East coast will be lambasting the Pac 12.
U-C-L-A Fight, Fight, Fight! Go Bruins!
NBA: Where Greed Happens. RIP 10/10/11.
Here is the thing Gary
We have to get our football house in order first. ASAP. Then we need to get a new AD. The pressure on Howland is only going to get more intense from here.
We have taken a lot of heat here in last two years for putting Howland on the hot seat and providing analysis on why this program has not been on the right track. Seems like people are finally seeing the issues out in open now.
I agree that football is now the priority(though I really believe the priority is DG, but
with the current Chancellor, I have no expectation or hope)…As someone who is old enough to remember when UCLA meant something in both football and basketball, it is so disheartening to see so many(not on this blog)who are resigned to mediocrity. I only hope the money folks were all in Maui to see this and get back in time to see the mauling on Saturday…
I'd say
Continue current course. I don’t know that he can survive another losing season. As bad as so many teams are, going under .500 2 of 3 years has to be the death knell.
by GoldenGate93 on Nov 23, 2011 8:15 PM PST via iPhone app up reply actions
CBH needs to go
This is not what UCLA is about. We do not accept mediocrity year in and year out. This isn’t the legacy that Coach built. Excuse my language, but fire his ass and do it as soon as fucking possible.
After this game
Does this mean we’re a football school?
by TheStick on Nov 23, 2011 8:16 PM PST via mobile reply actions
Somebody Help Me Out Here
Is it me or do we not look like a team? The 2 things which I love to see and to me indicate most about team-play and effort (besides cheering each other on from the bench rather than moping like the announcers keep on keying on) are assists and rebounds.
Assists: According to TWWL site here, we are 109th overall with an Avg of 14 assists per game. Even though Zeek has had a horrible start to the season in shooting, he should be able to distribute the ball. Anderson has actually been better than I expected, but we still aren’t moving the ball well to create good shots. Rather, we look worse than a mid-major and keep on shooting outside shots, many of which are contested and poor shots, which leads to our stat of a 41.9% FG%, which is 216th in the nation.
Rebounds: If nothing else, our ‘dominant’ big front line should make up for lack of speed with its ability to block out and crash the boards. Nope. How about 34.3 rebounds a game for 240th in the nation? Actually if you count today’s game, that will drop to 32.2 rebounds a game… If you don’t count our only win vs Chaminade…
vs LMU UCLA 35 rebounds LMU 34 rebounds
vs Middle Tenn St UCLA 32 rebounds MTSU 32 rebounds
vs Chaminade UCLA 49 rebounds Cham 27 rebounds
vs Kansas UCLA 21 rebounds KS 34 rebounds
vs Michigan UCLA 24 rebounds MI 31 rebounds
One other factor that I don’t know where to get the stats for is the fast break… I really believe that part of the problem we have been having with offense compared to last year is the lack of fast-break points. Reeves was a scoring machine last year with the fast break and has not had much to work with this year. Of course, I’d be happy if the team was able to get down the court on either end of the ball. I’m not sure if its the lack of conditioning (not just Smith), but we have too many times where guys aren’t getting down the court fast enough.
Last thought – I sadly had to chuckle when I heard one of the announcers talk about how Joshua could be something great next year if he has the off-season for conditioning. Hmm… sounds kinda familiar. Unfortunately, its true. He has been averaging 18.2 mins thru the first 5 games and 3.6 PF per game. I also think that he has looked like more of a liability than an asset to the team thus far when he is in the game… can’t say truthfully that he looks better this year than last, which is a real shame to say.
Defensive rebounds lead to fast breaks
The numbers you posted are exactly the reason why this team hasn’t scored in transition. You need the ball for that to happen.
no rebounds to get
if the opposing team makes at least half their shots on a consistent basis
Troy is burning
by bruinbasketball on Nov 23, 2011 10:18 PM PST up reply actions
Smith can't move
and he can’t be moved. Makes him a good offense rebounder (he can chose his spot) and a bad defense rebounder, can’t move to the ball. Reeves is a good defensive rebouder but is playing outside too much on offense. The Wears are bad rebounders as well. Honeycutt’s rebounding is missed. We are underachieving on rebounding until Nelson plays like a 4 on offense and Smith starts moving on D.
Curious. Are there any current students here on BN who actually know any of
these players? I knew a couple of BB players in my day. I knew a lot of the dudes on the FB team (6 lived on my dorm floor, in Sproul my freshman year). Any students here with any insiders insights to help some of us geezers (like me).
U-C-L-A Fight, Fight, Fight! Go Bruins!
NBA: Where Greed Happens. RIP 10/10/11.
Graduated last year after a glorious five years at UCLA
So I had the good (?) fortune of interacting with a few of them.
Their reputation amongst the students wasn’t so hot last year. I’ve personally watched Reeves Nelson drunk out of his mind at a date party mid-season and get thrown out in his state, while Joshua Smith and someone else (pardon me, but the memories escape me at that stage of the evening) just kind of looked on. A few of my friends have witnessed Smith’s erm… eating habits, first hand. The man has no discipline. Word on the street also is (and I’ve only witnessed it firsthand a few times) that the players also partake in a few other extracurricular activities. Alcohol isn’t the only thing that distracts them from practicing.
And this concerning trend wasn’t new last year. Even players like Roll would partake mid-season, and don’t get me started on Ragovic.
All of this comes down to one thing: a lack of discipline. Pretty sure we know who’s responsible for that.
Thanks for the revealing but disappointing details.
Some of them play like they’re under the influence. Sad.
I think this is one of the reasons Coach retired at 65. He saw a lot of this crap coming.
Nevertheless, the lack of accountability is on CBH and DG.
If I had a dollar for every pot brownie joke I heard about Smith
I’d be a wealthy student
by BigBru on Nov 24, 2011 3:38 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Good news
We don’t play again until next Monday. Which means we can get back to the game this Saturday.
WELL
All I can say is that this is not just BH fault, it’s also the players fault to. The players are the ones that need to step it up on the court. BH said before the season started that this team is going to need a lot of work on the defense side. I think this team is still trying to find their chemistry together.
Howland is totally mismanaging
The players. They could be a lot better if he made better coaching decisions
by Odysseus on Nov 23, 2011 9:54 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Agree the final responsibility may be with the players,
but who recruited this disfunctional lot.
Loyala beats Idaho State in overtime...
Even Idaho State is more competitive than this mess of a team…
Watching Kansas v Duke was eye opening.
Both of those teams look like basketball teams should. Crisp passes. great spacing and timing. Every time we lob up one of those cross court rainbow passes I cringe. And, it seems we are lobbing more and more of those.
This basketball team is looking like last year’s football team; I can find High School teams that play better ball.
This is *^%^&% embarrassing.
Winning is not a sometime thing; it's an all the time thing. You don't win once in a while; you don't do things right once in a while; you do them right all the time. Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing. ~ Vince Lombardi
Is it too late for Kyle Anderson to rescind his NLI?
Could anyone blame him at this point?
He might end up underused (unlikely) or coddled (favoritism). If his commitment is unwavering though, then he is a high character kid, and hopefully he can be utilized properly by Ben or the next coach.
howland
Howland wins when he can hold the other guys to 50-55. Even with two NBA all stars and a guy who set a league record for double doubles on his team, the 07-08 squad would run into woeful scoring droughts. He is not an offensive minded coach. When guys are setting smothering traps and rotating and frustrating the hell out of the other team, 65 pts can win a game.
I actually thought howland was incapable of a title when I saw Kevin freaking Love completely disappear against Memphis when that team didn’t really have a credible big man. It was eye opening. There should have been adjustments we could have man handled them on the glass like rose man handled collison. No adjustment came, and in my eyes the howland era had been exposed.
He is not on the level of coach k, Roy williams, bill self and snake calipari in terms of system building or recruiting in Cals case. I don’t think Howland is our future. This is going to be worse than 09-10.
by Strathmore&Gayley on Nov 24, 2011 4:26 AM PST via iPhone app reply actions
Kevin Love was smothered because they completely packed it on him.
Since Moute wasn’t a high-post scoring threat, that was all on Westbrook, Collison, and Shipp to bail him out from the outside. That, obviously, didn’t happen. And there was the matter of Derrick Rose eating Collison alive.
spot on post-game analysis indigo
Westbrook didn’t develop his jumper yet…
wanting to be able we certainly wished,
... but being allowed to try we didn`t dare
Sagarin rankings
show we’re really rank: after Wednesday’s game, we’re now #209 of 345, behind the likes of Eastern Illinois, Presbyterian College, and Quinnipiac. Even $c’s a lofty #174.
Roses are red, violets are blue...f*** $C.
In spite of all this carrying-on,
this team really has only two problems— it can’t score and it can’t rebound. Josh Smith is not yet a part of this team, so I overlook him. The rebounding can be improved relatively quickly by focused practice and the use of Lane and Stover. Scoring will probably get somewhat better, because, statistically, it almost has to. However, the defense will have to improve dramatically for us to win. The mental and emotional aspects will be key if these improvements are to take place. Howland can coach, assuming that these guys are coachable, and I know that some of them are, so it is still not too late. But we must not lose the will to win. If we have that, this team can still achieve a lot. And now, another glass of wine. (Not Chianti) .
Forgive me..
“..this team really has only two problems— it can’t score and it can’t rebound..”
I don’t mean any disrespect whatsoever over your thoughtful analysis, but this has got to be one of the funniest lines ever! Thank you for the mirth and my best wishes for a happy and bountiful Thanksgiving to you and to all Bruins fans’ everywhere.
by War Planner on Nov 24, 2011 12:21 PM PST up reply actions
It's the lack of talent -- not the coach -- that is UCLA baketball's problem
Missing more shots than they can land in the basket; playing little or no defense; allowing their opponents to dominate in their zone; missing half of their free throws; never getting the three-point shot when they need it… these shortfalls are the result of low-skilled basketball players, not poor coaching at UCLA. When a team is as bad as the 2011-12 Bruins, it’s easy to blame it on the coach and demand his ouster. But the reality is UCLA recruiting needs to yank the scholarships from the players they currently have, and offer them to more talented players who can play division one basketball!
Your comment is FALSE
Talent is the last of this team’s problems. Yes, we don’t have exceptional talent but we certainly have way more than most teams. It’s about a stubborn coach who won’t adapt to his personnel, and the absence of a great PG. I think Anderson will get there though…if Howland let’s him.
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
We're in such deep *(^*^* in Westwood
How can our incompetent AD fire our two lame coaches (and the money they’re owed) and then fire himself. And then rescind a bunch of scholarships to all the unworthy players currently populating our BB and FB rosters. It’s a problem without a solution. So sadly, I don’t think it’s going to be solved anytime soon and we will have years more of what we’re currently experiencing.
I’m going to a museum the day we play u$C with my wife because as boring as that will be, it will still be better than watching our Bruins get smoked again.
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