Love Notes

by Nestor on Nov 16, 2007 6:58 PM PST in Basketball

I want to end the weekend with couple of notes on Kevin Love. First, take a look at this. Is it just me but I don't think I haven't seen another Bruin with better handles than Love in my 18 something years of day to day following of UCLA hoops.

After the nightmares ranging from Rodney Zimmerman to Mike Fey, I had to pinch myself earlier this week when I was watching this:

Photo Credit: Jack Rosenfeld

Again it is too early to come to any conclusions about what kind of contributions Love will end up making this season, but the early signs are more than encourage. Click on "read more" to see few more pics of the big fella courtesy of Jack Rosenfeld.

Second, I am already in the mindset that I am not going to get to number 42 in UCLA uniform next season. For now I have accepted that scenario. It makes it that much easier to appreciate what we have with him now and do my best to enjoy every minutes of it.

That said, it's not early at all for the Den to start think about chanting "One More Year!"

It may or may not impact on Love's ultimate decision to return for his sophomore year. However, based on early signs, we might as well get started soon. In fact come to think of it, once the Doofus is gone, that would be a great campaign for all of us in BN to get behind on.

GO BRUINS.

As mentioned before the jump here are three more great shots of KLove from Wednesday night. First, here is Kevin driving to the hoop:

He is always fighting for the ball inside:

And as always looking for a team-mate:

As we have heard through all the stories following his career through high school, he is a complete player. Those images give us a little glimpse of that. I am waiting to see many more this coming season, and enjoy every one of those.

Thanks again to Jack for those pictures.

GO BRUINS.

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After tuesday's game

When KL came out to have his post game interview, and was seated right in front of the Den at the commentators' table, there was a contingent that gathered around trying to squeeze into the picture, and chanting things. One such chant was indeed "One more year" (which, due to my influence, morphed to "three more years" midway through).

Doin' my best.

by melliott2 on Nov 16, 2007 7:41 PM PST reply actions

And it's also fun

to be in a couple of those pictures. In the third picture I'm the one just to the left of the ball, at the back of the Den. It's nice to know that KL and I will be linked forever.

by melliott2 on Nov 16, 2007 7:46 PM PST reply actions

Hey m, I have eitther good news or bad news

You're either very handsome or homely as a mud fence, depending on which of the eight thousand people you look at who are just to the left of the ball at the back of the Den.

But the Den looks very good in those shirts.

by Fox 71 on Nov 16, 2007 9:27 PM PST up reply actions

Love is probably

here for one year. Let's enjoy it and soak it all in. I find myself getting frustrated with the current state of ncaa basketball and early departures. I have to realize the system probably won't change for some time if at all, and I need to enjoy watching Love while he is here instead of lamnenting his short stay. It will be over before you know it. I was mad at Farmar and then Afflalo, but understand why they left. I run into Afflalo's aunt from time to time and give my support to Arron, but rib her a bit about an almost guaranteed 12th banner if he stayed one more year.

I can only imagine what the bruins would look like if everyone comes back next year. It won't happen, but I'm still incredibly excited about this season. I haven't felt this way about a bruin hoops team since 95. It's Love time!!!!!!!! Everyone needs to keep working on the entry passes. I don't worry about his ability to kick it back out when needed. As Bill Walton always says, "get it to the big man". (I still can't believe Walton didn't pick the bruins to win the championship when the tournament started in 95)

Go Bruins!!

by Bruins095 on Nov 16, 2007 11:36 PM PST reply actions

One more year?

Maybe it's wishful thinking (see, KD hasn't killed ALL my hope...), but I'll bet KL's decision to stay or go will have a lot to do with how the Bruins do this year. If for whatever reason, the team has a rough year, I wouldn't be surprised to see him come back. The sense I have (which has absolutely no validity outside of BN) of this guy's character is that he feels a real responsibility for his team, and he'd be far less likely to leave if he feels he or the team have not played up to their potential. I get the sense that he's the "keep doing it 'til you get it right" kind of guy. Now, if they win it all this year, he's gone. But I can live with that if he leaves a banner behind as he goes.

greg in denver

by gbruin on Nov 17, 2007 2:11 AM PST reply actions

Nice while it lasted..

Well said and I agree. It would be nice to have him around but -- if you will -- a little bit selfish on our parts. I mean, even now, he may be risking injury and a lucrative NBA payday by not going straight to the pros; the trade-off, of course, is any salary enhancement that can be garnered from playing at this level and winning an NCAA title. If UCLA wins the banner, then he's accomplished all he can at the collegiate level.

I remember thinking how hypocritical some George fans were some time ago when they tried to beg Herschel Walker to stick around for his senior year when he was facing a $5 million personal services contract in the WFL -- i.e., money in the bank irrespective of the new league's fortunes. They actually tried to convince him of the value of a college degree.

Lessee, how much would tuition, books, and board eat up out of the $5 mil?

..besides, Ben recruited Kevin and the fantastic four (plus a lot of other talent) and will do it again. If you will, winning even with this transience of skilled players is another exciting facet of Howland's program.

by whp68 on Nov 17, 2007 7:42 AM PST up reply actions

Zimmerman

Not to say he is in any class like Love, but I do have to defend him a bit since he was asked to play the 5 spot, but was really a 4. We had no other options at the post, so Rodney had to play there. I think that is more on the coaching staff than Rodney himself.

I think if Rodney could have played along a bonfide center he would have been an amazing 4.

by Free the 16 on Nov 17, 2007 9:21 AM PST reply actions

Rodeny was a great guy

Just an awesome kid. I think you are probably right on how Harrick used him. He came to UCLA with lot of promise.

But man ... only if he could knock down the FTs against the Fab 5 in that second round game. :-)

I still have nightmares about that game you know.

by Nestor on Nov 17, 2007 9:34 AM PST up reply actions

Rodney Zimmerman did all he could

with what he had, which was never much to begin with. Another one was Mark Eaton. He sure tried hard to compete with size, height and zero skills. Amazing he lasted a few years in the pros.

The one that disappointed the most had to be Stuart Grey, hailed as the second coming of Bill Walton. He turned out to be a total lemon in every sense of the word.

by Htse005 on Nov 17, 2007 10:35 PM PST up reply actions