Ben Ball News & Notes

by Nestor on Apr 3, 2008 4:04 AM PDT in Basketball

Let’s get right back to March Madness. KS Wong over at Bruin Basketball Report has a great post up on whether Saturday’s matchup against the Tigers will turn into a 2006 defensive redux. Wong looked back to the 2006 game and noted how in that game Coach Howland switched his pg – JF – over to guarding SG Antonio Anderson and put CB on then Memphis pg Darius Washington. The result was different from the matchup earlier that season when Washington ate up JF. So with that in mind here is a look into the matchups this season:

Move forward to 2008, UCLA has Pac-10 Defensive player of the year 6'3 Russell Westbrook; however, it does not have nearly the defensive personnel of the 2006 club.

Whereas the presence of Westbrook helps to make up for the loss of Afflalo on the defensive perimeter, instead of a 6'6 long and agile Bozeman, the Bruins have Josh Shipp who is perhaps the team's weakest defender on the wing.

And while Darren Collison is an excellent on-ball defender, his 6'1, 165 lb frame puts him at a decided size disadvantage against the Tigers' big backcourt of 6'3 205 lb Derrick Rose and 6'7 Chris Douglas-Roberts.

Howland recognizes the quality of the Memphis backcourt and understands the challenges his team faces in matching up with it.

"Their offense starts with Derrick Rose," Howland said. "Jason Kidd is a very good analogy, but with a better jump shot at the same stage. Chris Douglas-Roberts is very skilled with the ball, at putting the ball on the floor and making plays. He attacks the rim, he can knock down a three. He can do it all.

In 2006 Darius Washington was a solid point-guard for Memphis but NBA-lottery bound Rose is a completely different player who provides the team speed and shot creation at the point. Rose is definitely a difference maker and makes the Tiger offense hum.

The match-ups on the perimeter for Saturday's game between the two clubs will likely be Russell Westbrook on Douglas-Roberts, Josh Shipp on Antonio Anderson, and Darren Collison on Derrick Rose.

I think that sounds about right. However, as I have said today I won’t be surprised if Howland decides to go big a lot on this game by giving extended minutes to JK, LMR and AA2. JK has been playing outstanding defense in his last few games. Having him in there along with KL could give Howland the option to switch DC over to Anderson, RW on Rose and sic LRMAM on CDR. Again I am writing about this a lot because this is really fascinating and interesting to me, and I am anxious to see how this chess match plays out. BTW I am not sure if the suspension of Aundre Allen will have any discernible impact on Saturday's game. It could put some added burden on Rose in terms of mins and being wary of not getting into foul trouble, but I think that concern goes both ways. Both teams will have to immediately gauge how the refs are calling the game and be ready to adjust accordingly.

On to some other news and notes Dohn has a pretty cool profile on our Prince:

Mbah a Moute was hoping his parents would make the trip to San Antonio, where UCLA will meet Memphis in the NCAA Tournament's first national semifinal Saturday, but learned this week they will not attend.

But unlike a year ago, Mbah a Moute has the memories of being home recently to help soften the disappointment.

"To have the chance to go back and see his parents and friends was important in terms of finding your roots and going back home," said Aboya, who is also from Yaounde. "It gave him a new energy."

When Mbah a Moute arrived at UCLA, coach Ben Howland and teammates used to get a kick out of the cultural differences between Southern California and Central Cameroon. Among Mbah a Moute's favorite meats is viper (yes, the snake).

The first thing Mbah a Moute and Aboya did after driving from Doula to the capital city of Yaounde on their trip home last summer was eat. And eat, and eat.

Among the meats and fish at the spread were some traditional Cameroon dishes, including Ndole (a meat or fish dish that includes peanuts and vegetables).

"It took like three or four hours to eat," said Mbah a Moute, who has three sisters and four brothers. "After that, I talked to my little brother and little sister for a while. I never felt so good."

Shoot. I don’t know people. If eating a viper gives our boys – LRMAM & AA2 – a little extra energy, why not include that in their meal plan for Friday? (j/k people … that’s a joke … but if you think about it …).

Elsewhere, Pucin has a piece on how star freshmen like KL and Rose have give up theire egos to fit into the team. In other words it’s a boilerplate human interest story that doesn’t tell us much. But if you want to read up here is the link.

Lastly, Jill Painter has an update on Coach Wooden, who recently received a call from Tom Coughlin. The Super Bowl champion coach was checking in with the Coach. Coach will not make it to San Antonio. He is take it easy, resting up, and thankfully according to Painter’s report he now has someone ‘with him around the clock’ to look after him. And of course he is on everyone’s mind in this Nation. From Painter:

Normally, Wooden would be conducting countless interviews this time of year, but Muehlhausen said she allowed one interview with The Associated Press.

And, of course, the occasional call from a Super Bowl champion coach.

"I remember the first time I called him," Coughlin said. "I was an NFL head coach and I'd been in the AFC Championship game and here I was nervous talking to coach Wooden. But he puts you right at ease."

Love, who's played magnificently in the NCAA Tournament, knows the feeling. Love frequently says he wants to "be at your best when your best is needed," amaxim he plucked from Wooden's vault. Before he stepped on campus, Love formed a relationship with Wooden. He said he hadn't spoken to Wooden in a while, although he was in UCLA's locker room last week reminding teammates that he wanted to help win the school's 12th national championship for Wooden. He didn't want them to forget this was Wooden's program.

And even though Love hasn't talked to Wooden much lately, he's always thinking of him.

"It's like those little bracelets (that read), `What would Jesus do?' What would Wooden do?" Love said. "We want to bring (the championship) home and open up that wide grin of his a little bit. We're going for No. 12, and we'll try to make him proud."

I love that kid. I am going to miss him.

Here is to KL and rest of his team-mates make the Coach proud on Saturday night giving them a chance to go for no. 12 on Monday. Let’s go.

GO BRUINS.

0 recs | Comment 15 comments

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yup

I can tell you, I was on the team plane yesterday going to San Antonio and our boys are ready for some on the court whoopin'. They are really pumped (esp Love)...I actually think he is a little overwhelmed with all of the trip and routines that our boys have gone through before, but thats ok, he'll come around haha.

Go Bruins!

by Trombonedude27 on Apr 3, 2008 7:44 AM PDT 0 recs

I love that kid. I am going to miss him.

Times 2 man, times 2.... :(

Go UCLA!

by madmaxucla on Apr 3, 2008 7:47 AM PDT 0 recs

We'll all miss him

In this day and age of high-profile athletes getting themselves into trouble (insert beer bong jokes here), it's so refreshing to see such a well-grounded young man speak so highly of tradition.

Go Bruins! Let's win one for the Wizard!

by Romo785 on Apr 3, 2008 9:45 AM PDT 0 recs

I don't see it in your notes

But Norwood at the Times actually has a very good piece on Howland

The big one that got away

Before Ben Howland made a name for himself and Pittsburgh and UCLA, local schools missed out on a chance to hire a fiery young assistant.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-norwood3apr03,1,1623516.story

by Free the 16 on Apr 3, 2008 9:56 AM PDT 0 recs

Great article

You should diary it 16.

by bluestreet on Apr 3, 2008 9:59 AM PDT up 0 recs

If anyone is interested..

In hearing an idiot give his final four break down, just listen to Seth Greenberg, coach of the VT Hokies, give his analysis of the UCLA Mamphis match up.

When asked about the Collison Rose match up he says basically this, "Collison is a bit of an enigma because, he doesn't shoot well straight on, and turns the ball over, he also gets into foul trouble a lot"

Lets just look at that "analysis" and compare Collison and Rose's numbers. Collison, for starters, has a higher shooting % of .491, and a better % from 3 point range of .530.
Darren and Rose's A/T Ratio compare as DC's 1.74 to Rose's 1.75.
And finally, excluding the games DC didn't play in to start the season, Darren averages 1.22 fouls per game, while Rose averages 1.66. Darren committed 39 fouls in 32 games, Rose committed 63 in 38.

His final statement was that he didn't think DC or the Bruins experience in the final four would help them, and the Rose would in fact be fresher from playing a conference USA schedule, but made sure to not they are ready for tough competition because of their tough out of conference schedule...and finally that its gotta start to take its toll on UCLA to get to the final 4 every year and not win it...

I guess every idiot is entitled to an opinion..

O.A.

by Ollie on Apr 3, 2008 10:21 AM PDT 0 recs

This was on Rome BTW..

this morning...and sorry for some of those typos, i was a little infuriated while writing it. It sets me off when people disrespect DC like that, the guy is a leader and a straight up gamer.

O.A.

by Ollie on Apr 3, 2008 10:24 AM PDT up 0 recs

Hmm

Sounds like he has only watched one UCLA game all year. I too might have that opinion of Collison if I had only watched UCLA v. WKU and was asked for an opinion about the team.

The difference is, I would qualify that statement by mentioning that I have not watched UCLA much this season. BTW, didn't we have an article that mentioned that this was the first and only time DC has fouled out of a game in high school or college?

by Rhapsode on Apr 3, 2008 10:37 AM PDT up 0 recs

Snakes

Well they won't have Vipers, but I'm positive they'll have some Rattlesnake in SA (which is mighty tasty, I should add).

What would John Wooden do?

by JKNaka on Apr 3, 2008 10:51 AM PDT 0 recs

Greetings from Memphis

You have a first rate sight, I am glad to have this opportunity to say hello to our basketball crazed friends from Westwood.

Rev. Jesse Jackson dropped in for a practice yesterday and it made local news. He was in town for the 40 year anniversary of the death of MLK. He referred to Derrick Rose as "my home boy".

Andre Allen was in the news too, you may have heard the poor kid failed a drug test. He isn't a starter for Memphis and his numbers don't show his value to the team. He is the first guy Cal calls upon to help apply defensive pressure on the perimeter. Everyone here is quick to dismiss his importance, but Saturday evening his effort will be needed and will not be available.

That being said, I like our chances. I have a ton of respect for Howland and Bruins, but the Tigers have been able to raise it up a level for each round of the tournament. You think Cal had a chip on his shoulder before, now that they've suspended Allen I look for Cal to be the new spokesman for the Eveready battery. Place a battery on his shoulder and daring anyone to knock it off.

by MFSKEN on Apr 3, 2008 11:05 AM PDT 0 recs

I'll see your Jesse Jackson and raise you

Jackie Robinson
Arthur Ashe
Ralph Bunche...

MFSKEN - you seem like a good guy thanks for dropping in I'm just having a little fun. If you get a moment take a look at this list of Bruins:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_University_of_California%2C_Los_Angeles_people

by mr havercamp on Apr 3, 2008 7:36 PM PDT 0 recs

Quite an impressive list

Its cool to be back in Final Four for first time in 23 years. I never thought it would take so long.

Glad that Walton dude graduated. I don't see Kevin Love going for 44 like Walton did in 1973.

by MFSKEN on Apr 3, 2008 9:02 PM PDT 0 recs

MFSKEN - re Walton

I don't know if you are old enough to have witnessed the Walton Game, but I am one of the Geezers around here and remember it well. I had already graduated when Walton went berserk in that game. The NCAA still had a "no dunk" rule, but there was no rule against the number of one foot shots you could shoot, and he shot plenty. I have no recollection of him shooting from more than maybe three feet the entire game. It was more impressive than when Wilt the Stilt got 100 against the Warriors, because Memphis was actually trying hard to play defense. But that night you could have had seven or eight guys guarding Walton and it wouldn't have made any difference. He seemed to be able to do whatever he wanted.

I think it's safe to say that Love won't hit 21 field goals, but that will not keep me from doing all the rituals necessary to align the cosmic forces and karma and mojo to at least give him a chance.

Good luck to MSU. I hope it's a good game (which by my standards is a laugher for the Bruins, since that doesn't have an adverse impact on my health) but in any event here's hoping that no one gets hurt. One of our teams is going to have to lose, and it will be a disappointment for one side or the other. But I'm sure you have the same sort of pride in your team as we have in ours, and know that if Saturday's game is our last one for this year, the year has still been a rousing success.

by Fox 71 on Apr 3, 2008 9:57 PM PDT up 0 recs

Regarding that Walton dude

I only recently saw that 73' Memphis game on video.

The way Walton played then, nobody, to this day, can really quite contain him.

He was tall, and played much taller than his actual height. With a slightly slender build, he jumped swiftly, often time with his elbows above the rim either blocking shots, rebounding, or converting baskets from those high lobing passes. Others emulating him can only manage to have the wrists and part of the forearms, not the entire elbow areas, over the rim. So there goes the talk about white men's disease. Then he drove to the baskets with the agility, speed of an Isiah Thomas.

Now you look at others centers past and current. They do well in some but not all areas. Walton played with such a wide range of skills that when he was on the court, he affected the tempo and the outcome of the game with his multifaceted talents.

It really was logical for him and Kareem to have spearheaded that eighty some game winning streak. Had Jordan regained his youth and played again, or for that matter Patrick Ewing suddenly rediscovered the fountain of youth, took a dip in it and reemerged as an eighteen year old player at Georgetown, neither of them would replicate Walton's performance and records. Sampson, Olajuwon, Parish, the list goes on.

Skywalk all he wanted, Jordan would have fallen short. Block, rebound and slam dunk any which way, Ewing & company would still play a tad slow compared with Walton.

There you have it, my friend.

by Htse005 on Apr 4, 2008 12:34 PM PDT up 0 recs

Walton

Yes, I was elven at the time and although I wasn't as much into basketball then as I was football and baseball it was still one of the biggest sports highlights of my formative years.

You are correct that there was no stopping Walton that night. Not many stopped him his entire career at UCLA. The lasting image of that game is when Walton went down with an ankle injury and Larry Finch of Memphis helping him to the bench. Its ironic that today Larry Finch is unable to work and requires live in hospice because of a stroke he suffered several years back.

As far as this weekend. It could go either way. You've probably got four hall of fame coaches (I know its a stretch with Calipari, but he has won a ton of games and the new offense is the rage). If everyone declares for the NBA, there are probably 10 first round picks. These four teams are in the top 5 of Ken Pom's defensive efficiency ratings, so each team is going to face defensive pressure unlike anything we've seen all year.

I think Memphis' best chance is to play physical and show some speed whenever possible. Howland is a defensive genius and UCLA has a very talented team that doesn't allow its limited weaknesses to be exposed.

You guys on BruinsNation do a great job of following your team. Good Luck Saturday.

by MFSKEN on Apr 4, 2008 5:02 PM PDT 0 recs