Roundup From The BN Walk: News & Notes

by Nestor on Apr 30, 2008 4:14 AM PDT in News

Now that we are in the off season, we can officially start our multi-sports/topic Bruin roundups. I think we will call these Roundup From the BN Walk (very original, I know).

We will start with the baseball team which lost to Pepperdine yesterday, failing to continue the momentum it gained in Seattle. Per the DB report one bad inning made the difference in a 2-6 loss. Hopefully, the team gets back in grove against LMU today, giving them a boost heading into the big weekend series against ASU.

Moving on to football, Ben Olson decided to have surgery on his broken right foot. From Jill Painter in the Daily News:

Olson's recovery time is expected to be six to eight weeks, which was the same time frame had he elected to not have the surgery. Olson will have a screw inserted in the fifth metatarsal. He is expected to be back sometime in June. Training camp begins in August.

"Everybody I talked to with this type of fracture said the screw is probably the way to go," Olson told the Daily News last week. "I want to do the thing that is best for my body and get back as fast as I can. The screw sounds like the way to go."

Good luck to Ben and we wish him a speedy recovery. Hopefully his rehab goes well and he can also make the best use of that time by familiarizing himself even more with all the ins and outs of Chow’s offensive scheme.

Speaking of a Bruin who has persevered through injuries, LMR is in the news today. Dohn reports about LMR eyeing a career in the Spanish professional league for all the right reasons:

Mata-Real, a center who was part of coach Ben Howland's first recruiting class, said he will try to work out for NBA teams. But, in being realistic, he said if an opportunity doesn't surface in North America's top league, he wants to play in Spain's top league, the Asociaci n de Clubs de Baloncesto.

"It's Spanish-speaking, and it's one of the best leagues (in Europe)," Mata-Real said. "You get paid a lot over there, and tax-free."

Mata-Real's motivation for going overseas isn't greed, but rather his conscience. His mother, Reyna Real, raised him alone, and now he wants to pay her back.

"I just want to help my mom out," Mata-Real said. "That's the first thing I want to do, help my mom retire and make it so she can get out of work."

After starting for UCLA's Final Four team in 2007 and playing a significant role on the 2006 squad that lost in the title game to Florida, Mata-Real was relegated to a bit role with the arrival of All-American Kevin Love this past season.

Yet, Mata-Real never complained, even as his minutes dwindled, which won him the admiration of UCLA's fan base. He averaged 3.1 points and 3.5rebounds per game as a senior.

Well, I think I speak for everyone here in saying thousands of us are going to be rooting for this kid. LMR is graduating this spring with a major in history. Hopefully, he will make all the right connections in getting himself a pro K in Spain and realizing his dream. I would think Coach Howland and his staff with their connections in the greater basketball community will be able to set this kid up.

And since we are on the topic of Coach Howland and his staff’s connection to international hoops, especially Spain, according to Jeff Eisenberg of the Press Enterprise, Donny Daniels recently flew to Spain to check out British 7 footer Phillip Wait:

As part of UCLA's last-ditch search to find a center for next year's recruiting class, assistant coach Donny Daniels recently flew to Spain to see 7-footer Philip Wait, a native of Manchester England now playing at the Gran Canaria Basketball Academy. Daniels had been tracking Wait through director Rob Orellana, an assistant under Daniels at Cal State Fullerton.
While I've been unable to track down Orellana thus far, I did reach Wait's former high school coach at Proctor Academy in New Hampshire. Gregor Makechnie said Wait has received interest from UCLA, Arizona State, Kentucky and Nebraska among others, but he also might opt to play professionally in Europe instead.
Wait needs to work on his strength, footwork and toughness, according to Makechnie, but his upside is high. The 21-year-old wants to go to a school where he would be challenged academically and feel comfortable. "The thing UCLA has to determine is if he's a guy who comes in and makes an immediate impact," Makechnie said. "Two years ago he was a work in progress. I haven't seen him this year, but now he might have developed further."

We will see how this angle all works out. Either way, given the shape we are in, UCLA has the luxury to be patient. If Daniels thinks Wait is up to UCLA standards, and he is interested in coming in, then we are all for it. If not, we will move on to the next plan under Coach Howland. There is always a plan in place with Coach Howland in charge.

GO BRUINS.

0 recs | Comment 16 comments

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Comments

Lorenzo

You are my hero. Best of luck.

"I've got nothing against God; it's his fan club I can't stand."

by txbruin on Apr 30, 2008 6:15 AM PDT 0 recs

LMR

I don't mean to downplay what LMR is doing, but is it really any surprise? The dude's heart is just amazing - the "first thing" he wants to do is take care of his mom. What a great guy. But then we here all know that LMR has NEVER been a me-first kind of guy.

I hope he can land an NBA job - there are a lot of teams could use a team-first guy with a big body off the bench who will play aggressive D inside, and he would probably come relatively cheaply.

If not, Spain is an awesome country. I've travelled there many times and my brother lived and worked there a few years back. I'm looking forward to following LMR's career whereever it goes. He truly deserves the best.

greg in denver

by gbruin on Apr 30, 2008 6:53 AM PDT 0 recs

LMR

Will be more fondly remembered than anyone on this past team, including KL. His play really suffered because of diminished minutes as a senior, but he was the heart and soul of the team. LMR represented the UCLA tradition of diversity far better than its current admissions policy does.

by 75NatChamps on Apr 30, 2008 8:26 AM PDT 0 recs

Hate to tell Lorenzo

but your first $80K or so of foreign income is tax free, after that, Uncle Sam gets his cut.

"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"

by silverlakebruin on Apr 30, 2008 10:08 AM PDT 0 recs

As someone right out of college

that's a problem I'd love to have to think about.

by Tydides on Apr 30, 2008 10:46 AM PDT up 0 recs

thats only 45K euros!

I would too, I just hope he's getting good tax advise, that's all. I would hate for him to get into trouble with the IRS.

"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"

by silverlakebruin on Apr 30, 2008 10:48 AM PDT up 0 recs

Lorenzo

You are truly one of a kind, and I wish you the very, very best of everything in your future--wherever, and whatever it may be.

You have been nothing but first class over these years as a Bruin, and you have set an example for "team player" that I honestly doubt very many others will have the courage and commitment to match.

And to your mother--what an absolutely fine and amazing woman she must be, and what a hero SHE is to moms everywhere. She must be so proud of you, and she should be. She has set an example, as well, for all of us, and sent a message. You're right, she deserves some TLC now.

I selfishly hope the NBA doesn't miss out on having you, because I want to continue watching you play. But, wherever you go...

Thank you, and many blessings, great success and happiness to both of you.

Love My Bruins

by Bruingirl83 on Apr 30, 2008 10:44 AM PDT 0 recs

AA Playing Much?

Love the Roundup from BN concept.

I'm not watching the playoffs -- I'm in the middle of a trial.

Is AA playing much:? How is he doing?

Thanks.

sjh

by Class of 66 on Apr 30, 2008 10:46 AM PDT 0 recs

About 10 minutes a game

He's largely a garbage time player at the moment. Doesn't take a whole lot of shots, which is something I assume Detroit expected with his defensive reputation out of college.

by Tydides on Apr 30, 2008 10:51 AM PDT up 0 recs

AA

He's getting around 10 mins or so a game mostly as the relief for other guards as he's the backup for Rip Hamilton and Stuckey. Given its the playoffs, I wouldn't expect too much playtime going to either of the rookies besides being relief for Rip

by blinkshot on Apr 30, 2008 11:02 AM PDT up 0 recs

Add AA

In yesterday's game, AA entered the game halfway through the 2nd quarter and played the remainder of the period. He hit 2 medium range jumpers and, of course, played solid defense. This was his first "non-garbage time" minutes in the playoffs. He totaled 18 minutes for the game and wound up with 4 points, 1 rebound and 2 steals.
According to the Detroit play-by-play guy, Arron moved up in the rotation over Jarvis Hayes who is mired in a shooting slump. Hopefully Arron will stay in this rotation in Game 6. I bristled a bit when the color guy remarked in the 2nd quarter that he knew everything was going Detroit's way when AA hits his shots. I love the guy so much, I guess I'm a bit sensitive.

by 78Bruin on Apr 30, 2008 11:07 AM PDT up 0 recs

I love Afflalo, but...

he did only hit 20.1% of his 3 pt shots this season, so I can understand the Detroit play-by-play guy being leery. Hopefully he can earn the coach's trust this season; and (assuming Flip Saunders is still the coach next season) get more playing time next year to establish some rhythm.

But even if his shot never gets that much better, at least he can look to Eric Snow as a guy that's made a decent NBA career for himself just by playing solid defense and being a team player.

by insomniacslounge on Apr 30, 2008 1:29 PM PDT up 0 recs