clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

With Honors ...

By Nestor

Guess the Daily Bruin is handing out post season honors and there are two of them that are worthy of mention here on BN. DO gets the award for most improved male athlete in UCLA this past seasoon:

Olson shattered the UCLA record for touchdowns in a season with 34, and tied UCLA's all-time record for touchdowns in a game with six against Oregon State.

After compiling a 14-12 record as a heavily criticized starter during his first three years, Olson nearly equaled that during the 2005 season as he led the Bruins to a 10-2 record and a bowl game victory over Northwestern.

"I don't think I saw myself having as good a season as I did," Olson said. "But whenever you can win and have personal success as well, that's the ultimate. That helped all of us coming out in this class."

Olson, scheduled to graduate this spring, has now moved on to the next stage of his career, signing as an undrafted rookie with the Baltimore Ravens.

We wish DO the best of luck in his pro endeavors. Maybe he will finally get to win a huge game in the NFL which he didn't get to do in Westwood under Karl Dorrell. No such problem (in terms of winning games) for freshmen Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, who won the award for newcomer of the year:
In the middle of a furious comeback against Gonzaga in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute provided the biggest basket of UCLA's season, and followed that with the biggest steal. Down 71-70 with 16 seconds to play, Farmar and senior Cedric Bozeman stole the ball from Gonzaga's J.P. Batista. Farmar, knowing his long-armed freshman teammate was beneath the basket, had the luxury of passing the ball far above the reach of Batista, where Mbah a Moute could lay it in for what would prove to be the winning points. After that, he had the presence of mind to rush down the court to steal the ball from a streaking Derek Raivio, who was intent on a layup.

That was just more of the same from a freshman who surprised teammates and fans alike with his hard work and exceptional play all season long.

He was the leading rebounder and fourth-leading scorer on a team that made it within one game of a national championship. The Cameroon native was in the lineup from day one, crashing the boards, scoring on putbacks, and generally giving no reason for coach Ben Howland to keep him out of the starting lineup. The humble freshman did all of the effort plays expected from players who are the last on the bench, not from a 6-foot-7 forward with a huge wingspan and unlimited potential.

Luc is already a rock star in Westwood for all the right reasons. His Gonzaga highlights were a perfect commercial for Howland ball in Westwood:



And there will be lot more of that during the coming years in Westwood. For more on other post season honors, check out the Daily Bruin, which also named Coach Savage as its COY. Savage is a good choice, but Bruins Nation of course voted Coach Howland as our UCLA COY.

Congrats to all these guys for giving us a year to remember.

GO BRUINS.

More From Bruins Nation