We have enough bits and pieces of UCLA related news that we can put together a mid-season like roundup. First up on the hoops front. Just went you thought UCLA basketball had left the injury bug in rear view mirror, we get some news on Afflalo:
UCLA junior guard Arron Afflalo, the team leader in scoring last season, will be out of action for the next six to eight weeks because of a stress reaction in his left foot.
Afflalo has his foot in a walking boot and he will not participate in the Say No Pro City summer basketball league. He was experiencing pain in his foot and an MRI revealed the injury.
The obvious silver lining here is that AA is going to completely recover while resting up this summer:
Afflalo has his foot in a walking boot and he will not participate in the Say No Pro City summer basketball league. He was experiencing pain in his foot and an MRI revealed the injury.
"Arron will do everything necessary to rehab and protect (his left foot)," Howland said. "He is being treated and monitored by our sports medicine staff and we expect a full recovery."
Also on the hoops front. Some news from D.C. Both California Senators are getting strongly behind an effort to rename the Reseda Post Office after Coach Wooden:
Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer urged members of a U.S. Senate committee Wednesday to quickly approve a bill to rename the Reseda post office in honor of legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden.
"Coach Wooden has served as a role model for many of California's young athletes. Today he is 95 years old, and the renaming of the Reseda post office in his honor would be an extraordinary way of expressing our gratitude for his years of dedication to our state," said Feinstein, D-Calif.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Sherman Oaks, and approved by the House of Representatives in April, is pending before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Feinstein and Boxer, D-Calif., sent letters to the members of that committee, asking them to quickly approve.
It's a nice gesture and hope it gets done soon. But personally I think renaming a mere post office after the Coach is not enough. Why not rename the portion of the 405 going by UCLA/Westwood to Coach John Wooden Freeway? Just an idea for starters."Coach Wooden has served as a role model for many of California's young athletes. Today he is 95 years old, and the renaming of the Reseda post office in his honor would be an extraordinary way of expressing our gratitude for his years of dedication to our state," said Feinstein, D-Calif.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Sherman Oaks, and approved by the House of Representatives in April, is pending before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Feinstein and Boxer, D-Calif., sent letters to the members of that committee, asking them to quickly approve.
On the football front Scout.com has a generic/flowery preview of the upcoming Pac-10 season including this bit on UCLA's much maligned defense:
On defense, the Bruins hope to turn over a new, aggressive leaf with new Defensive Coordinator DeWayne Walker, straight from the Washington Redskins. UCLA managed such a great season last year with a defense that was horrendous, last in the Pac-10 against the run and overall. The big question will be whether Walker can markedly improve the unit, with a young, inexperienced LB group. Watch for talented but raw redshirt freshman middle linebacker Reggie Carter to make an impact. Junior Kevin Brown, the DT star, will return after a season on the sideline with an injured ankle. UCLA will get some help on the DL, too, with the addition of 6-3, 330-pound Darius Savage, the California state discus champ.
If UCLA can shore up its defense and retain its production offensively, even despite a fairly challenging schedule, it should still find itself in the upper echelon of the Pac-10 in December.
In other words there is nothing unreasonable about expecting this team to win 9 games and beat SC.If UCLA can shore up its defense and retain its production offensively, even despite a fairly challenging schedule, it should still find itself in the upper echelon of the Pac-10 in December.
GO BRUINS.