So after Brian Dohn posted the story about Love making his decision official this week there was another classic non-denial denial from KL via Jeff Goodman from Foxsports.com:
UCLA freshman Kevin Love still hasn't made up his mind.
"I haven't decided yet," the Bruins big man told FOXSports.com on Monday. "I still have some holes to fill on the whole thing, but I should know by the end of the week."
The Los Angeles Times reported last week that Love had already informed Bruins head coach Ben Howland of his decision to declare for the NBA Draft. The L.A. Daily News said an announcement that Love would forgo his final three years of college could come as early as Wednesday.
I am not going to hold my breath. It doesn’t matter whether KL makes it official tomorrow or sometime this week or next. He is gone. I understand people are frustrated with Dohn and other reporters who are trying to break this story, but I am not going to get worked up over it."I haven't decided yet," the Bruins big man told FOXSports.com on Monday. "I still have some holes to fill on the whole thing, but I should know by the end of the week."
The Los Angeles Times reported last week that Love had already informed Bruins head coach Ben Howland of his decision to declare for the NBA Draft. The L.A. Daily News said an announcement that Love would forgo his final three years of college could come as early as Wednesday.
Anyway, in terms of current news the basketball team had its annual banquet awards last night. UCLA Champions Made Here posted his impression from the events here. To no one’s surprise KL was named as our POY. Dohn posted the full list of last night’s award winners, which included the following two:
Senior center Lorenzo Mata-Real was given the UCLA Faculty Athletic Representative Award (Academic Achievement and Team Contribution). He averaged 3.1 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game in his final collegiate campaign.
Junior forward/center Alfred Aboya was given the Elvin C. "Ducky" Drake Memorial Award for Competitive Spirit, Inspiration and Unselfish Contributions for the second straight year. Aboya, a second team Pac-10 Conference All-Academic selection, averaged 2.9 points and 2.2 rebounds per game in his third season with UCLA.
As UCLA Champions Made Here noted LMR received the loudest ovation of the night. I wish I was able to witness it in person. It would be very cool if someone posted a clip of it on the tubes. LMR will always be one of our all time favorite Ben Ball warriors. As for AA2, my fingers are crossed for LRMAM and AA2’s return to UCLA next season. Those two are the most crucial x-factors in my book for this off season in terms of watching who is going or staying.Junior forward/center Alfred Aboya was given the Elvin C. "Ducky" Drake Memorial Award for Competitive Spirit, Inspiration and Unselfish Contributions for the second straight year. Aboya, a second team Pac-10 Conference All-Academic selection, averaged 2.9 points and 2.2 rebounds per game in his third season with UCLA.
The guy who is definitely not coming: Taylor King. King decided to transfer to Villanova:
"This was not designed to be a circus or to be open to everyone," his father, Steve King, said. "Villanova was his top choice, and the trip was confirmation, not only for Taylor but for Villanova. Rather than go somewhere else, he thought, 'Why do that to the other coaches?'"
King, a 6-foot-6 sharp-shooting forward, averaged 5.5 points per game as a freshman at Duke but saw his playing time decrease as the season went along. UCLA had preliminary talks with King and his father last week, but Steve King said it never advanced beyond that.
"Not because there wasn't interest but because everything happened so fast," he said. "I suppose if he'd said no to Villanova, things might have progressed."
Despite what we have heard from the press, from what I have heard UCLA coaches were not really all that interested in this transfer scenario. I am sure they were cordial when King’s folks reached out to UCLA but from what I have heard it never went beyond that. That said, we wish King luck in Villanova and hope he has a productive college career.King, a 6-foot-6 sharp-shooting forward, averaged 5.5 points per game as a freshman at Duke but saw his playing time decrease as the season went along. UCLA had preliminary talks with King and his father last week, but Steve King said it never advanced beyond that.
"Not because there wasn't interest but because everything happened so fast," he said. "I suppose if he'd said no to Villanova, things might have progressed."
Lastly, Adam Yauch – yes that Adam from the Beastie – is coming out with a hoops documentary. Adam’s new documentary is titled Gunning for That No. 1 Spot. He is unveiling it at New York’s TriBeCa Film Festival. Why am I blogging about it on BN? Well of course Kevin Love is featured in it. Always wanted to put up a Beastie youtbe on BN. Whenever I hear this song, I can still picture Toby throwing down that reverse tomahawk:
And why would I post "Sure Shot"?
Well back in 1995 I remember couple of CBS Sports profile on UCLA basketball team leading into the tournament using that tune to sync with Bruin highlights featuring Ed O, Tyus, Charles, J.R., and of course TB.
Those were the days.
GO BRUINS.