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UCLA basketball 2008-09 Just making a new thread so Wolvie can start talking to himself in here instead.
(Of course tomorrow night there's a nationally-televised UCLA game, a nationally-televised Lakers game, and a DC-televised Kings game on at the exact same time. Ugh.)
Michigan and nemesis John Beilein tomorrow night at Madison Square Garden.
I feel like I'm channeling CBGB here... I think I'll keep my monologue going in the other thread, thanks.Originally Posted by Joe Hoya
Sportsgasm.
If anyone read my thoughts in the other thread, you'll know that I don't find tonight's outcome surprising at all. And, no, Michigan is NOT good or underrated so don't go looking for excuses.
Collison - He is NOT a good point guard. He's a good guard and does some things very well, but he does not create offense for himself or others with regularity.
Holiday - The most talented offensive player on the team RIGHT NOW. The more he has the ball, the better for everyone on the court.
Shipp - I feel like I've been harping on him forever, and for all the same reasons. He's nearly worthless unless he's hot. And he hasn't been hot since midseason last year.
Lee - The kid is not ready for minutes. Looks very out of control every brief glimpse I get.
Roll - His best attributes are long-range shooting and feeding the post. Yet, he never seems to do either in the offense. WTF is the point of having him in there?
Frontcourt - It's a frickin' mess. I've been hoping for what seems like an eternity that Dragovic would transfer/go home and free up that scholarship. Keefe has regressed under the weight of responsibility and his added muscle mass. Aboya is better than ever, but he's no Mata-Real and still prone to bone-headed decisions with the ball. And if Howland played either of the freshman big men in the second half, I must have blinked.
I know, it's early. And it will get better. But this is a really shaky team. The upside is that this team has way more talent than some of the teams Howland has molded into Final Four clubs, but most of it is completely inexperienced.
Hopefully Howland reminds me once again why I think he's da bomb shizzat.
Jrue Holiday had a bit of a coming-out party last night, and I'm glad I was there.
Hopefully Howland saw what everyone else in attendance did. 20 points on 8 or 8 shooting from the field? Incredibly easy 20, too. Lots of lay-ups resulting from positioning or driving. Okay, FIU doesn't really tell us much, but it's a hint.
Dragovic got torched by FIU's Serbian forward. Ugh.
Shipp hit a few shots, but I didn't see anything to change my opinion of him.
I know Collison had 7 assists, but I think that Roll and Holiday are probably two of the better set-up men on the team.
Jerime Anderson looked readier than I expected.
Malcolm Lee flashed some ability, but he is raw like Westbrook was raw as a freshman. Out of control a lot. His leg seemed okay, though.
Drew Gordon was meh, but did take a nice charge rotating over.
Bobo Morgan was meh, but it's clear they were trying to establish him as an inside threat, and it looks like he's working on a baby hook.
Keefe and Aboya were quiet, which is okay, but Keefe had foul trouble in a cake-walk game and neither rebounded well against a team laying bricks. I guess there were a number of long rebounds...
He can stay if he just stops trying to go one-on-one.
And Collison is just slightly better in that regard. Six turnovers, and when he looks for his shot he isn't looking for his teammates. What's the POINT of him being the POINT guard, then?
No bench.
And I'm coining a new nickname: Drago-bitch. If you're going to be totally worthless in nearly every other aspect of the game except perimeter shooting, at least be good at that.
And, folks, seriously, am I the only person here who follows UCLA basketball anymore? Because I'm more than happy to rant, but I wouldn't mind some discussion...
Just watched (sort of) the Northridge game. U-G-L-Y. Even the starters.
Disturbing trends:
Collison can't seem to run the offense against CSUN. But I actually liked the fact that he looked for his shot a bit, and that Shipp looked for him on the arc.
Aboya still feels he can hit that 18-footer. (Alfred, I love ya but you can't.)
Dragovic. 'Nuff said.
I did get to watch the freshman five play heavy minutes. Some observations:
Anderson is much springier than advertised. He had two sweet blocks, seemed quick getting around the half court. Wasn't very careful with the ball, but that was an epidemic that game.
Gordon seems to be working on a hook shot-looking thing that I saw him make twice.
Lee likes to shoot. Maybe a little too much. He needs to learn some restraint and control overall. Lots of zipping along, lots of athleticism, not a lot of results yet. If he figures it out, I think he could exceed Westbrook.
Didn't notice Bobo much, but I really wasn't watching that carefully the whole game.
Holiday flashed brilliance, definitely has point guard handle and vision, seems to be able to get into the paint at will on drives.
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