UCLA faces new identity next season with three seniors leaving

The change has been drastic each of the past few seasons, but not quite like what UCLA will experience next season.

[Blikemike21]

Anyone can say what needs to be said, The main thing is will you do what needs to be done !

[dsbruin]

.... is their some unpublished reason why the remaining "experienced" Dragovic, Keefe, and/or Roll cannot be recruited as the leader(s) of a highly soph and freshman Ucla team for the upcoming season???

[Phil Korn]

What I noticed most about this year's Bruins was lack of toughness and heart. I hope I am incorrect but I do not see either quality magically emerging from those athletes returning to the program. The question then becomes: Will the new additions possess them?

[SoCalMike]

Phil Korn wrote:

What I noticed most about this year's Bruins was lack of toughness and heart. I hope I am incorrect but I do not see either quality magically emerging from those athletes returning to the program. The question then becomes: Will the new additions possess them?

What I noticed more was the lack of offense that Howland can create. No creativity whatsoever. Collison and Aboya were pretty solid. Shipp and Roll- no big loss there.

[Velo Route]

Phil Korn wrote:

What I noticed most about this year's Bruins was lack of toughness and heart. I hope I am incorrect but I do not see either quality magically emerging from those athletes returning to the program. The question then becomes: Will the new additions possess them?

Dragovic cannot jump because is too heavy and is too slow on defense. UCLA started to falter defensively when he got the starting job instead of Keefe a much quicker defensive player. As far as Malcom Lee athleticism.. it must be a joke, because he is as thin as guitar string..

[BruinDC]

SoCalMike wrote:

<quoted text>
What I noticed more was the lack of offense that Howland can create. No creativity whatsoever. Collison and Aboya were pretty solid. Shipp and Roll- no big loss there.

Even the most cursory examination of this season's statistics will demonstrate that offense was the least of the Bruins' problems this year. They were one of the most efficient offenses in the country. Honestly, I never thought I would say this about a Howland coached team but the reason why the Bruins failed to live up to the, perhaps undue, expectations of us all fell squarely on the defense. The reason UCLA was so dominant for three years was due to our defense. We don't need a flashier motion offense, or someone to "say what needs to be said." We need a 4 who can rotate and double like Luc did for 3 years.

[SoCalMike]

BruinDC wrote:

<quoted text>
Even the most cursory examination of this season's statistics will demonstrate that offense was the least of the Bruins' problems this year. They were one of the most efficient offenses in the country. Honestly, I never thought I would say this about a Howland coached team but the reason why the Bruins failed to live up to the, perhaps undue, expectations of us all fell squarely on the defense. The reason UCLA was so dominant for three years was due to our defense. We don't need a flashier motion offense, or someone to "say what needs to be said." We need a 4 who can rotate and double like Luc did for 3 years.

I disagree with you big time. In the final 4 games, the Bruins only averaged 60 some odd points per game. That's simply not going to get the job done against the likes of the UConns, the North Carolinas and the Memphis'. I've seen an offense that even the announcers continously pointed out, is stagnant and un-fluid. It almost looks like some sort of weave going on in the perimeter with no purpose to get to the basket to get a high percentage shot. Howland doesn't seem to understand this. He's simply not a great coach.

The defense was usually the hallmark, but even this was exposed as a weakness in the tournament.

The players didn't play to their potential. Shipp isn't an NBA player- he's too soft, slow and weak-minded. Collison was making excuses that his tail bone hurt and didn't step up to lead. And ABoya was practically non-existent against Nova.

Next season, I'd look to that Gordon guy and maybe Holiday. Holiday doesn't have a jump shot. Lee is too skinny and weak.

Nothing special going on in a city that usually boasts that "We'll be ready for basketball season." I hear the crickets chirping in westwood.

[HL_in_LA]

Holliday leaving for the NBA? You gotta be kidding me. What has he done this year?

[Chris]

The offense did struggle against superior defensive teams like USC and Villanova but WSU plays a slow game limiting its possessions and, as such, few teams score a lot against them. Using points per game is a poor statistic to measure offense since it doesn't take into consideration how many possessions each team has. As BruinDC said, UCLA's offense was one of the most efficient (and that could partly be due to playing some bad teams in conference and in the weak non-conference).

UCLA's defense was much worse than its offense this season, as was its rebounding.

[UCLA ROB]

SoCalMike wrote:

<quoted text>
I disagree with you big time. In the final 4 games, the Bruins only averaged 60 some odd points per game. That's simply not going to get the job done against the likes of the UConns, the North Carolinas and the Memphis'. I've seen an offense that even the announcers continously pointed out, is stagnant and un-fluid. It almost looks like some sort of weave going on in the perimeter with no purpose to get to the basket to get a high percentage shot. Howland doesn't seem to understand this. He's simply not a great coach.
The defense was usually the hallmark, but even this was exposed as a weakness in the tournament.
The players didn't play to their potential. Shipp isn't an NBA player- he's too soft, slow and weak-minded. Collison was making excuses that his tail bone hurt and didn't step up to lead. And ABoya was practically non-existent against Nova.
Next season, I'**** look to that Gordon guy and maybe Holiday. Holiday doesn't have a jump shot. Lee is too skinny and weak.
Nothing special going on in a city that usually boasts that "We'll be ready for basketball season." I hear the crickets chirping in westwood.

I agree with you, they do have some quick guards in Collison, Lee, Anderson, and Holiday...the problem is the lacked the balls to penetrate in the paint in order to either create layups or cause the defense foul them...too many times the clock expired on them while they were still passing the ball around, that is just inexcusable. They lacked a leader this year and I just don't know if they will have one next year either...it is going to be a complete rebuilding year, not doubt.

[Joe]

Howland led UCLA to three Final Fours.....and he's not a great coach???

Yea...that makes real sense you Trojan Condom idiot!

[SoCalMike]

Joe wrote:

Howland led UCLA to three Final Fours.....and he's not a great coach???
Yea...that makes real sense you Trojan Condom idiot!

You're just bitter because once again, a let down by bruin basketball when that is UCLA bread and butter. How sad, the bread has mold and the butter is stale. Loss of revenue, low interest in the team and dimming pride in a team that once was. And, oh yeah, another season down the drain. Here's to "basketball season". Here. Here.

[GetALifeTroy]

SoCalMike wrote:

<quoted text>
You're just bitter because once again, a let down by bruin basketball when that is UCLA bread and butter. How sad, the bread has mold and the butter is stale. Loss of revenue, low interest in the team and dimming pride in a team that once was. And, oh yeah, another season down the drain. Here's to "basketball season". Here. Here.

Your post exemplifies why UCLA, Notre Dame, the other Pac10 schools, and virtually the entire SEC, Big 12, Big 10 and just about every person not named OJ, Snoop, Romeo or Petros utterly despises USC and its obnoxious fans. Get off other people's message boards and go & explore the boundaries of your man-crush on Mark Sanchez. Better yet, why not take a late nite jog around campus without your mace & tazer gun.

[JMA]

Before Gordon becomes a leader, he's got some growing up to do.

[keptycho]

UCLA basketball means something special. I think Gordon understands that and he wants to help continue that legacy. That is really all it takes - someone to step up and say we aren't going to let the program fall too far. With the talent coming in, I think it will be a fun team to watch next year; a more cohesive team; and hopefully a physically stronger team. I think this years team did lack leadership. It is encouraging that next years' team won't lack leadership.

[Gordon]

I prefer leadership through action. Gordon had lots of opportunity, this year, to exert leadership - I believe he tried, but he needs to produce more. I think that the jury is out on Howland. I would have liked to see more opportunities for the young players to play. As the coach says, the next year performance hinges heavily on how well these players, freshmen and sophs, develop during the off-season.

[CPEM]

GetALifeTroy wrote:

<quoted text>
Your post exemplifies why UCLA, Notre Dame, the other Pac10 schools, and virtually the entire SEC, Big 12, Big 10 and just about every person not named OJ, Snoop, Romeo or Petros utterly despises USC and its obnoxious fans. Get off other people's message boards and go & explore the boundaries of your man-crush on Mark Sanchez. Better yet, why not take a late nite jog around campus without your mace & tazer gun.

No, it exemplifies that you didn't read all of his posts in this particular forum, just the last one. He brought up several valid points and critiqued the strengths and weaknesses of the UCLA basketball team without being insulting. He never once said anything about USC and engaged in a relatively civil and coherent discussion with other basketball fans, to the point that one of the most ardent UCLA fans (UCLA Rob) agreed with him.

I suggest that YOU get off this message board and explore the boundaries of a short pier.

[manhattan_beach_ dude]

CPEM wrote:

<quoted text>
No, it exemplifies that you didn't read all of his posts in this particular forum, just the last one. He brought up several valid points and critiqued the strengths and weaknesses of the UCLA basketball team without being insulting. He never once said anything about USC and engaged in a relatively civil and coherent discussion with other basketball fans, to the point that one of the most ardent UCLA fans (UCLA Rob) agreed with him.
I suggest that YOU get off this message board and explore the boundaries of a short pier.

did ya check out ROB new pix????
dam funny.

Where ya been dude?, haven't seen many post from ya lately, some of our old football stomping grounds (strings) have gone in the toilet :(

[CPEM]

manhattan_beach_dude wrote:

<quoted text>
did ya check out ROB new pix????
dam funny.
Where ya been dude?, haven't seen many post from ya lately, some of our old football stomping grounds (strings) have gone in the toilet :(

Yah, I've been here. I just see no point in responding to the 20 posts in a row left by the Retread from Rupert. I'm also trying to figure out how I feel about Rob's "apology/explanation " (emphasis on the quotation marks). I am hoping that a few days will give me the clarity to respond without too much emotion. Other than that, with basketball done, there isn't much to discuss until the draft. There's other (good) personal things. I'll message you later tonight.

[manhattan_beach_ dude]

CPEM wrote:

<quoted text>
Yah, I've been here. I just see no point in responding to the 20 posts in a row left by the Retread from Rupert. I'm also trying to figure out how I feel about Rob's "apology/explanation " (emphasis on the quotation marks). I am hoping that a few days will give me the clarity to respond without too much emotion. Other than that, with basketball done, there isn't much to discuss until the draft. There's other (good) personal things. I'll message you later tonight.

Ya know I can't figure out why CB and Joe encourge that retard from Rupert,(I like that name)
I'll look for your mail.