UCLA Folds In Double-Overtime Against CS Fullerton
By Bruin Basketball Report
Aaron Thompson scored a career-high 22 points and Cal State Fullerton upset UCLA 68-65 in double overtime Monday night, snapping a nine-game losing streak against the Bruins.
Gerard Anderson added 14 points and Jacques Streeter 11 for the Titans (1-1), who blew a 10-point lead in the second half but rallied to outscore UCLA 8-5 in the second overtime.
Michael Roll and Malcolm Lee scored 17 points each for the Bruins (0-1), who lost a season opener for the first time since coach Steve Lavin’s final season in 2002-03, when San Diego won in overtime.
The Titans were 0-9 against UCLA, all at Pauley Pavilion, which drew 6,145 for a game that began at 9 p.m. PST. It was the start of ESPN televising 24 consecutive hours of college basketball games around the country.
(UCLA Athletics)
BBR :: Article Link :: 4:04 PM ::
21 comments
21 Comments:
Things I realized watching last night's game:
Malcolm Lee should not be our PG.
Drew Gordon looks strong but plays weak.
Do we have any wing players?
Nelson shows promise...ala Mark Madsen.
If our center is our best shooter, we're in trouble.
It's a transition year so hopefully these freshmen will soak in the knowledge this year and take over next year.
-CC
The Bruins looked like a team that had never played the game, let alone played together this year. Fullerton exposed them as a team that cannot play against a zone defence; relies on the perimeter with Roll and Drags; has no inside game and not a single player who can create his own shot. Why does Howland think that he can play more effectively in a half court game than a fast paced transition game? Fullerton had enough misses for the Bruins to run on a more athletic team that was allowe dto set up their defence.
Howland's use of his bench was a mystery; Nelson got them back into the game and then never saw the court. Lee is a great on ball defender and Gordon works hard, but needs to develop some low post moves. With Honeycutt still out for 3 weeks, it's going to be a long first 3 months.
Silver lining -- none of these Cubs will be one and done and will be a lot better next year if Josh Smith is as good as advertised in 2010-2011.
An invite to the NIT will be a more realistic goal for this year's team. Staying in the top half of the Pac 10 Conference is a pipe dream and if we can stay within 40 of Kansas, we can call it a victory.
If they play with heart and don't get too down, the future looks bright to return to the tournament in a couple of years.
The Good, Bad and Ugly...
The Good-Reeves Nelson. The guy is hard nosed, self assured and looks like he hates to lose. Highly productive in the 1st half. Ben why didn't you play him in the 2nd? Love the crazed "Taxi Driver" look to him. That's it for the good...
The Bad-The starting team really consists of ROLL players. Heaving 3's is not an offense. Lee can create, but a long way off from being a finisher. Whats up with the leg cramps? Like Gordon's intensity, but yes he needs some moves in the post. Haven't seen Honeycutt play yet, hopefully adds some depth to the team. The defense created turnovers, no fast breaks and the hedges/double teams still needs work.
The Ugly-3rd place in conference is a stretch. A prediction off reputation and recruits alone. I hope this years Bruin team finds its way. One more good thing...No one and dones as Jammer stated. In Ben we trust...My .02
its amazing to see that ben howland really has no understanding of personel. i never saw jerime anderson as a player last year and feel that he is worse this year. talented freshmen--HA! what a joke of you dont use them...especially when the untalented players on the court are afraid to go to the rim. but i cant blame them. they are on the court excuse of the coach. 3 final fours--no championship; need i say more. who cares about defense when you recruit players who cant score and keep the active players off the court. roll has never had heart...a shooter who wont shoot when it counts. this is the most embarrassing loss in recent memory.
Unbelievable! Not a good way to start a long season. The team will go through major growing pains. We desparately need top notch backcourt players in next years class. Anderson needs to setp it up. He needs to make the most of this starting opportunity and it's not looking good so far. Lee is good at the dribble penetration but needs to dish it without turning it over. What's up with these guys catching the ball underneath the rim and double pumping before going up? Go up strong to the rim with authority! Reeves Nelson looks like a star in the making. We need him on the court. We had two unnecessary turnovers from bad inbound passes. We need to work on the Help D.
it looks like this ucla basketball team doesnt practice offense at all. ben howland is an idiot in substituting players. JERIME ANDERSON needs to give up his scholarship!! absolutly horrible and embarrassing as a live n die ucla bruin
we need to see more of the freshman from oregon
I love the guy who vigorously complained about the Bruins not getting into a running game last night, rather than running half court sets. That would have been like putting food out for a hungry dog. The ONLY reason that game was as close as it was was because it was played in the half court. CS-Fullerton had more talented individual offensive players who could also run.
Kjones, you said Roll has no heart. I invite you to explain that statement. He took the ball to the hole, shot the three, and always sticks his nose in to help on defense. He also tied for the scoring lead with 17 and led the team in assists with 5. Get a new prescription for those glasses.
This was not a pretty show, and things tend to look even uglier when shooting is awful. I remind myself that it's early. As poorly as the Bruins played, if they shoot modestly better than 8 of 17 at the line they probably pull that game out. Perhaps we'll enjoy watching a few of these kids improve and develop as the season progresses.
I will probably catch flack for this but here goes: What a bunch of whiners and spoiled fans. When winning and turning talent into major commodities, BH was deified and proclaimed by many as "the best teaching coach in college basketball today." Now, after a couple games (maybe the season even?), even the most casual fan knows more basketball than he does. I was at the game - have not missed one home game in five years. I was disappointed (even dismayed) at what I saw. I was yelling for RN to come in. I cringed at that time out after the three in overtime. But, I trust that our coach has a strategy. Why? Because he has more than proven himself over the past weveral years. Does he make mistakes? Obviously. (Perhaps even the great JW made one or two.) Should we as fans trash him over a game or a series of games or a season? Decide for yourself but I say no. BH will create, out of the tools and materials that he has, the best that can be created. And, it will be fun to watch the process.
It is disappointing to me that some fans are not only so spoiled but also have this sense of entitlement that "their" team will always win. Not only is this unrealistic, it is also offensive. These kids did not go out there Monday to lose. These kids owe you, as individuals, nothing. You have no right to expect to always win or to always be a top tier team. You (at least most of you) have done absolutely nothing meaningful to contribute to this team. So, you "deserve" very little.
To "kjones:" Your comments are spoiled, ungracious and ignorant. Spoiled because you "expect" to win without contributing a thing. Ungracious because you show no respect for the players and coaches who have worked, sweated and foregone sleep for your viewing pleasure. Ignorant because . . . Well, that is self-explanatory.
Finally, for Plas&*^% in "the rag" to compare BH and this game to the Lizard is woefully obscene. He has sunk to new depths.
Yo George! This is UCLA basketball...you can save that weak stuff for our football program. We demand excellence! I have no problem with the bitching and whining...that's sports. Doesn't make the person a lesser fan than you are. Let me guess george, you sit behind the student section...yelling at people to sit down. Sorry man, not in our house! John Wooden would be ashamed of you.
Yo, dude, if you were a true UCLA fan than you would know who the great JW would be ashamed of. BTW, I stand a yell at EVERY game.
Also, you "demand" excellence?????? Exactly how do you "demand" it? Are you going to retract your $2million gift to the renovation project? Are you going to have personal words with BH? Are you bipolar or do you have some other explanation for your delusions of grandeur? "Demand" excellence my ass. Give me a break.
With this year's youth and lack of seasoning, it really points out the areas where Coach Howland is weakest: zone offense and getting a good last minute shot. With really good players like he has had, he could get away with his lack of zone offense and end of the game offense. I did see a few screens for Mike Roll who popped free but never got the ball. But how many times have we seen during the crucial last minute of a close game a 30 ft shot. Too many times. He doesn't have any set plays to penetrate or get off a good shot. If Howland can't come up with a solution, he should hire an assistant who can. This will be a long year altho I believe that there will be a lot of improvement especially when Honeycutt comes back.
Why has UCLA under Howland typically had poor zone offense - at least early in the season? When has anyone seen BH use a zone defense? I dare say I cannot recollect him ever using a zone defense because he does not believe in it with the caliber of players and expectations he has. This has proved fruitful in years past especially as the season progresses and the team matures and unites. It goes without saying that since zone defense is what you see in the game that is what they practice. Thus offensively, they practice AGAINST a man defense and early in the season have minimal experience playing against a zone defense. Typically a team uses a zone defense to protect its weakness. Typically, these teams do not progress very far come tournament time despite some surprising wins during the season. Do you really think that BH has not considered all of this? Do you truly believe that BH could not "come up with a solution" to this if he wished? I suspect that at this point he is more interested in teaching fundamentals which will pay off in Feb or March (or perhaps next year) than he is in teaching a "zone offense" to beat Cal State Fullerton.
I am not saying that I was not disappointed (dismayed is actually a better word) about Monday's game. I am simply saying to all you Chicken Little's out there that the sky is not caving in. Chill.
I have to say George's first post captured everything I thought when I read through the comments this AM. It's a rebuilding year. As George says, the comments on this page deified BH when he was leading us to three straight final fours, and now suddenly every coaching move is second guessed. These guys will grow up and learn to play D1 ball. Show some patience.
The thing that troubles me more than anything is all the guys who've left early when they could have used another year in college. Except for DC you haven't seen a Bruin in the Howland "surprise" the media in a way that's good for Bruin B-ball. There's no Hansborough & Ty Lawson, no Florida four. Recruits talk of the great Bruin tradition, but always seem to put the money of the NBA ahead of that tradition. If that doesn't change it will always be a rebuilding year. That's what truly concerns me.
George: UCLA's zone offense under BH
has always been poor. He has been able to get away with it because he has had such good players. It doesn't take much to pick the last 5 players out of 18 and teach them some zone fundamentals to practice against. I noticed that you side stepped BH last shot offense. BH does a lot of things well, but I don't think he is infallible. I feel he really needs to focus on these 2 areas. He is going to get zoned to death this year if UCLA's zone offense doesn't improve. And you know that there will be a lot of close games because of how well his teams play defense. It always keeps them in the game. UCLA is going to need to make some of those last second shots and I hate to see his teams stand around while the clock is running. Good offensive movement will always improve the opportunites for good shots.
bh is a brilliant defense coach, but it seems he has 0 talent in any offense skeem. his offense has stayed boring since he arrived. yes he did take us to 3 straght final four appearences BUT as u know UCLA does not hang final four banners so sorry its irrelevant.
UCLA lost to fullerton. not even a pac 10 team thats not suppose to happen no matter how many freshman u have.
there are higher standards for playing at UCLA, the greatest athletes in the world have put that jersey on, as so the fans expect more. these are problems bh has had for years not just a game or this season
ohh can someone answer me why was keefe playing?? he contributes nothing
I'm with George. Roll and Nelson were the bright spots. Roll will be consistent and have a great season. Nelson will be a roller coaster, especially this year, but will be a great Bruin. Honeycutt will not be a savior, but will help, if he can avoid the injuries to which he seems prone. When (no ifs about it) this team succeeds, it will be a team effort, with us fans behind them, cajoling and encouraging.
It really amazes me that these casual fans and monday morning quarterbacks are so much smarter than a coach who has taken a group to three straight final fours. Obviously, they got to the FF's without knowing how to play offense. BH teams ALWAYS have the same criticism during the first of the year. Every single year (if you were a fan at the time you would have read and perhaps written some of the posts) BH suffered the same criticism - he can't coach against the zone. By the end of the year he had the team running on all cylinders ready to play. Why? Because he ignored the idiot pundits and impatient fans and taught the kids how to play basketball. As to "petey" (BTW why would you be so petey-like on this site?), your ignorance is surpassed only by your sense of entitlement. We hang banners only due to the greatness of one JW and due to very little else. Please count for the me the banners we hang not associated with that great coach. I can count one. For BH to have mounted three straight final fours is not a slight accomplishment to put on his resume. In todays environment, it is a considerable achievement.
Howland puts too much emphasis on defense but needs to find a true center.
He is a mediocre coach that is way overrated. The team gets a little worse every year. There is never improvement.
Fire this farce.
He doesn't understand the higher standard at UCLA. The AD shouldn't have been so quick to give him an extension. Neuheisel is overrated also.
The loss to Fullerton was unacceptable. Does Duke rebuild? Does North Carolina rebuild? NO they do not and neither should UCLA. Howland OVERCOACHES at times with his constant substitutions which do not allow his players to get into a flow. Roll, Dragovic and Keefe are bench players not starters. I would much prefer to play the youngsters to get them experience they are the future.
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