UCLA Puts Up Good Fight But Lose To #1 Kansas
By Bruin Basketball Report
The Bruins played inspired ball against No.1 Kansas before falling to the Jayhawks, 73-61, on Sunday at Pauley Pavilion.
Although it was UCLA's fourth consecutive loss, putting them at 2-5 for the season, the Bruins showed improvement in their game, and most importantly, displayed some fight and passion on the floor.
UCLA started Malcolm Lee at point-guard, sitting down Jerime Anderson to start the game. In addition, freshman Reeves Nelson played with the ferocity that has already made him a crowd favorite.
Faced with playing All-American candidate big man Cole Aldrich and giving up at least four inches, Nelson promptly went around Aldrich for a lay-up to start the game.
The Bruins were competitive the entire game.
Eliminate some untimely turnovers and missed free throws (57.9%) and UCLA would have been going down the wire with the No.1 ranked team in the nation.
There were definitely UCLA green shoots to be seen on Sunday afternoon in Westwood.
Nelson was indeed a spark plug with 9 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assorted skin burns. Other highlights were Michael Roll's 16 points and Nikola Dragovic's 14 points and 7 rebounds.
Freshman Tyler Honeycutt made his debut and his passing and court-sense just seemed to make the offense operate better. Although he was rusty from the field (1-6), he did have 6 rebounds and 2 steals in just 19 minutes.
Kansas led by 13 points in the first half, when the Bruins committed 11 turnovers and shot 33 percent, missing several open shots. From there, the Bruins ended the half on a 12-6 run to close to 35-28. Dragovic and Roll had five points each in the spurt.
UCLA outscored Kansas 6-3 to start the second half and get to 38-34. Reeves Nelson, starting in place of Gordon, dunked to get the Bruins within seven with 14:40 remaining. He was poked in the right eye and had to leave the game for a few minutes before returning wearing protective goggles.
"He'll end up in the ER tonight as his eye was swollen shut," Howland said. "He's had a tough week, but he showed a lot of character to get back in the game."
The Bruins closed within seven once more on a 3-pointer by Dragovic at 12:03 before Kansas soon restored its double-digit lead.
The game was part of the Big 12-Pac-10 Hardwood Series.
BBR :: Article Link :: 3:15 PM ::
13 comments
13 Comments:
UCLA isn't going anywhere this year, but to have a decent season, senior Michael Roll needs to step it up as the point guard...Malcolm Lee is okay, but the leadership should be in the senior's hand this year.
Roll is not a point guard and never has been.
I was really happy about the Bruins effort against Kansas. We lost but if there is any bright spot in a loss its that this team will only get better and yesterday proved Howland-toughness can still succeed ---- with more practice and more buy in by the players.
Love Reeves Nelson!!!!!!!!!
farley get the fuck outta here. nothing you said increased anybody's knowledge, in fact, i think i got dumber when i read it. find a new site cunt.
Yeah, scratching my head about that comment.
Also, what was with those two air balls Dragovic threw up? I don't think either one was really contested
jimjg you're the only idiot here...Farley is just expressing his opinion as far-fetched as it might be. You are just a plain idiot with a dirty mouth. People like you should not procreate.
OK, we all love Reeves. So how 'bout Honeycutt's first effort? I still hope he steps up and helps salvage this season.
Honeycutt showed me good hops, good handle and silky smoothness reminding me of a certain Mr. Wilkes. He is awfully thin, though, and will get pushed around until he bulks up more. I don't know if he can shoot. Does anyone see him starting, and if so in place of whom?
Tyler Honeycutt brings another dimension to team that we greatly need, someone who can create for himself and others. I was very impressed with his first effort considering the multiple month lay off he's had. I think he'll end up as our 6th man, maybe starting 5?.. What do you guys think?
I see Honeycutt starting. I see a starting 5 of
SF Honeycutt
PF Dragovic
C Reeves
SG Roll
PG Lee
Anderson backing up both guard positions but Roll and Lee getting the majority of the minutes.
Good call on the lineup BZ! Anderson 1st off the bench at both the 1 and 2. Bobo's motor skills a tad slow, but overall nice effort against the #1 team in the land.
BZ - that's a lineup I can see in my crystal ball too. I don't think Lee planned on playing point in colleg, but his pro future is probably as a point. He may have to start learning it a bit early, as a Bruin.
I agree that is the ideal lineup.
Roll cannot play PG, he is not steve nash, he cannot just bring the ball down the court and pop a 3, especially with people running the zone against us every single time.
I thought Anderson looked good last year coming in for Collison, but I dont know what is up with him this year. He really makes a lot of foolish mistakes on the court but I was proud of his comments in the LA Times article about Gordon leaving the team.
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