Honeycutt's Double-Double Puts UCLA Into...First Place
By Bruin Basketball Report
Surprise! With a little more than just half the Pac-10 season over, UCLA (11-11, 6-4) is now in a four-way tie in the wacky Pac-10 race after beating Stanford, 77-73, at Pauley Pavilion.
Freshman sensation Tyler Honeycutt continues to get better and better with each game. Honeycutt recorded a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds and added a season-high 8 assists for good measure.
Honeycutt who is finally getting into playing shape after missing most of the summer and the start of the basketball season with injuries, has been one of the keys to the Bruins resurgence.
The freshman makes everyone on his team better on the court and has now beginning to assert himself as a scorer going 5 of 9 from the field. Did we mention the 6'8 forward also had 3 blocks and 2 steals?
Fellow freshman stud Reeves Nelson scored a team-high 18 points as he manhandled Cardinal defenders in the paint. Nelson finished 7 of 10 from the field - all within the Bruin blue painted area on Nell and John Wooden Court
With the win UCLA avenged an earlier loss to Stanford at Palo Alto in January.
The game on Thursday was tight throughout the evening with Stanford hanging onto a narrow 32-29 lead going into halftime.
In the second half the game continued to see-saw as the two teams traded baskets.
With Stanford holding its biggest lead of the game 60-54, the Bruins went on a 13-2 spurt to pull ahead by 69-64 with two minutes remaining after a Reeves Nelson dunk off a Honeycutt assist.
Malcolm Lee hit a pair of free throws with 24 seconds left to preserve UCLA's fourth victory in its last five games.
Seniors Michael Roll added 16 points and Nikola Dragovic 15 points.
UCLA played primarily a 2-3 zone defensive set-up for most of the game, but they mixed in a man-to-man defense in the second-half which seemed to throw the Stanford offense off balance.
One of the other keys to this game was the Bruins committing just 5 turnovers after committing 20 in their prior contest.
Stanford's (10-12, 4-6) league-leading scorer Landry Fields had a career-high 35 points - his third consecutive 30-point gamenford .
UCLA faces the Cal Bears on Saturday afternoon at Pauley Pavilion as it attempts to tighten its grip atop the Pac-10 conference.
BBR :: Article Link :: 4:17 PM ::
14 comments
14 Comments:
As many of us have always said, having the "option" to play two defense makes us a better and tougher team to play against. Look at AZ St., they were surprised by our zone the 1st game of the Pac10 season... others followed. Now Stanford, thinking we were only going to play zone, and BAHM, we through back in some man to man. I love mixing it up. Great win - let's keep this ball rollin'.
I think the man to man almost lost the game at the end. We could not stop Stanford in the man defense. They scored at will. It was very obvious tonight the weakness in UCLA's zone defense. If you noticed, Stanford had men open everywhere. The reason is that UCLA was in a 2-1-2 defense and Stanford was in a 1-2-2. They do not match up. If UCLA had been in a 1-2-2 defense, there would not have been nearly as many open looks. I give Howland credit for changing to a zone defense. Now he has to move to the next level and play a matchup zone. Good win. Now we need to get some shooters for next year. How did Fields get away from UCLA?
I'm glad all our "three point shooters" are leaving next year. Although Roll has grown on me as of late. We depend on 3's way too much. Other things should keep us in the game...see Nelson/Honeycutt (toughness on the boards, passing, fast break)...And man, when did whiteguys start sucking at freethrows. Nelson needs to channel his farmboy roots!
Dragovich is the worst defender in the Pac-10. Stanford attacked his side of the zone continually. He is an incredible liability and should be planted on the bench until he can give some defensive effort. I would much rather have a smaller defender on that side of the zone who would actually try or even give Lane a shot. Drugovich's defenses lapses, turnovers and general apathy far outweigh any offensive contribution he gives. And he also forces bad matchups in Man to Man cause he can't guard anyone!
I knew it was going to be a special night after James Keefe did that spin move in the opening possesion of the game.
I thought Reeves' did well at the line. I know he missed one or two clutch ones, but he hit several prior to that which were almost as important.
I really don't like stanford, but that alley-oop reverse slam by Landry Fields was sick.
It will be great to see Landry Fields in the NBA next year and not in the Pac-10. By the way, for those of you who feel we have Freshman duds except for the wonderful Reeves and Tyler, Landry Fields only averaged 4.2 points per game as a Freshman, 4.1 points per game as a Sophomore, and 12.6 ppg as a Junior. He is averaging 22.9 ppg as a Senior this year. Be patient my friends.
Andy Katz had a good article on espn.com about the Bruins. It was written before last night's game and went into the Bruins' possibility of being a tournament team. Interesting observation by Ben, trying to attain one of the first 6 seeds in the Pac-Ten tourney. Also how the 7th seed is automatically in the Quarters(No USC).Three game tourney instead of Four. A little Bruin love on the national level.
The Freshman bookends!!! Don MacLean gave to interesting nicknames for them:
Tyler Honeycutt "The Toolbox"
Reeves Nelson "The Lunchpale"
Meaning you have those two pieces of equipment and that's all you need! Granted we are still a little ways off from that, but the team is definitely getting more comfortable and not pushing to fast anymore and turning it over.
Bruins are 6-4 in the PAC-10 right now. I have a feeling the conference winner will be the team that finishes with 6 losses. That would mean going 6-2 the rest of the way. Guys, do you think we can do this???
In the meantime I'm enjoying a brew I pulled from my lunchpale, and had one earlier I was hiding in my toolbox!!!
Brew In - I'll hoist one to you after we beat Cal tomorrow. I'll pull it from my briefcase.
Don Maclean needs to shut up about Honeycutt leaving early for the NBA...stop polluting these young minds or giving ideas to the hungry agents and mooching friends.
This win doesn't change a thing. They are still not going to make it to the NCAA tournament. On a positive note, 5 turnovers is what wond the gameand some unusually good free throw shooting down the stretch.
Nelson and Honeycutt are not going to the NBA next year. Nelson is a better 4 than a 5. Smith will take up room next year and that will allow Reeves to move to his more natural power forward position.
If the can beat Cal and split Washington, they will be in the race for top 6 spots. Then anything can happen on any given night.
Honeycutt and Nelson are for real. Moser needs to commit himself in the offseason and be an asset. Bobo has to go as does Anderson.
Thank goodness Drags is going in a few months. He is simply awful on both ends of the court.
Don't be surprised to see a double digit loss to the Bears. They simply have more talent and our gurads can't stay with their backcourt.
Smith is not going to be a game changer at Westwood. We need to land the wing from Jefferson (Oregon) and McCallum from DCDS. Then we are back in the top 25 where we should be.
Watched Josh Smith and Terrance Jones play against each other on espn the other night. My quick observation on J.S. He is overweight probably due to his injury and will need to loss 20-40 pounds to be effective on offense and defense at the next level. However he has great hands and long arms with a big body to take up a lot of space in the blocks. His best shot is his dunk. His shooting form and touch is good for a big and will need to practice, practice and practice in order to develope a good inside game. Do not expect another Kevin Love.
And as for Terrence Jones, his style of play reminds me of Lamar Odom. He can do a little bit of everything well.
Knucklehead:Smith will be a flop. Howland should work on Moser and Stover in the off season. They are in better shape than Smith. How can this be the # 1 Center in the nation? Honeycutt was never given a chance in the first 8 games and he is now our best player. Now that we are in a hunt for a weak Pac 10 title he will cut his rotation to 8 men and we will never know how good the three bigs are for next year. They will be rocked by Cal this afternoon ... mark my words. They were lucky to win in Berkley.
Terrence Jones is going to be awesome. Stacy Augman type player; long, athletic and versatile; or maybe a Shawn Marriam. Not as strong as Odom.
Roster spots open if CBH wakes up:
Coach BH, I sent you box of poop, did you get it? You really need to dump these 4 guys after the season:
Stover (played Div 5 CIF = no competition, Lane (raw, I don't have time for that cr**), Bobo (no hands, way over-rated, Anderson (Div 2 player)
Oh, Moser...I'll wait for you to get p.t.
Villanova, G-town, would CRUSH US
SC's still gonna smoke us nxt yr
I'm out
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