The Daily Bruin: Key player Drew Gordon's decision to leave hurts an already-wounded team

Photo: Victor Decolongon/Getty Images
Jan 31, 2009

Key player Drew Gordon's decision to leave hurts an already-wounded team

By Andrew Howard
The Daily Bruin
Dec. 3, 2009 at 1:28 a.m.

Already forced to deal with a player arrested on felony assault charges, a series of early season injuries and a disappointing 2-4 start to the season, the UCLA basketball team’s chances at success were dealt yet another blow on Tuesday.

Sophomore forward Drew Gordon has left the team and will transfer at the end of the fall quarter, coach Ben Howland announced in a press conference on Tuesday afternoon.

“After several discussions with Drew, we both decided that it is in the best interests of our program and Drew that he continues his career at another school,” Howland said in a statement released by the UCLA Athletic Department.

Howland emphasized that it was a mutual decision and one that had been considered over the past few months.

“This is not a spur-of-the-moment decision but one that’s been very thoughtful and (one I) had a lot of time to ponder about and think about,” Howland said.

It was reported later in the day that Howland had dealt Gordon an unannounced suspension for two days of practice this week, according to what Ed Gordon, Drew’s father, told the Los Angeles Times.

“It came from the frustration of being with UCLA and losing to the teams they were losing to,” Ed Gordon said. “With the talent that’s on the UCLA team, there’s absolutely no reason for that to happen.”

Gordon had been one of the few bright spots for the Bruins in what has been a trying season thus far, averaging 11.2 points (third on the team) and 5.3 rebounds (second on the team) per game.

Drew Gordon could not be reached for comment, but shortly after Tuesday’s press conference, a goodbye message was posted on his Twitter account:

“im sorry that things didnt work out ill miss all my la homies and supporters,” it said.

According to his parents, Gordon will move back home to San Jose after he finishes his finals to begin choosing a new school.

“bout to start packing...to go back to the bay to start the whole proccess over again!” his twitter account said on Wednesday afternoon.

Going back to last season, there were times during which Gordon and Howland seemed to butt heads. Earlier this year, Gordon talked about making a conscious effort to establish a new relationship with Howland this season.

“I used to try to shortcut a lot of stuff last year,” Gordon had said. “This year, I’ve tried to make sure I go through everything, lead by example, turn over a new leaf with Coach. It’s a new year, new season and different mentality.”

Sophomore point guard Jerime Anderson, part of Gordon’s recruiting class, said that he did not think Gordon was unhappy and that the differences Gordon and Howland had were not unusual.

“A lot of players don’t agree with their coaches all the time, so I just thought it was another thing,” Anderson said.

Senior forward James Keefe said that there were times when Gordon and Howland would disagree, but there was nothing outrageous that happened.

“Obviously, especially when you’re losing, not everyone’s happy,” Keefe said.

Howland said that, with Gordon gone, more playing time and responsibility would be given to freshman Reeves Nelson, sophomore J’mison Morgan and freshman Anthony Stover. Howland said Nelson would start against Kansas this Sunday.

Nelson, who has known Gordon since his freshman year of high school, said that it was unfortunate to see Gordon leave.

“Drew’s my friend before anything, so I’m going to support him on any decision he makes,” Nelson said.

Nelson said that he knew something was wrong over the weekend but did not expect it to end with Gordon’s departure.

“He said he was unhappy and him and coach were butting heads, and I knew something was up,” Nelson said. “I didn’t know it was going to come up with him leaving.”

For the Bruins, it is yet another potential distraction in a season that has been one of the more difficult in Howland’s tenure. While the Bruin players expressed the fact that they wish Gordon the best in the future, they emphasized the need to focus on their own team and upon improving.

“We just got to get moving on with our season and with our team,” Anderson said.

Senior guard Michael Roll, a veteran of three Final Four runs, said he believes that the team will not let this latest bump in the road affect their mind-set.

“We’ve all kind of taken everything in stride,” Roll said. “Nothing has been too big of a distraction.”