Needling does UCLA freshman forward Honeycutt good
By Jon Gold Staff Writer
The Los Angeles Daily News
Updated: 01/22/2010 10:44:41 PM PST
Trying to find some offense from Tyler Honeycutt has at times this season been like trying to find a needle in a haystack.
Maybe all he needed were some needles in his shin - and his back - and his hip.
Honeycutt visited an acupuncturist on Wednesday and it paid off on Thursday in UCLA's 62-61 victory over Washington at Pauley Pavilion.
Honeycutt had 10 points, eight rebounds, four assists, two steals and one block in what UCLA head coach Ben Howland called his best performance of the season. In scoring double figures for just the third time this season, the freshman forward out of Sylmar High hit all four of his shots and both 3-point attempts.
"Body-wise, today was the first day I can remember since I've been here that I haven't had any pain," said Honeycutt, who is averaging 4.9 points and 5.9 rebounds in 12 games. "I've been having hip problems, so yesterday I got some acupuncture. Got it in my calf, my lower back - (Thursday) I woke up and everything is feeling good. I guess it works."
Honeycutt's ascension into the starting lineup - he got his first start against Cal on Jan. 6 - has taken some of the pressure off fellow freshman starter Reeves Nelson. Nelson has been saddled with high expectations as he continues to cement his cult status among UCLA faithful.
Nelson led the Bruins with 16 points against the Huskies and is averaging 10.5 points per game.
"I never really felt any pressure, but it's good to see Tyler do well because he's just a talented player," Nelson said. "Once he puts it all together, he's going to be fun to watch. It's good to see all his hard work coming to fruition - it's nice to have someone who kinda knows what I'm going through."
Anderson ailing
Sophomore point guard Jerime Anderson missed two practices this week with a hip flexor and didn't even dress for the Washington game, and his status for today's matchup with Washington State is still in doubt. Anderson has been bothered with a nagging groin injury throughout the season, and Howland said the two injuries were related.
"It's not anything you can fix surgically," Howland said. "It's the left groin, in that area. He's had a problem in that groin area, other muscles start to compensate when you get weakness in one area. It's definitely related to what he's had in the past, same area.
Praising the Cougars
Coming off an impressive 67-60 win over USC at the Galen Center on Thursday night, surprising Washington State (14-5, 4-3) has left an impression on Howland in head coach Ken Bone's first season.
"They really shoot it well," Howland said. "Talk about really good shooters, they have some outstanding shooters. Nikola Koprivica, when he's in, they essentially have four guards in there who all can shoot. Reggie Moore is really a fantastic player and we all know Klay Thompson, who is third in the country in scoring and first in the Pac-10 and a future NBA player. He's terrific."
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