UCLA BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK: Freshman guard Lamb's defense worthy of attention

UCLA guard Tyler Lamb (1) gets by Cal State Northridge guard Joshua Greene, left, for a basket on a fast break during the first half of previous game. GUS RUELAS, AP




UCLA BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK: Freshman guard Lamb's defense worthy of attention
By Jon Gold Staff Writer
The Los Angeles Daily News
Posted: 11/19/2010 10:35:55 PM PST
Updated: 11/19/2010 11:56:52 PM PST


Lost in UCLA's 3-0 start, lost in Malcolm Lee's ankle, and Reeves Nelson's scoring, and Tyler Honeycutt's rebounding, has been the impressive defensive play of freshman guard Tyler Lamb.

Lamb started in place of Lee against Pacific in the Bruins' 57-44 win in the second game of the NIT Season Tip-Off West Regional after Lee sprained an ankle the night before in an opening-round win over Pepperdine.

With Lee's status in doubt for UCLA's next matchup - the semifinals of the preseason NIT at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday against No. 6 Villanova - Lamb again will need to provide lock-down defense to complement Honeycutt and Nelson's offensive prowess.

Lamb drew praise from UCLA head coach Ben Howland during a news conference Friday, even drawing a comparison to former Bruins great Aaron Afflalo.

"I haven't heard that. Wow. That's a great honor for him to say that," said Lamb, who played at Mater Dei.

"It means a lot to me. Trying to play good defense, and having him put me on the other team's best player, it really shows that he has that trust in me."

Lamb helped the Bruins hold the Tigers to 25-percent shooting in the win, and just 13 percent on 3-pointers.

"He's really aggressive," UCLA junior point guard Lazeric Jones said.

"He's a really aggressive player. He has a pretty strong body and he likes to really get up in people. He has great movement with his body, he's not just stuck in cement. He really can
move."

Lamb is in the process of trying to find himself offensively after struggling in the first three gamesBruins' three-game season-opening winning streak.

Lamb is averaging just 4.3 points per game and is shooting 25 percent from the field, including just 1 for 10 shootingon 3-pointers.

"I don't let that get to my head," Lamb said. "You're going to make shots and you're going to miss shots. I just try to take the shots that are open and if it's not open, just pass to my teammates."

Lee update

Lee said on Thursday that he hopes to play against the Wildcats but that doctors aren't sure about the extent of his injury.

"In my mind, I'll be practicing by New York," he said, adding that he'd play even if not 100 percent.

"Right now, they don't know," Lee said. "The swelling has gone a lot and the pain has gone down a lot. There's been progress since Monday."

Biting The Big Apple

Pauley Pavilion isn't the Roman Coliseum, but it isn't exactly a two-person shed either.

Still, the Bruins are giddy at the prospect of playing in Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, even those who've already played there.

"Really, it was nice - I liked how the crowd is," said Jones, who played in a showcase game at the legendary arena in high school.

Jones, who transferred to UCLA from Logan Junior College in Chicago, still gets a kick out of Pauley Pavilion every time he's on the floor, or at least the first five times this year.

"Coming here, every game has been exciting for me," Jones said. "It might not be the biggest crowds, but every game is exciting to me out there."