UCLA's Howland asks for patience
by AL BALDERAS
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
November 19, 2009 8:43 PM
The Bruins took too many 'bad shots' in their loss to Cal State Fullerton.
LOS ANGELES -- Less is better in UCLA coach Ben Howland's book.
That also applies to the Bruins' box score Monday against Cal State Fullerton.
The Bruins took 84 shots in the double-overtime loss, which are a lot more than what Howland is used to seeing from his teams.
"The biggest thing was that offensively we took so many bad shots," Howland said Thursday. "That's the most shots a team of mine has taken since I've been here at UCLA, by 14. It was just way too many shots. Malcolm Lee took 23 shots. That's the most any player has taken since I've been the coach here at UCLA."
The 84 shots would not have been much of a problem had the Bruins been a little more accurate with them. The Bruins connected on 31 percent of their field-goal tries, which made the 84 shots stand out even more.
"We've got to be more patient," Howland said. "Instead of going 26 for 84, we need to go 32 for 60. We play less time on defense when we do that. The most important thing about offense is shot selection. I think I counted either six or seven air balls, or air banks. I don't remember seeing that many in my recent memory."
The statistical sheet backs Howland. Lee hit 7 of his 23 shots in Monday's game. Nikola Dragovic was 2 for 14, and Jerime Anderson was 1 for 11.
Howland attributed some of the offensive problems to his team being "anxious and amped up" but Cal State Fullerton's second-half zone defense deserves credit.
"Right now, early in the season, we've only had one play for that zone," said senior forward James Keefe, who scored two points off the bench. "They had a great zone. It was kind of hard to emulate the zone that they played (in practice). Our zone offense was tearing up our zone defense. They (Fullerton) played it well."
The Bruins should expect something similar out of Cal State Bakersfield, tonight's opponent, as well as every other opponent on their schedule until they prove that they can beat the zone.
By the time they take the court for tonight's contest, they will have had two practice sessions to work on beating the zone.
"I'd play the zone," Drew Gordon said when asked if he would play a zone defense if he was playing against UCLA. "Hopefully we'll be ready for the zone because in the last game, they kind of had us back on our heels."
TAKING IT HARD
All of the Bruins had a share of the blame for Monday's loss but Anderson seems to be taking a bit more. As the point guard, he feels he should have done a better job shooting and distributing the ball.
"I put a lot of the blame on myself because I feel that for our team to be successful, I've got to be a little more successful on the floor individually," he said. "That's the pressure I put on myself, regardless of what anybody has to say about whose fault it was to lose the game.
"I know what I did in the game and I know what I didn't do well. I didn't do a lot of things well in that game. I've got to be a little bit more of a better player out there for us to be better."
_______________
Howland ON:
By Jon Gold
Inside UCLA
Los Angeles Times Daily News
November 19, 2009 2:18 PM
UCLA head coach Ben Howland at the team's press conference on Thursday, as the Bruins gear up for Cal-State Bakersfield:
On UCLA's poor offensive performance:
"The biggest thing was offensively we took so many bad shots. We were really hurried. That's the most shots a team of mine has taken since I've been here by 14. Malcolm Lee took 23 shots, the most any player has taken. We were very anxious, very amped up."
On why the team shot so bad:
"The most important thing about offense is shot selection. I think I counted six or seven either airballs or airbanks. I don't remember seeing that many in any time in recent memory. After the game (I realized) I played our starters too many minutes. When you're a shooter, you have to have your legs. We were so quick to shoot, we were on defense more than offense in that 50 minutes."
On what practices have been like:
"Our practice yesterday was geared totally toward us. Our execution of the things that we need to do. We need to focus on ourselves.
On Jerime Anderson:
"Obviously, he didn't have a good game in terms of his shooting. Neither did Nik. Between the two of them, 3-for-25. Jerime really had a setback, and you could see in his first exhibition against Humboldt State, he got really tired. He's still catching up conditioning-wise. What I want out of Jerime is continued improvement in every facet of the game. I look back at how he was playing in January, February and March, and he was playing really well, just behind an NBA point guard. When he gets back to where he was, I think he'll be fine."
On not playing Reeves Nelson more:
Reeves Nelson was really dominant yesterday. The biggest mistake I made Monday night was not playing him more minutes."
_____________
UCLA basketball: Media day
by David Wharton
The Los Angeles Times
November 19, 2009 | 2:35 pm
Nothing mysterious or unexpected about the focus of UCLA practices this week.
In two words: Shot selection.
Coach Ben Howland, meeting with reporters today, is still upset that his team took 84 shots in a double-overtime loss to Cal State Fullerton on Monday -- and made only 31% of them.
"We took so many bad shots," he said. "We were really hurried."
The coach would rather see his players be more patient, make extra passes and wind up in the neighborhood of 60 shots for Friday night's game against Cal State Bakersfield.
_____________
UCLA basketball using defeat as motivational tool
By Jon Gold Staff Writer
Los Angeles Daily News
Updated: 11/19/2009 10:53:11 PM PST
After a crushing loss, a team has two options: Live and learn from the game, taking away lessons to be applied the next game, or simply erase the memory.
Sometimes it is best to completely forget about a loss, to chalk it up to a fluky off-night or just bad chemistry.
UCLA will not forget.
The Bruins are still reeling after their 68-65 double-overtime loss to Cal-State Fullerton in the season-opener.
UCLA sophomore forward Drew Gordon said the team had "the most intense practice we've had this year" on Wednesday, and that the Bruins had watched game film several times.
"It's a good sign that the players responded to the loss," Gordon said. "We got after it. I think we're realizing that every game we play is going to be tight. We need to focus on improvement if we're going to have the season we want to have."
The first glimpse of things to come came in the team's first exhibition game, a one-point victory over Concordia. A 17-point win over Humboldt State in the second exhibition reminded the Bruins of their talent level, and they shook off the Concordia game.
Then the ceiling came down in Monday's 26-for-84 shooting performance against the Titans, and now UCLA is taking the season a little more seriously.
Step one: Eliminate the bad shots.
"You make good shots if you take good shots," sophomore point guard Jerime Anderson said. "You get a good pass, and you usually make a good shot. But shooting always has to do with mechanics, whether you're contested or uncontested. We had a lot of uncontested shots we missed, and that's all mechanics.
"As the season goes on, we'll shoot a lot better."
As long as teams keep throwing the zone at them, they'll at least have to work for it.
The Titans fooled the Bruins with a rotating zone defense, daring UCLA to shoot from outside. The Bruins often missed.
"Especially in the second half, that zone was kind of deceiving," sophomore guard Malcolm Lee said. "It was real packed in, so it kind of made it seem like you were open, but you really weren't. They were playing the shot to us and using their length. That messed up our timing."
First-half Nelson
UCLA coach Ben Howland admitted that not playing freshman forward Reeves Nelson more in Monday's loss was his biggest regret.
Nelson had 11 points and sixrebounds in 12 minutes, making 4-of-6 shots, while playing in the first half.
"Reeves Nelson was really dominant (in that game)," Howland said. "The biggest mistake I made Monday night was not playing him more minutes."
Bumps and bruises
Lee was sidelined during the game with leg cramps, something he has dealt with in the past.
He is still sore, but should be fine for today's game.
"I have to manage my body better," Lee said. "I used to catch full-lock body cramps in AAU basketball in every tournament. It's something I have to manage better now in the college level, especially because I'm going to be playing more."
______________
Men’s basketball must improve shots in game against Cal State Bakersfield tonight
By Eli Smukler
The Daily Bruin
Nov. 20, 2009 at 1:03 a.m.
It was clear to everyone associated with the UCLA men’s basketball team that bad shooting was the cause of its season-opening loss Monday night against Cal State Fullerton. This point was no more obvious to anyone than the players themselves.
“We just got to make some shots,” sophomore point guard Jerime Anderson said.
The Bruins (0-1) seemed to miss just as many open shots that night as they did contested ones and have a chance to improve tonight against Cal State Bakersfield (1-1).
Coach Ben Howland said the 84 shots his team took exceeded the UCLA record during his tenure by 14. Sophomore guard Malcolm Lee set the individual mark in that time span with 23 by himself.
Lee said that the 3-2 zone that Fullerton implemented halfway through the contest was deceiving, which led to overall bad shot selection.
“It was real packed in, so it kind of made it seem like you were open,” he said. “But then you really weren’t because ... they were playing the shot attempt. They were using their length.”
Howland added another rationale.
“We were just very anxious, very amped up,” he said. “We’ve got to be more patient.”
Citing guard Michael Roll and forward Nikola Dragovic – two seniors that have proven themselves from long range over the years – Howland said he thinks this team has the potential to be a shooting threat. On Monday though, that aspect of the offense just wasn’t there, especially with Dragovic, who shot just 2 for 14.
“When you go back and watch (the game on film), when we were patient, we got Mike Roll some nice open looks; we got Nikola some nice looks,” said Howland, who claimed to have watched the film five times already.
Two days after the defeat, though, the team was apparently trying to turn over a new leaf in its first practice back after the loss.
“I think we had the most intense practice we’ve had this year,” senior forward and team captain James Keefe said. “It’s a good sign that players responded to the loss.”
With extra sessions before practice, the team, Howland said, has been practicing shooting a lot this week.
“Our practice (Wednesday) was geared totally toward us and our execution and the things that we need to do,” he said.
And tonight in Pauley Pavilion when UCLA hosts Cal State Bakersfield, the Bruins will have their second attempt at beating an up-and-coming in-state team. In their second year in Division I, the Roadrunners already played Santa Clara to within three points in their season-opener.
“They have, like Fullerton, a lot of kids from the L.A. area,” Howland said. “Playing in Pauley, they have an opportunity to play against and beat UCLA. It’s got to be high on their list of things they want to accomplish. They’ll have a lot of family and friends here, so they are going to be up for the game.”
It’s an opportunity for the Bruins as well, who hope they can gain confidence with a win.
“We’re just ready to get things going and get some W’s on our board,” Lee said.
UCLA signs two top recruits
The Bruins continued their reputation as California’s premier college basketball recruiting powerhouse this Wednesday as they signed two of the nation’s top prep stars. Center Josh Smith (Kentwood High) from Covington, Wash. and point guard Tyler Lamb (Mater Dei) from Santa Ana both signed their National Letters of Intent.
At 6 feet, 10 inches, and weighing 280 pounds, Smith has been rated the No. 1 center in the country by ESPN and is expected to compete for a starting spot on next year’s team.
Lamb has been ranked by ESPN as the top California shooting guard.
___________
Bruins want to take their best shots against zones
Players know they'll see a lot of them after struggling with Fullerton's 1-2-2 zone in season-opening loss.
By David Wharton
November 20, 2009
The Los Angeles Times
If UCLA forward Drew Gordon were preparing to play his own team, he knows what kind of defense he would run.
"Yep," he said. "I'd play zone."
This after the Bruins struggled against Cal State Fullerton's 1-2-2 zone in a season-opening loss on Monday, a game in which they hurried through 84 shots, making only 31%.
So it's no surprise the team expects to work on attacking the zone before tonight's game against Cal State Bakersfield. Or that UCLA Coach Ben Howland wants more passing and better selection to whittle the total shots to about 60.
"We were just very anxious, very amped up," he said. "We've got to be more patient."
With UCLA needing to show quick improvement, expect other changes.
The big men have vowed to work harder at setting screens and Howland said he would use his bench more freely to avoid another situation such as Monday's when starter Michael Roll played 49 of a possible 50 minutes.
Also, every player reported for 30 minutes of shooting before the regular practice on Thursday.
"You've always got to make some shots for a zone to get stretched out and then have more driving lanes and more post opportunities," point guard Jerime Anderson said. "I think we'll do a little bit better against the zone this game coming up."
To the point
Anderson shouldered much of the blame for his team's sluggish start.
"I know what I did in that game and I know what I didn't do well," he said. "I feel like for our team to be successful, I've got to be a little more successful."
The sophomore shot one for 11 and had three turnovers against three assists.
Howland stuck by his starter, pointing out that Anderson missed a large chunk of the preseason because of a lingering groin injury.
"He's still catching up conditioning-wise, skill level-wise from missing those five weeks," Howland said.
"If he's able to stay healthy and work hard, he's going to continue to improve throughout the year."
New face
Among the players who figure to see more playing time tonight is forward Reeves Nelson, who impressed with 11 points and six rebounds in 12 minutes on Monday.
Several times this week, Howland has expressed regret at not using him more.
"I'll do pretty much whatever it takes for the team to win," Reeves said.
"And if that's what I have to do, come off the bench and have some hustle play and score some points and get the rebounds, that's what I'll do."
Drink up
Guard Malcolm Lee said he was paying more attention to fluid intake and eating bananas.
Against Fullerton, his shooting percentage dropped from 50% to 15% after he began suffering cramps in the second half. It is a condition he has battled since his AAU days.
"I'm just trying to prepare myself for all these minutes I'm about to play," he said.
"I've got to keep hydrating myself and make sure my muscles have all the stuff they need so they won't cramp up."
No comments:
Post a Comment