Well, the first game of the season was a long drawn-out bust. UCLA drops the season opener at Pauley Pavilion on Monday night, losing, 68-65, in double overtime to Cal State Fullerton.
The UCLA basketball faithful knew going in that this would not be a pretty season. But this ugly? CSU Fullerton came into Pauley and put the hurt on our young'uns.
Highest returning scorer, Nikola Dragovic stunk it up on the offensive end, going 2-14 (0.143) on the floor, and 1-9 (0.111) beyond the 3-point line, although he did pull down 14 rebounds. Malcolm Lee and Michael Roll each had 17 points. Drew Gordon almost had another double-double, finishing with 10 points and 8 rebounds. Point man Jerime Anderson was all 3's across the board: 3 points, 3 assists, 3 turnovers. He hit 1 of 3 free throws for 0.333. Freshman Reeves Nelson had 11 points and 6 rebounds although, curiously, did not play much after half-time. As a team, UCLA made 8 of 17 free throws for a paltry 0.471.
One consistent thing, we still struggle against the zone. CSU Fullerton's 1-2-2 zone that collapsed into the post had UCLA stymied. The Bruins, forced to take outside shots, were a dismal 5-29 from 3-point range for the night.
Talk about growing pains. This hurts.
Another obvious reason for the loss was that CSUF was a good team. Much credit to the Titans.
Fishwrap writeups on the debacle follows.
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It could be open season on Bruins
UCLA loses opener in two overtimes, doing little to refute notion that young team may be in for a long winter.
By David Wharton
The Los Angeles Times
Nov 17, 2009
Gazing into the future – looking at what could be a very long season – James Keefe offered his UCLA teammates a warning.
"We can't take nights off," the veteran forward said. "We don't have the skill or the players to walk through games."
Not with a young team that has yet to find any sort of offensive rhythm. Or exert its presence on the boards. Or comprehend Coach Ben Howland's brand of defense.
So it makes sense that the Bruins had a struggle on their hands against Cal State Fullerton in the season opener at Pauley Pavilion on Monday night, losing, 68-65, in double overtime.
When asked what happened, a dazed Malcolm Lee said: "To tell you the truth, I don't know."
The final statistics told much of the story. The Bruins suffered a terrible shooting night that only got worse when Fullerton shifted mainly to zone in the second half, packing the paint.
The result? UCLA rushed its way through 84 shots, making only 31%, including five of 29 from three-point range. (To read on, click here).
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Titans work late, top Bruins
By AL BALDERAS
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
November 17, 2009 6:00 AM
LOS ANGELES – Almost everyone is familiar with the problems that the UCLA men’s basketball team has faced in the preseason.
Cal State Fullerton was the first team to take advantage of it.
Jacques Streeter hit a 3-point basket to give the Titans the lead in double-overtime, then sank a free throw with 12.7 seconds remaining to secure a 68-65 victory over the Bruins, Monday night at Pauley Pavilion.
The victory was the first in 10 games for the Titans at Pauley Pavilion.
The loss was the first on opening day for the Bruins since the 2002-03 season, when they lost to San Diego in overtime.
UCLA has been plagued injuries this season and looked more like a team still trying to find its rhythm.
“It feels real good because not too many teams come in here and beat UCLA at home,” Streeter said. “It’s a real big win for us. It’s a real big statement that we wanted to make and hopefully we’ll win our Big West (conference) championship.”
That feeling might not be as good when the Titans watch the game film.
Both teams struggled in one area of the game or another.
The Bruins connected on five of 29 shots from 3-point range and were 8 of 17 from the free-throw line.
The Titans had 19 turnovers and weren’t able to put the game away when they had the chance.
“We’re shooting foul shots, 8 for 17,” UCLA coach Ben Howland said. “I’m responsible for playing our guys too many minutes. I have to force myself to play (freshman forward Mike) Moser more. We need to play Reeves (Nelson) more; he did a good job.”
(To read on, click here).
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Bruins-Titans: The morning after
November 17th, 2009, 1:29 am posted by Mark Whicker, ocregister.com
– Wonder if the chairman of the NCAA tournament selection committee was impressed with UCLA’s double-OT loss to Cal State Fullerton Monday night? That person, of course, is UCLA athletic director Dan Guerrero.
– Ray of hope: It doesn’t appear many of these Bruins will be leaving early for the NBA.
– And did you ever dream the Bruins football team might be better than the basketball team?
– Over-reaction is never advisable but it’s a bit hard to avoid after this performance, when the Bruins shot 31 percent from the floor, 8 for 17 from the foul line and 5 for 29 from the 3-point line.
– All those stories about Jerime Anderson being UCLA’s one and only option at point guard seem a little ominous now. Anderson was outplayed by Cal State Fullerton’s Jacques Streeter, as a lot of point guards will be. He was tentative and inefficient. You don’t know if Malcolm Lee is a better option, but Lee did bring more energy, even though he couldn’t shoot either.
– Ben Howland criticized himself for not substituting enough and playing Michael Roll 49 minutes. He said freshmen Reeves Nelson and Michael Moser will play more. Nelson certainly should. He came in with a reputation for manic physicality but he showed here that he also knows how to play.
– The Bruins had their customary problems dealing with a zone defense, and CSF coach Bob Burton says he’ll use it frequently this year “because we’ve got some size, finally.” (To read on, click here).
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UCLA falls to Cal State Fullerton
Cold shooting leaves Bruins with their first season-opening loss since 2002-03
By Jon Gold Staff Writer
Los Angeles Daily News
Updated: 11/17/2009 02:07:53 AM PST
The prevailing thought in basketball is simple: Live by the 3, die by the 3.
A UCLA team trying to find its identity in this brand-new season might know where to look now.
The Bruins dropped their first season opener since 2002-03 with a 68-65 loss in double-overtime to Cal State Fullerton on Monday night, shooting 1 for 6 from 3-point range in double overtime.
"To me, every loss is a shocking loss," said Bruins sophomore center Drew Gordon, who had 10 points and eight rebounds. "I feel like every time we lose, a little piece of me dies inside. It's competition for you; you win some, you lose some. It's not necessarily shocking as it is hurtful."
Gordon might not be hurt if the Bruins didn't shoot themselves in the foot.
UCLA's poor shooting did not start at the end - the Bruins shot 5 for 29 from 3-point line and 26 of 83 overall - but the problem was certainly exacerbated.
Against a Cal State Fullerton 1-2-2 zone that caved in the post, UCLA did not so much settle for the 3s as much as they were forced into them. And when the ball went up, it crashed back down, thudding off the rim and into the arms of the Titans (2-0).
"Our 1-2-2 zone is designed for shooters to think they have a wide-open shot, but they really don't," Cal State Fullerton point guard Jacques Streeter said. "We did a good job of talking in it and getting out on the shooters." To read on, click here).
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