Last year's run to the NCAA finals was a very pleasant surprise. They got a miracle win over Gonzaga in round two and got on a roll until they met a faster, bigger and more athletic team in Florida.
Expectations are probably a bit too high right now among fans rooting for the Blue and Gold of Westwood. Farmar left for the NBA and Hollins and Bozeman were crucial pieces to last year's success.
The cupboard is good but not without gaps.
The starting line-up is very young with four 2nd year players and 1 junior. Darren Collison will run the point. He brings more speed than Farmar but less offense. Arron Afflalo is the junior to provide leadership and offense and be the defensive stopper. Josh Shipp will also provide some offense. Hopefully, his injuries are all behind him. Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (love that name!) will be the rebounding machine and will kick in some points too. At center will be a Moute's Cameroon countryman Alfred Aboya who was hampered last year by injury.
I think this team will be quicker than last year's squad. But I am not sure how they will match up against bigger teams. Aboya and Mbah a Moute are the front-line guys for UCLA but are only 6-8. Afflalo and Shipp should lead the team in scoring. Hopefully, with stifling defense and speedy Collison at the point, UCLA will get more baskets off of transition. But in the half court, I really don't know if Afflalo and Shipp will be enough.
Also, with the loss of three key players from last year, the Bruin bench will be a rotation of players from last year plus a freshman or two that earn a spot. Returning will be Lorenzo Mata who will get the lion's share of bench minutes. Coach Howland knows he will bang underneath and grab rebounds. Ryan Wright didn't have lots of minutes last year but UCLA will need his size to rest the front-line starters for a few minutes here and there. Michael Roll can shoot the three but is a bit slow and like most shooter streaky. Beyond these three, Howland looks at a bench of freshman and walk-ons.
In any case, go BRUINS!
UPDATE: Heard part of the game on radio. The game was closer than the 82-69 final score indicates. BYU was hot from 3-point land and the Bruins were down for part of the 1st half and the beginning of the 2nd half. But the defense finally clamped down and they pulled away late in the 2nd half. Mbah a Moute had a career night with 24 points. Collison ran the point well 10 assists and 16 points and only 1 turnover. Mata started at center with Aboya backing him up with significant minutes. Roll got in there and played 14 minutes and hit one three. Keefe, Wright and Westbrook also got in. Key will be the development of Westbrook as he will be the backup point. Collison played 38 out 40 minutes. Hopefully, Westbrook will gain the skills to play more minutes so Collison doesn't wear out as the long season goes forward.
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