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#16 UCLA Bruins
Pacific 10
2004-05: 18-11,
11-7, 3rd
2004-05 postseason:
NCAA
By
Joel Welser
UCLA is once again a
dangerous team. After years of mediocrity, Coach Ben Howland
has brought life back to Westwood. With four starters returning
and a solid group of newcomers the future and the present is
looking very good.
Who’s Out:
Dijon Thompson led the squad with 18.4 points, 7.9 rebounds and
1.5 steals. His absence leaves a gap in the frontcourt that
will be difficult to replace. Brian Morrison was often the
first guard off the bench averaging 7.4 points per game.
Forward Matt McKinney has left the team and requested a medical
retirement after battling with injuries much of his career.
Josiah Johnson only saw limited minutes in nine contests. The
status of Janou Rubin is still unknown. The senior requested a
sixth year of eligibility after missing all but five games last
year with a left knee injury.
Who’s In: The
newcomers are talented enough to help out immediately. There is
no doubt about it in the case of Cedric Bozeman. The 6-6 senior
spent last year on the bench with a torn anterior cruciate
ligament in his right knee. The three year starting point guard
probably lost his starting job, but will be a great, experienced
addition of the bench. The point guard of the future is Darren
Collison. The 6-0 Rancho Cucamonga, California native is
extremely quick and possesses great court vision. It will be
interesting to see how much time the freshman will see this year
with Farmar and Bozeman in the mix. Wings Michael Roll and Luc
Richard Mbaha Moute will battle for minutes off the bench. Roll
is a hard worker and a solid shooter. Mbaha Moute is very
versatile at 6-7. He has guard skills and a massive wing span
and is full of potential. Joey Ellis and DeAndre Robinson, both
of whom redshirted last year, will add more depth to the guard
spots. The frontcourt could use some depth and they get two
players who will be ready to contribute right away. Ryan
Wright, a 6-8, 230 pound power forward, has a strong body and
quick feet. He should compete for the starting job at the four
or at least provide competition at the spot all year long.
Alfred Aboya is a little raw, yet has great potential to be a
huge player for the Bruins. The 6-8 Cameroon native is a
physical player who just needs a little time to develop his
overall game. When that happens, he will be extremely
dangerous. A left knee injury will slow his development, but he
isn’t expected to miss much of the season.
Who to Watch:
The sophomore backcourt was a thrill to watch last year and will
be even better this season. Jordan Farmar led the way with 13.2
points and 5.3 assists per contest. Arron Afflalo added 10.8
points and Josh Shipp tacked on 9.3 points and 5.2 rebounds.
All three can hit the long ball, although a little more
consistency in that department would be helpful. Already the
group comprises one of the best backcourts in the nation and, if
they stick around, will be the best in a year or two. Shipp had
surgery on his right hip during the offseason and could miss up
to half of the year, but the bench is deep enough for UCLA not
to miss the sophomore too much.
Projected
Conference Rank: The weakness is the frontcourt, but there
is a nice mix of experienced and young talent. Michael Fey and
Ryan Hollins are seniors and have starting experience, but the
youth movement of Lorenzo Mata, Alfred Aboya and Ryan Wright
will all get the chance to earn starting roles and quality
playing time. A 2nd place finish in the PAC 10 will
be the start of many years of success for the Bruins.
Projected
Post-season Tournament: NCAA
Projected Starting
Five:
Jordan Farmar,
Sophomore, Guard, 13.2 points per game
Arron Afflalo,
Sophomore, Guard, 10.8 points per game
Josh Shipp, Sophomore,
Guard, 9.3 points per game
Ryan Wright, Freshman,
Forward, DNP last season
Michael Fey, Senior,
Center, 8.6 points per game
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