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| | Tuesday, November 2 | |||||||||||||||
COACH AND PROGRAM
EARL WATSON (6-0, 183 lbs., JR, PG, #25, 13.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 4.6 apg, 1.6 spg, 34.0 minutes, .435 FG, .320 3PT, .703 FT, Washington HS/Kansas City, Kan.) Often obscured in the shadow of backcourt mate Baron Davis, Watson gets the chance to emerge as the leader of the Bruins. Lavin is convinced Watson is ready for the assignment. "I think he's probably the most underrated player in the conference the last two years because his game is very understated," Lavin said. "His contributions are sometimes subtle. But when you look at his numbers at the end of the season, they're as impressive as anybody at his position. "Then you look at some of the intangible areas. "He's started 61 straight games, he's sort of an iron man." Watson will shift from off-guard to the point this year, but the transition may hardly be noticeable. In order to keep Davis fresh the past two years, Lavin didn't require his point to shoulder all the ballhandling. Instead, he shared it with whichever player presented the most favorable matchup against pressure. Two years ago, for instance, forward J.R. Henderson often brought the ball up court against the press. "Earl needs to improve his assist-to-turnover ratio (142-to-127)," Lavin said, "but I think he'll have less turnovers at the point. He'll be concentrating more on that one thing." Certainly the Bruins don't want a replay of the San Francisco game, in which Watson committed 10 turnovers against just two assists. Nine times last year, Watson coughed the ball up at least five times. It's also possible Watson may not score as much as he did a year ago, when he reached double figures 25 times in 31 games. He scored a season-high 24 points at Washington. Either way, Lavin doesn't minimize his importance. "Earl brings stability as a leader," Lavin said. "He's prepared to step forward and take the lead on and off the floor." JARON RUSH (6-6, 210 lbs., SO, SF, #4, 11.4 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 0.9 apg, 1.6 spg, 28.1 minutes, .372 FG, .265 3PT, .624 FT, Pembroke Hill HS/Kansas City, Mo.) The statistic that stands out most boldly among all that Rush compiled last year was not the fact that he led the Bruins in most shot attempts per minutes played, at one per every 2.55 minutes. No, Rush's greatest statistical statement was the fact that, at 6-6, he led the Bruins in rebounding. It's a quality even Lavin didn't expect to see. But Rush plays the game at such a ferocious pace, with such vigor, that rebounding is just a natural extension of his will to get the ball. "On the floor, he's extremely competitive," Lavin said. "He has no concern for life or limb, so he plays with almost a recklessness and a passion about the game that fans really enjoy. We worry sometimes about his well-being. Even in practice, he's always sprawled out. He'll come down head-first sometimes." Rush's 7.3 rpg is the second-highest figure by a UCLA freshman, behind only Don MacLean's 7.5 mark in 1989. In Pac-10 play, he was sixth in the conference at 8.2 rpg. Now Lavin wants to see Rush round out his game, and also improve his off-the-court habits. He served a one-game suspension last year for reporting back to campus late after the Christmas holidays, missing two practices and the Loyola Marymount game. "We're looking for him to make the next step in terms of maturity as a student and as an athlete," said Lavin, suggesting that by doing so Rush will make himself more dependable and attractive as a starter. On the floor, Rush has skills that could make him a force. He scored 19 points vs. Santa Clara in his college debut, and went on to hit double figures in 15 more games during the season. He had 20 points and 11 rebounds at Stanford, and scored a career-high 23 points vs. Syracuse. In the team's final four games, Rush contributed three double-doubles, including a 15-rebound performance vs. Washington. JEROME MOISO (6-10, 230 lbs., SO, PF, #0, 10.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 0.9 bpg, 23.8 minutes, .487 FG, .250 3PT, .615 FT, Milford Academy, Conn./Paris, France) Born in the West Indies and raised as a teenager in Paris, Moiso arrived in Westwood already a worldly young man. On the court, his game showed some polish, too. He started 21 games as a freshman and scored in double figures 16 times. His breakthrough game was a 25-point effort early in the season vs. Kentucky, and he followed that with a 21-point, 11-rebound performance vs. Loyola Marymount and a 21-point outing vs. Arizona. Something of an elastic man in traffic near the basket, Moiso can also step away from the paint and be effective facing the hoop. Lavin compares him to a young Sam Perkins. But again, Moiso's youth showed at times. He scored in double figures just once in the Bruins' final 11 games (sitting out two of those) and his shooting dipped badly. "Like all young kids, when they kind of hit the wall, sometimes he struggles with his confidence, which baffles us because we see this 6-10 player who has all these skills and is such a unique kind of package," Lavin said. "Sometimes he'll say he doesn't want to shoot the ball. 'I don't feel it tonight, coach.' Or he'll say, 'Maybe I shouldn't start tonight.' I've never heard that from another player. "I just tell him, 'You keep shooting and I'll worry about the rest of it.'" After shooting just 1-for-12 against Stanford while battling a sore foot, Moiso told Lavin, "See coach, I told you, not tonight." The story makes Lavin laugh, but he's convinced if the coaching staff can bolster Moiso's up-and-down confidence he will become an even more productive player. DAN GADZURIC (6-10, 245 lbs., SO, C, #50, 8.6 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.3 bpg, 20.0 minutes, .540 FG, .500 FT, Governor Dummer Academy, Mass./Dem Haag, The Netherlands) The Dutch native, who arrived at UCLA a year ago amid much recruiting fanfare, had a season typical of foreign freshmen. He was, at times, impressive, then seemingly lost. But this is a young man with a strong, lively body and he will only get better as he learns the game. "Just look at the scores when he was in the game and when he wasn't," Lavin said. "He should be a force at both ends of the floor. When you look across the country, he has to be in the handful of top post players." Avoiding foul problems will be a key to Gadzuric's development. "Some of that just comes with experience, getting a better feel for how the college game is played and how it's officiated," Lavin said. "Both Dan and Jerome (Moiso) have to work on using foot speed and quickness to their advantage. But Dan's like (Alonzo) Mourning was [in college]. He's the focal point." Gadzuric was a sporadic contributor to the Bruins' offense, scoring in double figures 11 times, with a season-high of 16 points vs. Southern California. Developing a less predictable repertoire of offensive moves was high on Gadzuric's off-season "to-do" list. "He just needs more reps in practice," Lavin said. "The important things are there. He's coachable, he listens." Gadzuric missed the final six games of the season after tearing the meniscus in his left knee. He underwent successful arthroscopic surgery Feb. 25. But Gadzuric will continue to battle recurring tendonitis in his knees. Said Lavin: "He'll have to find ways to manage that through the season." RAY YOUNG (6-3, 195 lbs., SO, SG, #34, 5.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 0.6 apg, 16.1 minutes, .469 FG, .408 3PT, .704 FT, St. Joseph-Notre Dame HS/Alameda, Calif.) Saddled with the baggage of being the highest-rated recruit from his high school since Jason Kidd, Young struggled early in the season. It's the way he responded to those tough times that impressed his coach. "He never allowed his spirits to get down, he never made excuses," Lavin said. "Instead, he just decided to out-work other people. He could have easily blamed it on the coaching staff, said we were playing politics, decided to transfer. Instead, he dug in." After averaging just 3.5 ppg through seven games, Young came alive with a 14-point effort vs. Northridge State. He reached double figures four times in Pac-10 play, and scored 11 in the NCAA loss to Detroit. More importantly, his minutes on the floor soared. "Ray was our most improved player over the course of the season," Lavin said. "He made quantum leaps, week-to-week. The biggest thing is he sustained a high level of intensity through a 2-to-3 hour practice, then did the same thing in the game. In spurts, he was as effective as anyone on the team." In particular, Young earned his keep with spirited defensive play. "He turned himself into kind of a defensive stopper for us," Lavin said.KEY RESERVES RYAN BAILEY (6-1, 210 lbs., JR, G, #21, 4.2 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 1.7 apg,15.2 minutes, .454 FG, .393 3PT, .583 FT, Loyola HS/Los Angeles, Calif.) The younger brother of former Bruin Toby Bailey, Ryan started five games last season after transferring from Penn State. He scored in double figures three times, and figures to operate as a backup to Watson at the point. "The biggest thing is his experience," Lavin said. "Hopefully, he'll stabilize our team." MATT BARNES (6-7, 229 lbs., SO, F, #23, 3.9 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 13.1 minutes, .434 FG, .294 3PT, .478 FT, Del Campo HS/Fair Oaks, Calif) The talk last spring was that Barnes was considering transferring. "We heard the rumors," Lavin conceded. Fortunately for the Bruins, Barnes decided to stay put. "His upside is good. His career is going to blossom," Lavin said. "He's just versatile. That's what I like about our team in general." Barnes actually played point guard in high school, although he is primarily a small forward for UCLA. "He's difficult to match up with," Lavin said. The Bruins want to see Barnes become a more aggressive defensive player. With his size and quickness, Lavin believes the lean sophomore can help pressure the ball, as well as rebound better. Barnes has been declared academically ineligible for the fall quarter and will miss at least four regular-season games, however. The fall quarter began Sept. 30 and final examinations are scheduled for Dec. 13-17. Barnes' academic status will be re-evaluated following finals.Barnes started eight games last year, scoring a season-high 11 points against Northridge State. BILLY KNIGHT (6-5, 196 lbs., SO, G/F, #3, 2.8 ppg, 0.9 rpg, 6.0 minutes, .444 FG, .387 3PT, .727 FT in 1997-98, Westchester HS/Los Angeles, Calif.) Knight suffered a severe groin strain in fall camp last season and was redshirted. Lavin expects him to return a physically stronger player, having also spent time working on his perimeter shooting and his defense. "When he gets an open look, he's a real threat," Lavin said. "With him back, and Kapono, we picked up [two] long-distance shooters." Knight scored a career-high 15 points his freshman season against Cal State Fullerton in his only start of the season. JASON KAPONO (6-8, 210 lbs., FR, F, #24, 23.5 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 7.6 apg, 3.3 spg, 1.4 bpg, .925 FT, Lakewood HS/Artesia, Calif.) Kapono is just what the doctor ordered for the Bruins fundamentally sound, a good shooter, a player who will blend with others. "Jason Kapono is a guy who makes other people better," Oregon State coach Eddie Payne said. Playing at the same high school that produced former UCLA stars Ed and Charles O'Bannon, Kapono earned first-team All-America honors from McDonald's, Parade and Street & Smith's. He led Artesia HS to a 32-2 record and a spot in the Southern California large-school championship game. Lavin is so optimistic about what Kapono will bring to the team he won't discount the possibility the versatile freshman could win a starting job. "I think he has a chance to be as skilled a player offensively as we've had for an incoming freshman in some time," Lavin said. "He has that kind of basketball IQ, an understanding of the game and of things you can't really teach. He has a tremendous feel, a Larry Bird sort of sixth sense about where his teammates are." Lavin compared him to a young J.R. Henderson, "but he's more of a three-point threat." Even as a forward, Kapono could become something of a playmaker for the Bruins, the coach added. Because Kapono can play several spots on the floor, Lavin said he'll allow the Bruins to utilize a small, pressing unit or a bigger, more physical lineup at varying times.OTHER RETURNEES RICO HINES (6-4, 213 lbs., JR, G/F, #22, 2.5 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 12.6 minutes, .383 FG, .333 3PT, .438 FT, Hargrave Military Academy, Va./Greenville, N.C.) Hines missed 11 games at mid-season after fracturing the fifth metatarsal bone in his right foot. A pin was inserted during surgery Jan. 14, and he returned to play sparingly in the final six games of the season. Before being injured, Hines scored a season-high 11 points vs. Delaware State. "He's probably always going to work his way in there somehow because he's a guy who works so hard and has so much energy," Lavin said. SEAN FARNHAM (6-6, 213 lbs., SR, F, #30, 1.6 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 7.9 minutes, .591 FG, .571 FT, De La Salle HS/Clayton, Calif.) A former walk-on, Farnham is the Bruins' only senior. "With his work ethic, he's kind of the model student-athlete," Lavin said. "When he gets into the game, something always seems to happen." The Bruins were 6-0 last year when Farnham started, until losing to Detroit in the NCAA opener. TODD RAMASAR (6-5, 209 lbs., JR, G/F, #11, 0.8 ppg, 0.2 rpg, 2.7 minutes, .231 FG, .667 FT, Riverside North HS/Corona, Calif.) A walk-on, Ramasar played in 13 games last year, up from six as a freshman. He has yet to achieve double-figure totals for minutes or points in a game.OTHER NEWCOMERS NONE. SPENCER GLOGER (6-6, 190 lbs., FR, F/G, #10, 23.7 ppg, 6.0 rpg, .530 FG, .460 3PT, .770 FT, Santa Margarita Catholic HS/Mission Viejo, Calif.) who signed a grant-in-aid to attend UCLA last May, changed his mind and has enrolled at Princeton. A grant-in-aid, unlike a letter of intent, does not guarantee that the athlete must attend the school where he signed. "Spencer wanted to go to a program where he could make a major immediate impact as a freshman," Lavin said. "With four starters back, along with seven other experienced lettermen, it would have been difficult for him to do that at UCLA this year. "I think Spencer is a talented player who would have contributed to our program this year and whose contributions would have increased throughout his UCLA career. But I understand his reasoning for going to Princeton."STARTERS NOT RETURNING BARON DAVIS (6-3, PG, 15.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 5.1 apg, 2.5 spg, 30.7 minutes, .481 FG, .343 3PT, .599 FT) Davis overcame a serious knee injury sustained during the NCAA Tournament his freshman year to become an All-Pac-10 player and the Bruins' MVP last season. Then, without argument from anyone familiar with his skills, he departed for the NBA. The Charlotte Hornets made Davis the third overall pick of the draft. A third-team Associated Press All-America, Davis regained much of the awesome explosiveness that defines his game, also adding savvy to his raw, natural abilities. Lavin knows the Bruins certainly will miss Davis' game-breaking talents. "You knew that you had someone who could make things happen either for himself or his teammates with the clock running down," Lavin said. "He's a tremendous weapon with the ball in his hands. As a result, defenses had to load up on him." Davis averaged 11.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg and 5.0 apg as a freshman before torn ligaments in his left knee ended his season in a second-round NCAA victory over Michigan. He was named to the Basketball Times Freshman All-America team and was chosen as the Pac-10 Freshman of the Year. Last season, Davis was held out of the club's first four games, then debuted with nine points and four assists in a 16-minute stint vs. Delaware State. Lavin continued to use him sparingly during the non-conference schedule, but by the start of the Pac-10 slate, Davis was ready to cut loose. He scored 20 points in the league opener vs. Arizona and reached double figures in every game the rest of the season. He scored a season-high 27 points at California, then matched that total a week later vs. Syracuse.OTHERS NOT RETURNING TRAVIS REED (6-7, F, 5.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 15.9 minutes, .500 FG, .447 FT) A versatile frontcourt player, Reed announced last spring he was transferring. Initially he indicated Oklahoma was his destination, but ultimately he chose Long Beach State, closer to home. "UCLA had always been a dream of mine," Reed said. "[But] I wasn't playing my total game at UCLA. At Long Beach State, I believe I'll be able to show my skills." In two seasons at UCLA, Reed played in 58 of 64 games, starting seven times, and averaging 4.7 ppg and 2.7 rpg. BRANDON LOYD (5-10, G, 2.8 ppg, 0.3 rpg, 7.6 minutes, 17 appearances, .381 FG, .400 3PT) Loyd, the only senior on last year's squad, was pretty much relegated to spot duty or mop-up action. Once an intriguing recruit out of Tulsa, Okla., mainly because of his long-range shooting ability, Loyd never evolved into more than a role player, and even that opportunity diminished with time.QUESTIONS A "go-to" guy? Without Baron Davis, who takes the big shot when it really matters? There is plenty of talent here, but someone has to step forward at crunch time. Health? The Bruins were left shorthanded up front at times last year when big men Gadzuric and Moiso were out with injuries. There is still not enough depth in the frontcourt to compensate if either is sidelined again. Shooting? The Bruins missed 292 free throws and 334 three-pointers last year. Can they reduce those numbers this season?ANSWERS Sophomores! Five of the most talented freshmen in the country last season have become sophomores, and that can only be good news. Balance! Without Davis, the Bruins will necessarily become a more balanced club, which could make them more difficult to defend. Earl Watson! Watson has played the role of second banana in quiet, efficient style the past two seasons. Now it's his turn to show what he can do as The Man.
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