M. hoops looking
for final piece of
its starting puzzle
Harrick uncertain
of who will fill his
fifth starting spot
By Randy Satterburg
Daily Bruin Staff
The UCLA men’s basketball team has completed four-fifths of the
jigsaw puzzle that is the Bruins’ starting line-up, but head coach
Jim Harrick said at his weekly press conference Tuesday that he
will look long and hard before permanently laying down the final
piece as he searches for the perfect fit.
Sophomore guard Cameron Dollar drew the starting nod in the
Bruins’ season opener vs. Cal State Northridge on Saturday, but
freshman Toby Bailey started the second half.
According to Harrick both Dollar and Bailey have earned the
right to get consideration for the fifth starting spot, but it also
could have been either Marquis Burns or J.R. Henderson just as
easily. Dollar is the fifth starter as it stands, but Harrick says
he plans to consider several other players for potential starting
spots as well.
"I just want to give each of them an opportunity to play with
the four starters and show what they can do," Harrick said.
* * *
Another player who would be in prime contention for a starting
role is freshman Kris Johnson, who has displayed the best scoring
touch among the Bruins newcomers in the preseason. However, Johnson
has been hobbled by a sprained ankle, a sprained wrist and now a
stress fracture in the fibula of his left leg. He scored four
points and grabbed four rebounds at less than full strength against
Northridge.
He is now in a walking boot, and will miss practice this week,
as well as Saturday’s game against Kentucky.
Johnson will see the university’s orthopedic doctor today for a
more accurate prognosis.
* * *
With Johnson and the Bruins’ three other freshmen trying to get
acclimated to college basketball, Harrick has been presented with
some interesting dilemmas.
Harrick likes his teams to play strong man-to-man defense, but
he says that the Bruins need to be able to use a zone at times too.
UCLA went to a zone a couple of times against Northridge, but with
mixed results.
"I didn’t like it," Harrick said. "We were a little bit
lethargic and one of our freshmen forgot we were in a zone."
Harrick was more pleased with the Bruins zone press against
Northridge. UCLA used this tactic 30 times, giving up four baskets
but making eight plays that led to scoring opportunities, along
with countless hurried shots.
"The press worked well against Northridge, but every team will
try to attack it differently," Harrick said.
* * *
With Arizona and Arkansas suffering defeats last week, UCLA
advanced to No. 4 in the USA Today/CNN poll, earning three
first-place votes in the process. The Bruins’ next opponent,
Kentucky, is ranked one place ahead of UCLA at No. 3.