Over the past few months, Michelle Greco has spent more time
camped in front of the television than outside the three-point
arc.
Sidelined since last December because of a history of mild
concussions, the fifth-year senior spent hours each day analyzing
the game film from last season’s 20-loss fiasco. She was
usually dissatisfied with what she saw.
"We just needed to get meaner,” Greco said. “Meaner
and more aggressive.”
A nagging ankle injury has kept her from practicing consistently
since fall camp ended Oct. 12, but the former all-conference guard
is optimistic as she looks at the upcoming season. While finishing
near the cellar of the Pac-10 the last two years has gotten old,
the team itself has gotten younger.
Five heralded freshmen will don the blue and gold this winter
including Parade All-American Nikki Blue, one of the top prep
guards in the nation last year.
“Nikki’s a great player and a great ball
handler,” Greco said. “She sees the floor really well,
and she looks to pass first. She is definitely going to help our
team.”
UCLA will play frenetic, up-tempo basketball this season, and
Blue should be one of the focal points offensively. One of six
guards who figure to play significant minutes for the Bruins, the
5-foot-8 freshman could start alongside Greco and senior point
guard Natalie Nakase in the season opener at Hawaii on Nov. 23.
Whether Blue is in the lineup or not, UCLA will depend on her to
create her own shot. Over the past two years, the Bruins have
lacked the offensive firepower to support Greco, but this season
Blue will take some of the burden off her shoulders.
“When it’s time to score, I will score,” Blue
said. “If Michelle and I are on the court together,
it’s a one-two punch. They are going to have to play us
pretty even.”
The Bruin backcourt exudes athleticism and poise, but the front
court is much more of a question mark.
Led by 6-foot-7 center Sissy Pickett and 6-foot-1 forward Jamila
Veasley, UCLA’s interior game is unproven and inexperienced.
Head coach Kathy Olivier believes the group must continue to get
better if the Bruins are to reach their potential this season.
“Our posts have improved a lot, but they still have a
level to go,” the tenth-year head coach said. “It makes
me a little bit nervous. They have to focus on setting good screens
and rebounding.”
Olivier is aware that her squad’s interior defense may not
be up to par, and she plans to employ full court pressure to
compensate. The Bruins will run waves of fresh bodies at their
opponents to try to capitalize on their athleticism and depth.
“We are going to use our quickness to our advantage, and
hopefully our defense will generate our offense,” Olivier
said.
“Maybe other teams won’t get the ball into the front
court because we will be putting so much pressure on
them.”
With an arduous slate of games ahead of them including a trip to
Georgia Dec. 6, the young Bruins will have to play with composure
and consistency. Nonetheless, the return of Greco and a talented
quintet of newcomers give the Bruins reason to believe that they
could end their two-year postseason drought in 2003.
“Having to watch the team sitting on the bench was very
difficult,” Greco said. “It was frustrating, but it
turned into a positive for me in the long run. We’re faster,
more athletic, and we can press this year.”
“We have a talented team. I can’t wait to
contribute.”