This close.
That’s how far the UCLA women’s basketball team was
from earning an NCAA bid last year.
So what’s it going to take for this year’s Bruin
squad to advance to the postseason? Well, for one thing, they are
going to have to grow up.
And soon.
A total of 11 underclassmen ““ five freshmen and six
sophomores ““ are on the Bruins’ roster, including eight
who see significant playing time. It’s a wonder UCLA coach
Kathy Olivier didn’t pass out pacifiers along with playbooks
at the start of practice in October.
And while the Bruin babies have each displayed flashes of
potential in the first four games of the season, their inexperience
has also been exposed.
A gut-wrenching 53-52 loss to St. Mary’s on Saturday
highlighted the growing pains that this team seems to be
enduring.
The Bruins never found a rhythm in the halfcourt offense against
the upset-minded Gaels, as they blew a nine-point second-half lead
against a team picked to finish near the bottom of the West Coast
Conference ““ not exactly the type of result you’d want
from a team hoping to make a run at a national ranking later this
season.
Earlier in the season, UCLA was within a basket of No. 2 Texas
when senior Jamila Veasley went down with a shoulder injury. With
sophomores Emma Tautolo and Julia Pitts and freshman Amanda
Livingston playing in her stead, the Longhorns’ Tiffany
Jackson gave the young Bruins an education.
Most of Jackson’s 19 points and 12 rebounds came against
the frazzled Bruin back-ups as Texas trounced UCLA 89-58.
“Some of our players weren’t ready for the challenge
against Texas,” Olivier said. “We were taken off
guard.”
The Bruins played 20 solid minutes against Texas, and performed
well in spurts against the Gaels, but they have yet to put a
complete game together.
That cannot keep happening if UCLA is going to find its way back
to the NCAA Tournament.
At the beginning of the season, there were fears that UCLA would
not be able to account for losing of Michelle Greco’s 18.9
points per game to graduation.
In retrospect, they’ve got plenty of players who can
score. It’s Greco’s leadership they appear to be
missing.
Time and time again last season, Greco would bail the Bruins out
in the half-court offense, taking her opponent 1-on-1 and drilling
a key shot. Her heart, desire and sheer will to win made up for any
weaknesses the team may have had on the court.
A Michelle Greco-led team would not have lost to St.
Mary’s.
Olivier indicated that Veasley and sophomore Nikki Blue have
taken more of a leadership role this season.
That’s a good sign for UCLA because right now leadership
is what they’re missing. Aside from a true center, I
suppose.
Prior to the season, I had a conversation with assistant coach
Tia Jackson, and I asked about her impressions of this year’s
squad. Jackson was very succinct in her interpretation of the
current status of the Bruin program.
“I hope our youth does not outshine our talent,” she
said.
Four games into the season, the jury is definitely still
out.
With upcoming games against Big-10 powers Purdue, Michigan State
and Ohio State, the inexperienced Bruins will have to learn on the
fly.
If they make better decisions offensively and don’t panic
in pressure situations, the squad could pull off a few crucial
victories and maybe get back to the NCAA Tournament.
Right now the Bruins are still this close.