In his first two exhibition games, junior Ryan Hollins seemed to
be drifting. He attempted only one field goal and scored a total of
four points in those games, and coach Ben Howland admitted that
Hollins was still adjusting to basketball after missing nearly the
entire offseason while recovering from knee surgery. But in the
first game that actually counted, Hollins made it immediately
apparent that his adjustment period is over. The 7-foot junior
dominated the first eight minutes of play, grabbing five rebounds,
scoring four points, and blocking a shot. Foul trouble caused him
to sit out the rest of the first half, but at the break, Hollins
was still the Bruin’s leading rebounder. Once back in the
lineup, he picked up right where he left off, and finished the
night with 11 points on 4 of 5 shooting, was second on the team
with seven rebounds, and had two blocks in only 24 minutes.
“I was very happy with Ryan, he was one of the stars of the
game today,” Howland said. “He got into foul trouble
and that’s something he’s going to try to avoid, but I
was really pleased with his assertiveness. We need him to play like
he did today.” Had he not been burdened with fouls for such
long stretches, the lean and athletic leaper probably could have
finished with some awfully impressive numbers. “I felt those
were some pretty ticky-tack fouls, but you need to leave no doubt
in the minds of the officials,” Hollins said. “I can
definitely learn from that and try not put myself in that position
again.”
FEY STRUGGLES: While Hollins seems to have
found himself on the court, the Bruins’ other 7-footer is
still searching for his offense. While junior Michael Fey was
instrumental in holding Chicago State’s center Deji Akindele
scoreless (Akindele had been averaging 22 points per game coming
into to Saturday’s contest), Fey shot only 2-for-7, missing
easy layups and a pair of dunks off the back of the rim in the
opening minutes of play. “I think I’m just getting
nervous energy, rushing my shots, dropping the ball,” Fey
said. “Maybe I just need to take a deep breath instead of
getting the ball and going. I don’t think I’ve ever
missed a dunk in practice.” Howland, for his part,
isn’t concerned at the moment. “Mike is going to
continue to have those opportunities. He’s got to be ready to
get those catches and finish them.” MATA SPRAINS
ANKLE: Freshman forward Lorenzo Mata did not suit up for
Saturday’s game because of a sprained left ankle he suffered
in practice Friday. X-rays taken of the ankle were negative and
there is no discoloration or bruising. Howland said that this is
the first time Mata has ever had a sprained ankle, and as a result
it might take a longer time for the freshman to recover.
“That was really frustrating to see him go down at the end of
a short practice before the first game of the season,”
Howland said. “It’s just a little bit more painful when
it’s your first sprain.” Howland is not expecting Mata
to suit up for Tuesday’s game against Western Illinois, but
is hopeful that he will be available to practice Thursday.
KEEFE COMMITS: James Keefe, a 6-9 junior
forward from Santa Margarita High School, has verbally committed to
UCLA according to multiple published reports. Keefe, widely
considered one of the top-25 players in his class, will not be
eligible to play for the Bruins until the 2006-2007 season.