One season ago, there was curiosity and a guarded optimism
surrounding the UCLA men’s basketball team. A stellar
freshman class was still unproven, but Bruin fans hoped they would
be the ones to lead the program back to glory. After an 18-11
season and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament, the attitude in
the program has changed. Despite a number of injuries, there
appears to be a definite sense of confidence and optimism inside
Pauley Pavilion. With practice set to begin Friday, and with last
year’s freshman class ready to lead the Bruins as sophomores,
the team exuded confidence Wednesday at UCLA media day. “I
think we’re a lot more comfortable and confident, and
we’re passing that down to the freshmen,” sophomore
point guard Jordan Farmar said. “Us being confident and
having a year and knowing what to expect will guide the team in the
right direction.” The optimism that is so visible in Farmar,
a self-described “natural-born leader,” is visible in
many of the Bruins. After going 11-7 in the Pac-10 and losing to
Texas Tech in the first round of the NCAA Tournament last season,
UCLA appears eager to improve this season. “It’s
definitely a new day and age for this team,” sophomore guard
Arron Afflalo said. “We expect nothing less than Final Four.
We definitely have the personnel to do it.” Those are lofty
goals for a team without its leading scorer and rebounder from last
season. With Dijon Thompson now in the NBA, there is certainly a
void to be filled, and coach Ben Howland, now in his third season
at UCLA, will look to his returning players to fill it.
“Those guys have to step their level up,” Howland said.
“They know what it’s about. They’ve been here
before.” The team returns four of five starters from last
season, including Pac-10 Freshman of the Year Farmar, sophomore
guards Afflalo and Josh Shipp, and senior center Michael Fey.
Shipp, who underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right hip on Sept.
28, won’t be available until December, and Fey has a severe
groin pull that will take two to three weeks to fully heal. The
Bruins will also be without the services of freshman forward Alfred
Aboya, who underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee
Wednesday, for four to five weeks. And though the injuries are
certainly a disappointment for the Bruins, the team can’t
help but be excited to start practice and open up the season.
UCLA’s first exhibition game is Nov. 4 against Carleton
University of Canada. “Any time you come off a season where
you had success, where you’re back in the tournament and you
won with a young team, everybody is very optimistic and ready to
get started,” Howland said. “The only disappointment is
that we’re not completely healthy.” Though no team
wants to deal with injuries, Howland said he would much rather face
injury problems at the beginning of the season than the end. The
injury to Shipp should allow senior guard Cedric Bozeman, who
missed all of last season with a torn ACL, to make an immediate
contribution. Freshman guards Darren Collison and Michael Roll and
freshman forwards Ryan Wright and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute will
also compete for playing time. “A number of them are going to
have an opportunity to play right away, depending on how they play
in practice and in the games,” Howland said. This Bruin team,
however, seems to be Farmar’s. The second-leading scorer on
the team last season, the Bruin sophomore is embracing his role.
“I think Coach Howland is more comfortable with the leaders
he has, with me and Arron coming back,” Farmar said.
“He’s just kind of letting us lead, to do what
we’re supposed to do and what comes naturally. We’re
taking the challenge on and we’re loving it.”
DRIBBLERS: The status of Janou Rubin, who has
been petitioning the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility, is still
up in the air. Rubin missed the final 19 games last season with a
knee injury that required surgery. … The Bruins are ranked
between 15th and 25th in most preseason polls.
With reports by Seth Fast Glass, Bruin Sports senior
staff.