Another different starting lineup.
Another batch of injuries.
Another closer-than-expected contest for UCLA against an
early-season opponent, this time a 69-57 victory over Coppin State
at Pauley Pavilion on Sunday afternoon.
Nothing changes for the Bruins, which is to say, everything
does.
Jordan Farmar, who only five days earlier feared he had a stress
fracture in his right foot and was doubtful to see the court
against the Eagles, played.
Michael Fey (sprained ankle) and Lorenzo Mata (concussion), who
combined for 27 minutes in UCLA’s last game on Tuesday
against Albany, didn’t.
Freshman Ryan Wright started at center in the first half.
Freshman Alfred Aboya started at center in the second half.
Amid all the changes, the Bruins still came out of the locker
room the same way they have many times this season ““
slowly.
In the first half, UCLA trailed by as many as nine points to
winless Coppin State (0-6), a team that won’t play its first
home game until Jan. 14. The Bruins easily made up that deficit in
the second half, as they out-scored the Eagles 39-22 in the final
20 minutes.
“It’s always tough when you know a team is 0-5, but
that’s no excuse,” said sophomore Arron Afflalo, who
once again led the Bruins in scoring with 20 points.
“It’s college basketball. Every team can beat you on
any given night. It shouldn’t be that tough, to tell you the
truth.”
For the Bruins, it’s almost as tough as keeping their
players healthy from one day to the next.
UCLA (6-1) couldn’t even survive a simple intra-squad
competition earlier in the week without having to schedule more
X-rays and MRIs.
Unhappy with the production from his big men, UCLA coach Ben
Howland issued a challenge to his frontcourt players in practices
leading up to his team’s match-up with Coppin State.
Grab the most rebounds, start at center on Sunday.
Thirty minutes into the first practice, however, Mata’s
legs came out from beneath him and the sophomore hit his head
against the court, suffering what Howland called a
“significant” concussion. Mata should be able to
participate in practices starting Tuesday.
Three plays later, Fey, who had been leading the rebounding
competition, suffered a freak injury when he sprained his ankle
without being touched. He is not expected to play until UCLA heads
to Michigan on Dec. 17.
That left the battle between Wright and senior Ryan Hollins,
which the freshman won by three rebounds.
“We’re not getting any consistent performance from
that position,” Howland said. “I started practice on
Thursday saying whoever gets the most rebounds was going to be the
starter. Unfortunately, two players went down a half hour
later.
“It’s unbelievable. We were really having a good,
intense practice.” Howland said.
Despite the limited production from the big men, the final box
score would indicate the Bruins played one of their better
all-around games of the season.
Still, there were no pleasantries exchanged after the win.
Instead, the Bruins found themselves answering the same questions
they’ve faced after similar victories over seemingly inferior
teams, something that Afflalo could only respond to with a sheepish
grin.
Like the five victories that preceded Sunday afternoon’s,
the Bruins know they have a lot to work on before the brunt of
their schedule kicks in, but they are finding less and less time to
do it.
“If you don’t show up ready to play every night, you
run the risk of losing,” Howland said. “We can beat or
lose to anybody on a given night. It’s all a matter if you
show up.”