If the saying about every cloud having a silver lining is true,
maybe UCLA’s injuries weren’t such a bad thing.
With every injury came chances; with chances came confidence;
and with confidence came a team that is arguably one of the deepest
in the country.
The college basketball postseason for the No. 13 Bruins (24-6,
14-4 Pac-10) is set to start Thursday, and the team knows it can
count on at least nine different players ““ five of them
freshmen ““ to make significant contributions.
And that’s how it’s been all season.
“Despite all the injuries, we’ve still had guys come
off the bench and play huge roles,” sophomore guard Arron
Afflalo said. “You expect what they’ve done, and
probably a little more now.”
“Every time somebody’s number was called, they
stepped up and got it done for their teammates,” sophomore
guard Jordan Farmar said. “It’s just like you’re
called to help out your brothers.”
“With all of the adversity we’ve had, I think
it’s really developed a lot of the younger players a lot
quicker,” coach Ben Howland said. “Therefore our depth
is really good right now.”
Last season, the team’s depth wasn’t so good. Only
eight players played significant minutes on last year’s 18-11
squad, and Farmar, the team’s only true point guard, had to
play 34.3 minutes per Pac-10 game.
This year, Farmar’s Pac-10 minutes are down to 29.3 per
game, and the team’s win total is up.
“It’s helped the team,” Farmar said. “To
me, that’s the most important thing. Darren (Collison) gets
in there and has his job, the things that he has to do, and I have
mine.”
Collison’s defensive presence has become increasingly
frustrating for opposing guards, and his ability to play the point
allows Farmar to move to shooting guard, giving Afflalo a
break.
Collison and the other freshmen have quietly become one of the
country’s most productive freshman classes, and are a major
reason for UCLA’s success.
All five freshmen average over 10 minutes per game, while Pac-10
Freshman of the Year Luc Richard Mbah a Moute has averaged 30
minutes per Pac-10 contest.
“The roster was kind of down when we came,” said
Mbah a Moute, who leads the team with 8.4 rebounds per game.
“I knew a bunch of us freshmen were going to have an impact
right away. Everybody just put the work in. It just happened that
we did a good job on that.”
While some could view the performance of players such as Mbah a
Moute, Collison and Michael Roll as a surprise, Afflalo
doesn’t see it that way.
“All of the guys on this team are very talented,”
Afflalo said. “That’s the luxury of the UCLA tradition
““ bringing in talented players.”
Having a deep team also forces players to challenge each other
for playing time in practice, so everyone improves.
In games, it’s nice to know there is someone sitting on
the bench who is ready and able to contribute.
“That kind of takes the weight off your back, in not
having to worry about playing all the time,” Mbah a Moute
said. “It also helps you keep fresh. You know you can give
your best effort, because you know when you get tired,
someone’s going to replace you.”
DRIBBLERS: Howland said sophomore center
Lorenzo Mata (broken right leg) would participate in a limited
capacity in Tuesday’s practice. He expressed doubts that Mata
would be able to make significant contributions anytime soon. …
As of Tuesday, Mbah a Moute still hadn’t told his parents
that he had been named Pac-10 Freshman of the Year. He planned to
call them Tuesday night.