With the UCLA men’s basketball season just around the
corner, coach Ben Howland gave fans reason to begin cheering early
by opening Sunday afternoon’s practice to all students.
Bruin fans got a chance to see members of this year’s
team, old and new, showcase their skills before anyone else, an
experience that left many of them making predictions about the
upcoming season and which players would have the biggest roles and
impacts.
“It’s a good chance to see a lot of new players that
you haven’t seen before,” second-year student Neil
Joshi said.
“You get to see some new recruits and you get to see how
much some guys have improved since March.”
Among the favorites were sophomore Darren Collison, redshirt
sophomore Josh Shipp and junior Arron Afflalo. Students were also
able to witness the play of freshmen Nikola Dragovic and James
Keefe, while freshman Russell Westbrook did not participate in
practice on Sunday.
“The play of the freshmen impressed me and it provided
some hope,” fourth-year student Matt Crisafulli said.
“I think Dragovic could potentially provide a good spark
off the bench, and Keefe hit a couple of big shots,” Joshi
added.
Upon entering Pauley Pavilion, students were first able to watch
the Bruins run through some drills before they prepared for a
five-on-five scrimmage. Perhaps the most intriguing combination of
the practice came when Afflalo and Shipp took the back court
together for the first time since Shipp’s season-ending
injury last year.
“This year I think we’re really going to see how
well they play together,” third-year student Ivan Villalobos
said.
With Jordan Farmar no longer in the lineup, the Bruins seem to
have found great faith in Collison, who has also seemed to have won
over several fans with his play in the scrimmage, showing
improvement in several facets of the game including his
ball-handling, passing and outside shot.
At one point in the second half, Collison took over the game,
knocking down two consecutive three-pointers, hitting two free
throws, and dishing out an assist to put his team ahead with just
over 20 seconds remaining.
“Even though we lost Farmar, Collison looked good out
there today in the scrimmage leading his team,” Villalobos
said.
Upon the conclusion of the scrimmage, Howland walked toward the
area in which students were seated and acknowledged them for their
support.
“We do this because you are the most important fans and I
look forward to seeing you out here on Thursday,” he
said.
The Bruins will open up their pre-season on Thursday at Pauley
Pavilion against Cal Poly Pomona at 7:30 p.m.
UCLA’s regular season opener is scheduled for Nov. 15 at
home against BYU with a 7:30 tip-off.
DRIBBLERS: Farmar watched Sunday’s
practice with Los Angeles Lakers teammate Devin Green. … Junior
Lorenzo Mata was seen doing rehabilitation exercises on the
sideline and shooting free-throws. … The scheduled slam-dunk
contest did not take place after the scrimmage, but the Bruins had
several jams during the game, provoking the loudest cheers of the
afternoon.