All throughout the preseason, coach Ben Howland and the rest of
the UCLA basketball team have been pummeled with questions about
the team’s game at the post.
How can this team cope with the loss of Ryan Hollins? How does
this team plan to get around their lack of depth inside? Who is
going to step up to the challenge?
Lorenzo Mata knows that a large part of the burden will fall to
him.
With big shoes to fill and increased hype surrounding the Bruins
after their Final Four run last season, Mata’s performance
could be pivotal to the Bruins’ success. But the
6-foot-9-inch junior center out of South Gate High School
isn’t panicking.
“I just go out there, have fun, and play
basketball,” Mata said. “I feel no pressure at
all.”
After making immense strides from his freshman year to his
sophomore year on the court, Mata left little doubt about what he
was capable of contributing to the team. The bigger question
surrounding Mata is whether or not he can stay healthy.
Mata battled through injuries last season and has been held out
of the Bruins’ first two preseason games after a recurrence
of his knee injury led him to another surgery in October.
Since then, Mata has made enough progress for Howland to declare
his availability tonight against Brigham Young, but the Bruins are
sure to keep a close eye on Mata’s knee throughout the
season.
“I’m not scared of being hurt again,” Mata
said. “I feel like I’m 100 percent now.
Conditioning-wise, maybe not ““ that’s something
I’ll continue to work on throughout the season ““ but I
don’t feel like I rushed back. I’m ready to
play.”
Coach Ben Howland is confident Mata will be able to fit in right
away.
“(Mata) did an amazing job last year when you consider
that he was out two and a half months with a broken leg,”
Howland said. “He came back and was a valuable contributor in
the Pac-10 Tournament and in the NCAA Tournament. He is amazingly
able to make a quick transition, in my opinion.”
If Mata is able to make it through the season, he will likely
make a difference for the Bruins. He is a player who had much to
learn about basketball when he came into the UCLA program and
struggled as a freshman.
But as a sophomore, with increased strength and, more
importantly, a better understanding of how to play his position,
Mata thrived on the defensive end as a shot blocker and rebounder.
He also started to show flashes on the offensive side of the
ball.
“I’ve learned pretty much everything (at UCLA). In
high school, I didn’t get to learn anything about being a
post player or anything. Pretty much, I was just taller than every
player, so I was just taught to go to the basket. Coach (Scott)
Garson, coach (Donny) Daniels and all the coaches here are just
great at teaching. … I’m still learning,” he
said.
Part of the reason the Bruins were so successful in the
postseason last year was the emergence of Ryan Hollins, who had
been a key defensive factor for the Bruins all year long but was
able to step up his offense down the stretch when the Bruins needed
it most. With Hollins gone this season, Mata thinks he is capable
of being the one who fills the void.
“Ryan Hollins played a huge part for us coming into the
tournament (last year), and I obviously have to help. You’ll
see me, I’m going to score. Coach wants somebody to score
inside, so I’m going to be that guy.”