Call it welcome weekend for the UCLA men’s basketball team.
Last weekend three of the Bruins’ senior veterans ““ point guard Darren Collison, guard Josh Shipp and forward/center Alfred Aboya ““ introduced the team’s five incoming freshmen to the tenacious pace of UCLA practices.
“We have a lot of young guys, and they don’t necessarily know how hard to go in practice,” Collison said. “That’s where the veterans have to step up.”
The Bruins held three practices over the weekend; they will have just 15 more practices and two exhibitions before their first game against Prairie View A&M on Nov. 12. Last year the Bruins had 20 practices before the start of the season, but they had a much more experienced team and only two incoming freshman.
Coach Ben Howland has kept things basic so far in practice ““ the team hasn’t worked on its press offense or installed a single play.
“I think our young guys have come along and done a good job,” Howland said. “There’s a lot of things to learn in a short amount of time.”
Although this team will rely heavily on its freshmen, it was clear that the senior leadership is already a crucial factor.
Aboya expects to see the most minutes of his career this season, after playing about 15 minutes per game last season. He’s focusing on limiting his fouls in order to stay on the court longer.
“He knows when to be aggressive,” Collison said. “But he understands that we need him on the court.”
Aboya has battled freshman center J’Mison “Bobo” Morgan so far in practice, which Howland believes will only benefit Morgan, a highly touted recruit from Texas who has needed work on his conditioning.
“I thought Bobo did a great job scoring ““ he has good hands and he’s long,” Howland said. “He has to go against Alfred every day ““ that’s a tough deal for a freshman.”
Howland also praised Collison and Shipp.
After struggling against bigger Memphis guards in last year’s final four, Collison added 10 pounds of muscle this offseason. Howland said that he could easily see the difference, even after just a few practices.
“Collison is definitely stronger and more powerful,” Howland said. “It makes him faster, quicker, bigger and stronger. He’s just better in every way.”
Shipp, on the other hand, has trimmed down to 205 pounds and is now playing even better perimeter defense, Collison said.
FAB FIVE?: Howland said he liked what he saw from each of the freshman in practice: forward Drew Gordon, guards Jrue Holiday, Malcolm Lee and Jerime Anderson, and Morgan.
Morgan has received the most attention so far because he is expected to replace phenom Kevin Love and because the Bruins’ lack depth at the post positions. Gordon should see plenty of playing time at both forward and center for the same reasons, although Howland said Gordon has been dealing with a nagging knee injury.
Anderson did not play much this summer because of a groin injury, but he played for about an hour in each of the Bruins’ last practices and Howland was impressed.
Holiday and Lee had good days even though they were forced to cover Collison and Shipp.
“Jrue and Malcolm did a great job and competed real well,” Howland said.
ROLL-ING: Guard Michael Roll is back to full form after a foot injury sidelined him for most of last season.
Roll played in 36 games as a sophomore, but missed all but six games last season because of the foot injury. The NCAA granted him a redshirt year, so he starts this year as a redshirt junior with two years of eligibility remaining.
“Michael Roll is playing well: He’s practicing and he looks good, like he did a year ago before he got hurt,” Howland said.