Morgan adjusts role to help team

NEW YORK “”mdash; In high school, J’mison Morgan was always the man.

The 6-foot-10-inch center dominated at South Oak Cliff High School in Dallas, Texas. He was his team’s best scorer and defensive enforcer, the player everyone with the ball would look for.

But on Thursday and Friday, UCLA played in two close games and Morgan, now a freshman, sat and watched.

“It was real tough for me,” Morgan said. “I’m used to playing so much, and being the man on my team.”

Morgan is one of five talented freshmen on the UCLA basketball team this season, but he has played the fewest minutes.

He did not see any playing time in the Bruins’ loss to Michigan on Thursday night. He said it was the first time he had sat out a game since ninth grade.

Morgan played six minutes in the win over Southern Illinois and scored twice in the post. Anthony Booker, a 6-foot-8-inch Southern Illinois forward, drove past Morgan on one play.

“Where he struggled is being able to guard on the perimeter,” UCLA coach Ben Howland said. “But it’s good to get him in there; he looked to score and made two nice post moves.”

Morgan said that defending screens has been his biggest issue because he struggles to hedge against guards.

“I think it’s more of an intensity thing, and the hedging factor,” Morgan said. “That’s the only thing that’s holding me back right now.”

Howland has said that he does not want to play Morgan when the opponent does not have a true center for him to defend. But Howland has also said that Morgan may be the team’s second-best low-post scoring option.

Morgan said that if senior forward Alfred Aboya’s wrist injury is serious he might start in his place.

“If Aboya’s out, Morgan will definitely play more minutes,” Howland said.

X-rays on Aboya’s wrist in New York were negative, but UCLA said it would administer a precautionary MRI in Los Angeles as well.

Aboya had a career-high 22 points against Southern Illinois before injuring his wrist with three minutes remaining.

“I hurt it last night (against Michigan) after a charge and then again tonight when I drew that last charge,” Aboya said in a statement released after the X-rays were completed. “But I think I’ll be fine. We have tomorrow and Sunday off, so for me, I think that is enough time to heal. My body heals up pretty quickly.”

UCLA has an entire week off before its next game Saturday against Florida International and there has been no announcement about Aboya’s chances to play in that game.

Freshman guard Jrue Holiday said the burden would fall on the team’s freshmen big men, Morgan and Drew Gordon, if Aboya can’t play.

“The freshmen would have to step up,” Holiday said. “And I think they will.”

Morgan did not seem discouraged at the lack of playing time after the win against Southern Illinois. He said he’s improving defensively and that he’s been able to learn a lot about defensive positioning and taking charges from Aboya.

And although it’s a little strange for him to play only a small, contributing role, he said he’ll have no trouble adjusting.

“I’m willing to change my role for my team as long as we can win and compete for a championship,” he said. “I’m going to do whatever it takes.”

DRAGOVIC STEPS UP: Junior forward Nikola Dragovic played well in UCLA’s two games in New York.

The 6-foot-8-inch forward scored 11 points against Michigan and eight against Southern Illinois, his highest point totals since Nov. 12, 2007. He also hit a critical 3-pointer against Southern Illinois, when the score was tied at 48.

Howland said that Dragovic has been playing more because of how well he practices. His defense and rebounding have improved and he seems to be much more versatile offensively.

Dragovic missed the first exhibition game of the season as a part of discipline from UCLA coaches after he was arrested on suspicion of battery. No charges have been filed in the case, but a hearing with the city attorney has been set for sometime next month.

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