Indispensable and invaluable are just two words that essentially
sum up the role of Cedric Bozeman on UCLA’s men’s
basketball team this year. The redshirt senior’s
contributions to an otherwise young squad have not gone unnoticed
by coach Ben Howland, who has seen the all-around player go through
just a few of his several injuries in his career as a Bruin.
“We are so much better with Cedric Bozeman playing,”
Howland said. “It’s all about winning and he does
that.” Without Bozeman in the lineup this season, the Bruins
are a mere 5-3, but in games he made an appearance the Bruins moved
to an impressive 14-1. Although he only recorded three points and
two rebounds in the victory over Arizona, Howland said it’s
his presence on the court, not his scoring output, that impresses
the third-year head coach. “He is so keen to what is going on
offensively. He gets it,” Howland said. “His level of
intelligence, basketball IQ is incredible.” The amazing thing
is that Bozeman has accomplished his recent string of performances
with a shoulder injury that has not completely healed. He is
currently first on the Bruins in 3-point percentage at 46.4 percent
and third on the team among active players at 8.9 points per game.
“I’m surprised there’s not more play about the
fact that’s he’s playing with torn cartilage in his
shoulder and what he’s meant to our team,” Howland
said. Injuries are nothing new for the senior, who redshirted last
season because of a right-knee injury that required surgery. Prior
to that injury, Bozeman had troubles with his right knee and
shoulder as well, making his experience as a Bruin that much more
frustrating. “We sat down after the last (injury) and he
said, “˜Coach, this is my fifth or sixth one that’s been
a major deal,'” Howland recalled. Regardless of his
injuries, however, the most experienced player on this year’s
team has done, in Howland’s eyes, a tremendous job of keeping
the team together in times of adversity and leading the Bruins to
an impressive record thus far in the season. “He makes this
team win,” Howland said. “I’ll do anything I can
for the rest of my life to do whatever I can for Ced
Bozeman.”
FARMAR INJURED: In the opening minutes of the
second half of Saturday’s game against Arizona, sophomore
guard Jordan Farmar sustained a sprained left ankle after landing
on the foot of Arizona’s Kirk Walters. X-rays were taken
after the game and came out negative. On Monday, Farmar underwent
an MRI, which showed swelling in a ligament in his left foot,
according to Howland, and kept him out of practice. “I
can’t even keep track of them (ankle injuries)
anymore,” Howland said. “Yeah, it is his left
ankle,” he said jokingly. Howland hopes that Farmar, who a
rode a bike on Monday in hopes of strengthening his weakened ankle,
will be able to practice shooting on Wednesday with no contact.
Whether the standout sophomore will play against Washington State
will be a game-time decision. “Knowing him and his
competitive nature it would take a lot for him to not play,”
Howland said.
MATA UPDATE: Sophomore center Lorenzo Mata, who
suffered a broken right knee three weeks ago against Washington
State, is recovering steadily from his injury. Mata is currently
using a device that stimulates bone growth on a daily basis and is
taking calcium-fortified vitamins. Precautions are still being
taken and another CAT scan will be taken in three weeks as the
center continues to undergo rehabilitation. “The healing
process is going well,” Howland said. “We’re
doing everything we can do to speed up the process.”