INDIANAPOLIS “”mdash; Saturday was not a good day for T.J.
Cummings.
First, the junior center was pulled from the starting lineup
because he was late for a film session.
He then proceeded to have one of the worst games in his college
basketball career, going one-for-seven from the field en route to
just four points in 14 minutes.
Cummings also pulled down just two rebounds, while committing
three fouls before halftime despite playing for only seven
minutes.
“I’m obviously not in a good mood,” Cummings
said after the game. “I was out of my rhythm today. Mama said
there would be days like this.”
Head coach Steve Lavin’s plan coming into the season was
to play Cummings as a center, even though he is a natural forward,
in order to have someone with experience in the low post. Lavin
felt the two freshmen centers, Michael Fey and Ryan Hollins, needed
to be eased into the role by coming off the bench.
However, with Cummings struggling at center, and with the
freshmen both showing improvement with every game, Lavin’s
thinking might be changing.
“Whoever plays well is going to earn more playing
time,” Lavin said. “And the two seven-footers (Fey and
Hollins) are playing well.”
In UCLA’s loss to San Diego, Torero center Jason Keep
dominated at both ends of the floor. He scored 30 points while not
allowing the Bruins any easy points in the paint.
UCLA was again outscored in the paint 42-22 by Duke on
Saturday.
The lack of a big body in the middle has allowed opposing
defenses to clamp down on shooters Jason Kapono and Ray Young on
the perimeter, which has limited the amount of open looks each is
getting.
“They didn’t want to give me any good shots,”
Kapono said. “They played smothering defense.”
With the Bruins struggling to get open looks on offense, and the
freshmen both anxious to increase their playing time, Young
wouldn’t be surprised if Lavin tried inserting one of the
freshmen into the starting lineup.
“Lavin is known to change up lineups and try different
things,” Young said. “You never know who will be
starting.”
Fey would likely get the starting nod over Hollins because, at 7
feet and 257 pounds, he is a more traditional center than the
lithe, 215-pound Hollins.
With more experience, Fey could eventually fill the low post
role that Dan Gadzuric had last year.
“Starting would help me out,” Fey said. “I
would be calmer, instead of jumping off the bench and right into
the game.”
If Cummings continues to struggle, Fey might be getting help
soon.