It looks as if UCLA needs Dan Gadzuric back.
Last week, Branch West’s center, Horacio Llamas, exploded
for 15 points, 10 rebounds and four assists against the Bruins.
His performance not only contributed to the 25-point Bruin loss,
but it also helped expose the gaping hole that UCLA has without an
experienced true center roaming in the paint.
“Obviously, we can’t replace Dan Gadzuric,
who’s now starting in the NBA,” head coach Steve Lavin
said. “But we could help neutralize the loss through a
collective effort.”
The center-by-committee strategy that Lavin intends on using
this year will consist of five players: junior T.J. Cummings, who
is currently the starter, freshmen Ryan Hollins and Michael Fey,
and, to a lesser extent, junior John Hoffart and sophomore Josiah
Johnson.
Cummings is starting mainly because of his experience and his
ability to step out of the paint and shoot.
“In the past, T.J. was playing a complimentary role to Dan
and Matt (Barnes),” Lavin said. “Now he’s moved
into a more primary role on the team.”
However, Cummings doesn’t present the same rebounding
threat as Gadzuric, who averaged 7.7 rebounds per game. Against
Branch West, he only had two rebounds and picked up his fourth foul
with over 13 minutes left in the game.
Fey, who is 7-feet tall and 257 pounds, is the most traditional
center the Bruins have, and the closest UCLA has in terms of body
stature to Gadzuric, who is 235 pounds and 6-foot-11.
“I’m the only true center on the team,” Fey
said. “I can rebound and play defense, and when we have fast
breaks I can get out and run and get put-backs.”
However, he didn’t have much success doing any of those
things against Branch West, finishing with just two points and two
rebounds in 19 minutes.
Granted, it was his first game in a UCLA uniform, but Llamas
dominated Fey on both ends of the floor, getting easy lay-ins under
the basket on offense and pulling down nine of his 10 rebounds on
defense.
“Llamas was big and athletic,” Fey said. “It
was tough.”
Hollins has the height to play the position, but at only 215
pounds, he will get knocked around in the paint by larger centers.
Because of Llamas’ size, Hollins only played two minutes
against Branch West, recording just two points and no rebounds.
“I’m not a traditional center,” Hollins said.
“I’m much lighter and more athletic, and I play well in
the high post.”
Lavin acknowledges Hollins’ abilities, although he knows
that his game is different from what a normal center possesses and
he has a lot to learn about the position.
“Ryan is a great shot blocker and also a good offensive
rebounder,” Lavin said. “He also gives good defensive
pressure and moves the floor really well. But he’s young, and
there is a learning curve.”
Lastly, there is Hoffart and Johnson, both of whom rarely played
last season but are on scholarship.
“I expect to see more time,” Hoffart said.
“I’m older, and I’m more physical.”
Hoffart’s and Johnson’s playing time will likely
depend on the pace of the development of Hollins and Fey. If both
are struggling during the Pac-10 season, Lavin will likely be
quicker to go to Hoffart and Johnson to come off the bench.
“Hoffart and Josiah give us toughness, and they understand
the system,” Lavin said. “They both play intelligent
basketball.”
Hoffart and Johnson each pulled down three rebounds against
Branch West, in nine minutes and six minutes, respectively.
But regardless of their performances in their first exhibition
game, the freshmen have first dibs at earning playing time this
season.
“It will depend on how we do in practice, and how hard we
play,” Fey said in talking about how he and Hollins can earn
minutes.
Sophomore point guard Cedric Bozeman concurred.
“The freshmen are being thrown into the water and
they’re going to have to swim,” he said.
If they don’t swim, the Bruins’ struggles,
especially on the boards, will continue.
Altogether, UCLA was outrebounded 45-24 in the game, and
didn’t pull down any offensive rebounds in the first half.
Also, Branch West had second, third and even fourth opportunities
on the offensive glass.
Lavin said that if rebounding continues to be a major concern,
he could go with a big lineup that would feature a combination of
Cummings, Fey and Hollins.
“We could play Fey with T.J., or we could even play all
three guys at once,” he said.
If UCLA is to be successful this season, Lavin will have to keep
experimenting to find the lineup that will most help offset the
loss of Gadzuric.
Otherwise, the Branch West disaster could become a weekly
occurrence.