Don’t be alarmed by the number of security guards hovering
around Pauley Pavilion this evening.
They’re just there to usher in the start of basketball
season, something that’s largely been overlooked in the wake
of midterms, political protests, and of course, an undefeated
football team.
It’s hard to recall the last time there’s been such
little buzz surrounding the men’s hoops program in November.
Last year, there was the arrival of one of the top freshmen classes
in the nation. The year before marked Ben Howland’s first
year at the helm. And in 2002 a pair of losses in the exhibition
games at least got the campus wondering how big a train wreck the
season would be.
But when UCLA takes the court in tonight’s exhibition
opener against Carleton College, the most interesting thing will be
… hmm … well, maybe the return of Cedric Bozeman?
“I don’t really know anything about the basketball
team right now,” fifth-year Andrew Lin said. “Whenever
I talk to people, they just shrug their shoulders.”
In previous years, November basketball has been the mouthwash
that rinses out the bitter taste of football seasons gone sour.
This year, that mouthwash is still sitting in the bathroom cabinet
while Bruin fans continue chugging the sweet punch their football
team keeps serving.
“It’s wonderful,” athletic director Dan
Guerrero said. “It’s creating tremendous momentum for
our basketball season.”
In a month or so, that may very well be true. But right now, the
hype is squarely on football and basketball is left with a pretty
tough act to follow.
The football team has been entertaining fans with high-scoring
shoot-outs, last-minute comebacks and national-championship
possibilities.
On the other hand, when basketball tips off tonight,
they’ll be missing at least three starters and boasting a
coach who stresses defense first. Though there are high hopes with
a No. 18 pre-season ranking, the early-season tune-ups will be
quite a change of pace from what fans have grown accustomed to on
the football field.
“The football team is putting a great atmosphere on
campus,” said point guard Jordan Farmar, who nevertheless
insisted that there’s still a lot of talk about basketball
going around on campus. “If the ball is in your court, you
have to make it happen, keep the winning going.”
The thing is, Farmar won’t even be on the court tonight.
And it’s genuinely hard to get excited about this exhibition
contest knowing that many of the players on the court will be
spending most of the season on the bench. Returning starters Josh
Shipp, Michael Fey and Farmar will all sit out because of injuries,
and Arron Afflalo will be a game-time decision because of his left
quadricep contusion. Add freshman Alfred Aboya to the mix of
injured Bruins and the result is a squad whose motto should be
“Just wait ’til December.”
“The fact that some players will not open the season will
give significant playing time and experience to others, which
should pay off down the road,” Howland said.
It’s just as well that Howland is looking down the road
these days. Particularly since there aren’t many on the road
looking at him right now.
E-mail Finley at afinley@media.ucla.edu if you camped out
for tonight’s game and think he’s wrong.