Things proceeded in orderly fashion on the floor of Pauley Pavilion on Wednesday at UCLA’s annual Media Day.
Players sat in a line that stretched across the length of the court, ordered by jersey number from lowest to highest, waiting patiently to receive reporters.
Everyone had a seat.
This year, no one was horsing around on the court.
It would appear at least that the 2010 Bruins mean business.
“Just from the early season workouts, everybody is playing with a real chip on their shoulder,” junior guard Malcolm Lee said. “We have a redemption mindset. I am just looking real forward to this season.”
Lee was not the only Bruin who said he would play this season looking for redemption. Last year, UCLA finished 14-18, the worst record for a Bruin team since coach Ben Howland’s first season in 2003-2004.
“There’s no point in ever having a season like that ever again,” junior point guard Jerime Anderson said. “And I don’t want to be a part of a season like that. I was a part of it. And now I want to be a part of the team that turns it around.”
A good deal of the burden will fall on the backs the junior backcourt of Lee and Anderson, two players with the most experience. The 2010 Bruins have no seniors, and Howland said the freshman will need to “have a quick learning curve” if the team is to compete in the conference.
Freshman center Josh Smith is perhaps the most highly touted freshman in the program. Smith, the consensus No. 1 center prospect, spurned Washington and a chance to stay in his home state for UCLA.
While Smith admitted “I’m not in the best condition of my life,” he said he’s already being called “the next Kevin Love,” which he appreciates but doesn’t buy into.
“That’s some big shoes to fill,” Smith said.
“I just want to help the team out as much as I can. And if that’s riding the bench or averaging three points, I’ll do whatever coach Howland needs me to do.”
For his part, Howland is most concerned about whether his paper-thin team can avoid injuries.
The team has only 10 scholarship players on the roster and can ill afford an injury to anyone in the starting five.
But barring injury, the team is confident they will finish a whole lot better than 14-18.
Lee added that they will be thinking about the late John Wooden ““ who would have turned 100 today ““ all season long.
“Coach (Howland) always says it was really sad for coach Wooden to leave this earth after a season like we had,” Lee said. “So we’re going to dedicate this season to him.”