The Jrue Holiday era begins at UCLA

[Russ Smith]

And if the exhibition win over Cal Baptist last night is any indication, that era will be one year and then a lottery pick for Jrue. Holiday had 12 points, 7 boards, 7 assists and 6 steals in 23 minutes in a 28 point win. Shipp had 20 in 19 minutes, Dragovic 13 in 15 minutes.

UCLA turned it over way too much and missed a bunch of freethrows but led by 30 most of the 2nd half. All the freshmen played extensively. Holiday is already the best player on the floor, right now it looks like Drew Gordon, not J'Mison Morgan is the backup C. Aboya got 2 quick fouls and Gordon replaced him. Morgan had 9 boards but needs to get in better shape, right now it lookslike Gordon will play more because he's in great shape, by the end of the year I expect Morgan to be the man at C.

This team is going to lose some games early in the season while the freshmen pick things up, they're a work in progress up front but the guard play is going to be superb, especially if Malcolm Lee and Jerime Anderson heal up both have groin pulls they've been struggling with.

Come March this could be a very interesting team to watch. Much more up tempo this year from what I've been hearing, Howland is not yelling slow down he's yelling PUSH.

 

[abomb]

Interesting.

 

[DWKB]

It's tragic that with all of that talent UCLA hired a coach with a genetic deficiency of being able to get to the final game (BCWoANC).

 

[Russ Smith]

It's tragic that with all of that talent UCLA hired a coach with a genetic deficiency of being able to get to the final game (BCWoANC).

he got there once, wasn't his fault that Florida was just better than everyone 2 years in a row.

You'll have to remind who they beat the 2nd year to get to that rematch with Florida they lost. I must be in a Phog right now I can't seem to
bring my Self to remember.

I think right now on paper at least we're all playing for 2nd, UNC appears to be clearly the best team. It's pretty amazing how their entire season in essence comes down to Ty Lawson being an idiot and getting caught driving having been drinking. If you believe the reports Lawson's workouts were impressive enough that he got a first round guarantee, and had shut his workouts down claiming some fake injury. He knew he was going in the first round so he shut down. Then he got arrested and realized he probably cost himself a lotof money, decided to stay at UNC, and completely changed the whole season.

take him off UNC and there's about 8-10 teams who might be as good as UNC if things go well, right now UNC seems above the rest because they have talent, experience, and lawson.

UCLA lucked out of course getting Collison back unexpectedly but lost out when Luc surprised by staying in the draft. That's why UCLA is so thin up front very iffy at the 4 and 5 right now.

how does Kansas look this year? Like UCLA they lost a ton to the draft, they had what 5 kids drafted?

 

[DWKB]

he got there once, wasn't his fault that Florida was just better than everyone 2 years in a row.

You'll have to remind who they beat the 2nd year to get to that rematch with Florida they lost. I must be in a Phog right now I can't seem to
bring my Self to remember.

I think right now on paper at least we're all playing for 2nd, UNC appears to be clearly the best team. It's pretty amazing how their entire season in essence comes down to Ty Lawson being an idiot and getting caught driving having been drinking. If you believe the reports Lawson's workouts were impressive enough that he got a first round guarantee, and had shut his workouts down claiming some fake injury. He knew he was going in the first round so he shut down. Then he got arrested and realized he probably cost himself a lotof money, decided to stay at UNC, and completely changed the whole season.

take him off UNC and there's about 8-10 teams who might be as good as UNC if things go well, right now UNC seems above the rest because they have talent, experience, and lawson.

UCLA lucked out of course getting Collison back unexpectedly but lost out when Luc surprised by staying in the draft. That's why UCLA is so thin up front very iffy at the 4 and 5 right now.

how does Kansas look this year? Like UCLA they lost a ton to the draft, they had what 5 kids drafted?

Doh! forgot about that final against FLA.

Kansas is looking seriously inexperienced right now and I have no idea what the learning curve will end up being. I'd say a S16 appearance would be the ideal situation for us. We lost 5 to the NBA (Well Kaun actually went to Russia although he was drafted) and 2 to graduation.

The Big 12 North is SOOO weak this year so that's to our advantage. Aside from us and TTech you could take the Big 12 South and place them 1-6 and the North 7-12.

Of the new players, the possible impact guys are Marcus Morris at the 4 and Travis Releford at the 3. Mario Little was supposed to play the 2, but got injured this summer. We could end up with many different starting lineups around Collins and Aldrich though.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Howland never had Jrue Holiday caliber athletes, which is why his system guys kept getting rolled on by NBA farm teams like Florida and Memphis. Defense via dry humping doesn't work when the opposing team is superior in athleticism, strength, and ball-handling.

 

[Russ Smith]

Howland never had Jrue Holiday caliber athletes, which is why his system guys kept getting rolled on by NBA farm teams like Florida and Memphis. Defense via dry humping doesn't work when the opposing team is superior in athleticism, strength, and ball-handling.

This is clearly Ben's most athletic team. Holiday, Lee, Anderson, Gordon, they're all great athletes. morgan is less athletic but big and strong, and as he gets in shape he's getting more athletic.

Shipp looks great too, much leaner, down to 210. Keefe has bulked up. The big concern is inside, 4 and 5, is there enough offense and will the defense be good. Luc was the heart and soul of UCLA's defense, the guard defense will be excellent but I'm not sure Keefe and the 5's are going to be able to handle teams inside.

UCLA could meet Duke in the finals of a preseason tourney, will be a nice early test, Singler is not a postup guy but he's going to seriously test UCLA's ability to guard a good front court player.

 

[Russ Smith]

Doh! forgot about that final against FLA.

Kansas is looking seriously inexperienced right now and I have no idea what the learning curve will end up being. I'd say a S16 appearance would be the ideal situation for us. We lost 5 to the NBA (Well Kaun actually went to Russia although he was drafted) and 2 to graduation.

The Big 12 North is SOOO weak this year so that's to our advantage. Aside from us and TTech you could take the Big 12 South and place them 1-6 and the North 7-12.

Of the new players, the possible impact guys are Marcus Morris at the 4 and Travis Releford at the 3. Mario Little was supposed to play the 2, but got injured this summer. We could end up with many different starting lineups around Collins and Aldrich though.

I really like Aldrich, traditional post player has a chance to be good.

 

[DWKB]

Howland never had Jrue Holiday caliber athletes, which is why his system guys kept getting rolled on by NBA farm teams like Florida and Memphis. Defense via dry humping doesn't work when the opposing team is superior in athleticism, strength, and ball-handling.

They find a way to win when the other team can't make layups and their "system guys" start hitting 25 ft's at the shoot clock buzzer

 

[Russ Smith]

They find a way to win when the other team can't make layups and their "system guys" start hitting 25 ft's at the shoot clock buzzer

Admittedly Afflalo hit a couple in that Kansas game that were pretty ridiculous. I still say it's remarkable how many teams lose to UCLA and then talk about all the easy shots they missed.

I think this years team will be different I think we'll see more trapping and steals from the guards because I don't think the interior defense will be nearly as good. Gordon and Morgan can block shots but theyr'e young, they'll go for pumpfakes and get lost on switches in Howland's system defensively.

In fact I'm of the opinion when all is said and done UCLA's best lineup might be 4 guards, Collison, Holiday, Lee and Shipp, with a choice of Aboya, Gordon or Morgan. Can't play that way for 35 minutes but for short bursts the level of athleticism will be interesting.

Howland has already said he's considering giving Josh some time at the 4 although since he slimmed down he's not sure how viable it is. Before you laugh remember Dijon Thompson played the 4 his last year at UCLA.

 

[Russ Smith]

First 2 real games have been much tougher on holiday, had 11 in about 23 minutes against Prairie View and then a tough one last night against Miami of Ohio. 5 points, 15 minutes, got in foul trouble early and then had trouble guarding Miami's star Bramos and eventually got yanked.

He's going to be really good but he's adjusting to college, he's used to handling the ball a lot more than he does now, he's got to look for his jumpshot more, and make it. And he's got to learn that his posts(largely Keefe and Aboya) don't have good hands and don't finish, he's trying to force the ball into them too much.

UCLA gutted out a win last night behind Collison and Shipp but when Jrue gets going it'll make the offense much more potent.