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Overall I was hoping for a bigger margin of victory but given all the injuries I think UCLA did fairly well. NMSU was terrible last year but they have 10 new players mostly transfers or Juco guys(only 1 freshman) and Reggie Theus is obviously paying homage to Tark in regards to how to build a team taking a headcase like Elijah Ingram who was kicked out of St Johns for his part in a sex scandal after a game against Pittsburgh that involved 4 of his teammates.
INgram turned it over endlessly in the first half but then heated up and led NMSU in scoring. The game was close around 10 points most of the 2nd half but NMSU never really threatened.
Impressions of UCLA.
First of Ced Bozeman looked great, not explosive off the floor yet but he appears to be largely recovered from the ACL, smooth as always and very effective at the SF position and taking some ball handling duties away from Farmar off and on, even made a couple of jumpshots.
Mbah A Moute is clearly athletic but he really struggled in the first half seemed way too passive, but turned it up in the 2nd half and played pretty well. Good defender, too small to be playing PF but due to injury he is right now. Like him but I think the Bruin faithful are overrating him a bit.
Darren Collison, quick, weird shot(like World B Free), like him, plays aggressive defense. Needs to be more careful with the ball he had some trouble with NMSU pressing him man to man, he over dribbles, and at least last night he was ALL right hand, never saw him go left.
Mike Roll, as advertised great shooter, smart, tough, plays the passing lanes, struggles on ball defense but a great addition a definite keeper.
Aboya is out injured and Wright didn't play and the rumor is they may redshirt him depending on Aboya's return from knee surgeries.
Farmar looked more under control, Afflalo much more aggressive and seems to have grown an inch or two. Hollins showed a bit more underneath, Fey continues to lose rebounds to smaller players because his hands are so bad. I thought Mata showed improvement, much bigger and stronger.
My biggest concer was in a game that should have been more onsided, Howland played Farmar 37 and Afflalo 36 minutes. THat says he's not comfortable with his bench yet and that's got to change, we can't have the backcourt wearing down again like it did last year from playing too many minutes.
Overall a solid first game but I hope they're ready for Temple and that famous matchup zone of Chaney's, you always want to play Temple early in the season before the team has really got that zone going but they have a way of taking your best guys away from you so it'll be a test for UCLA.
INgram turned it over endlessly in the first half but then heated up and led NMSU in scoring. The game was close around 10 points most of the 2nd half but NMSU never really threatened.
Impressions of UCLA.
First of Ced Bozeman looked great, not explosive off the floor yet but he appears to be largely recovered from the ACL, smooth as always and very effective at the SF position and taking some ball handling duties away from Farmar off and on, even made a couple of jumpshots.
Mbah A Moute is clearly athletic but he really struggled in the first half seemed way too passive, but turned it up in the 2nd half and played pretty well. Good defender, too small to be playing PF but due to injury he is right now. Like him but I think the Bruin faithful are overrating him a bit.
Darren Collison, quick, weird shot(like World B Free), like him, plays aggressive defense. Needs to be more careful with the ball he had some trouble with NMSU pressing him man to man, he over dribbles, and at least last night he was ALL right hand, never saw him go left.
Mike Roll, as advertised great shooter, smart, tough, plays the passing lanes, struggles on ball defense but a great addition a definite keeper.
Aboya is out injured and Wright didn't play and the rumor is they may redshirt him depending on Aboya's return from knee surgeries.
Farmar looked more under control, Afflalo much more aggressive and seems to have grown an inch or two. Hollins showed a bit more underneath, Fey continues to lose rebounds to smaller players because his hands are so bad. I thought Mata showed improvement, much bigger and stronger.
My biggest concer was in a game that should have been more onsided, Howland played Farmar 37 and Afflalo 36 minutes. THat says he's not comfortable with his bench yet and that's got to change, we can't have the backcourt wearing down again like it did last year from playing too many minutes.
Overall a solid first game but I hope they're ready for Temple and that famous matchup zone of Chaney's, you always want to play Temple early in the season before the team has really got that zone going but they have a way of taking your best guys away from you so it'll be a test for UCLA.
