Injuries add to Howland's UCLA issues
Posted: Tuesday, October 20, 2009 11:06 AM
Filed Under:
Pac-10
Ben Howland isn’t coaching a basketball team right now. It’s more like a M*A*S*H* unit.
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Ben Howland
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Five scholarship players are nursing injuries, most of which are the nagging kind that could linger. Malcolm Lee’s suffered a mild concussion Sunday. Freshmen Brendan Lane (sprained ankle) and Mike Moser lower back sprain) both hurt themselves at Monday’s practice.
Throw in already ailing forward James Keefe (shoulder) and guard Jerime Anderson (groin) – neither of whom will be available until Nov. – and it’s a thin roster out in Westwood.
As if Howland wasn’t dealing with enough already.
For the first time since 2004 (Howland’s first season), the Bruins could finish below third in the Pac-10 standings. They lost four starters from a 26-9 squad, including stalwarts like Darren Collison and Josh Shipp.
UCLA still features plenty of talent – notably Malcolm Lee, Michael Roll and Nikola Dragovic – but it’s as Seth Davis wrote Monday: It would be foolish to expect a lot from this team.
Another NCAA tournament berth and a top 5 finish in the Pac-10? Sure. But mostly, it’s wait ‘til next year.
UPDATE: Make it six. Center J'Mison Morgan had an MRI on his swollen left knee Tuesday. Results won't be known until Wednesday.
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