What's behind UCLA's rough start?
Posted: Monday, November 30, 2009 6:42 PM
Filed Under:
Pac-10
The last time UCLA began a season like this, Steve Lavin ended up out of a job. That’s not going to happen to Ben Howland – those three straight trips to the Final Four just happened – but a 2-4 start isn’t sitting well in Westwood.
Not one bit.
It comes with the territory when you have 11 national championship banners hanging from the roof.
Jae C. Hong/AP |
UCLA's Reeves Nelson goes up for a shot against Long Beach State's Eugene Phelps.
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This long post at Bruins Nation details the Bruins’ biggest problems, from Jerime Anderson’s issues running the point, Adam Keefe’s lack of ability and Howland’s stubbornness when it comes to making adjustments. The blogger is still optimistic about a successful season, but admits it’s gonna take some time.
And a lot of work. Howland admits just about everything must improve.
"We've got to defend better, shoot better and make good decisions," he told the Orange County Register.
UCLA is OK at its twos (53.1 percent), but terrible beyond the arc (26 percent). It's turning the ball over every five possessions and opponents have an eFG% of 50.3, by far the worst of Howland's tenure.
The strange thing is, defense has rarely been the Bruins’ problem. They thrived on offense last season and regressed a bit on ‘D,’ but were still respectable according to kenpom.com’s ratings.
But now, Howland’s so desperate he may play … zone. (What’s next? Dick Vitale going with a “less is more” approach?)
"We may have to play some zone," said the coach who built his program on scrappy, man-to-man defense. "We're definitely going to have to play softer and pack it in because we're getting beat."
The reasons are laid out here, but it comes down to UCLA’s players aren’t able to stay in front of defenders. It ruins their entire defensive scheme. And with the defense struggling – and the offense unable to shoot – it adds up to a 2-4 start.
Don’t expect anything to get better right away, though. No. 1 Kansas comes to Pauley on Sunday.
Mike Miller also spends way too much time on Twitter. Follow him at @BeyndArcMMiller.
