UCLA and NBA
I talked a few scouts and college coaches at the Final Four since UCLA's loss, and about the Bruins' personnel and how they fit into the NBA.
Here's a few things I heard:
Russell Westbrook was the only one who could matchup athletically with Memphis, but his draft status could be hurt by inconsistent outside shooting. He could come back for another year, play the point, and it could raise his status to a lottery pick.
Kevin Love would, at best, move up only a few slots in the draft if he returned for a sophomore season. His inability to get the ball against Memphis on the offensive end was related more to UCLA not having a shooter to break the Tigers' double team rather than anything Love did.
Darren Collison didn't help his draft position with his outing against Memphis' backcourt, but being worked over by Derrick Rose won't hurt as much as many many think. If that was case, Texas' D.J. Augustin, an all-American, would also have his stock plummet because he was worked over by Rose in the regional final.
Just some thoughts from some folks I ran into in San Antonio.
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About Inside UCLA
This is Brian Dohn's sixth season covering UCLA after spending 4 1/2 years covering the Dodgers for the Daily News and other Los Angeles Newspaper Group papers. He graduated from Rutgers, where the first college football game was played in 1869. Sure, the Scarlet Knights suffered for a long time, but now RU is doing what Jerseyans always thought was possible. Winning at Rutgers also proves winning is possible everywhere else in the nation, so underachieving coaches better be careful. Now, if only men's hoops can turn it around.
I think this makes sense. I think the people who really think Love or Collison took big hits either haven't seen them play all season and are basing their opinions entirely on this one game, or they haven't been doing their jobs all year. Just as none of us would proclaim Collison the #1 pick in the draft after the last Stanford game, he shouldn't take that big a hit from this one game either. He's still the same guy that average 15 and 4 all year. If scouts were surprised that he was out-sized and out-muscled by Rose, then they haven't watched either of them very much, and I doubt NBA scouts would be that lax.
As for Love, it appears that the biggest questions marks about him are always going to be his size and athletic ability. Those probably aren't going to get any better no matter how long he stays in school. And the way NBA teams draft on potential, there's not much difference between him getting bigger and stronger next year in college vs. him getting bigger and stronger next year in the NBA. If anything, a team that thought he could really make a difference by getting into better shape and getting stronger might be more inclined to take him now so that they controlled his conditioning and off-season workouts. His skill level is already so high that there's not a whole lot more he can do to impress in those areas.
I'd Love to see all three come back, but I don't really think Saturday changed anything in terms of their draft status.
Off subject a bit, but the commentary on basketball is coming to an end.
I noted from so many bruins submissions that there is deep disappointment. Understandably.
However I also noted that there is an irrational entitlement attitude about how ucla is all about national championships, and not mere Final-4s.
ucla has won title in 33 years since 1975. In that time eight (yes, 8) schools have won more titles. If a school wins 5 National titles in THIS CENTURY they will be fortunate.
So ucla, start hanging those Final-4s banners. It is something to be proud of
Sorry, should have read one (1) title in 33 years.
Good tid-bits Brian. Thanks.