Answers, Part X

What school do you think might challenge the Bruins for a basketball pac-ten title this year?
Geez, that's a good question. I'm looking at Arizona State and, believe it or not, Arizona. I don't see it as being a great year for Pac-10 hoops.

There seems to be a consensus that Coach Walker is a top defensive coordinator. Yet it seems to me that teams that run the spread offense have enjoyed great success against the Bruins D during Coach Walker's tenure. Do you think Coach Walker's defensive schemes will match up better against spread offenses this year?
That is a criticism first made popular, to my knowledge, by USC coach Pete Carroll. Sometimes it is just the talent on the other side of the ball that makes it hard for Walker's defenses to match up against spread offenses. I don't really believe in it.

Base on what you've seen of him, if Brehaut was on the team this year, would he start ahead of Craft and Forcier?
I don't think so. I think it is very hard to start a true freshman because there is so much for them to learn.

How do you pronounce Datone Jones's first name?
Day-tone

Why are they having so many concussions? Hopefully it's from real hard hitting.
It's not from the hard-hitting, that is for sure. I think it is because UCLA's training staff (and rightfully so) is hyper-sensitive to concussions, so any time a kid has a symptom that could be related to concussions, he is pulled from the field. So, in short, a headache five years ago is now a conussions.

Are you getting any feeling as to how long Chow will stay at UCLA?
I think he will be at UCLA for at least the length of his contract, which is three years.

Where would you rank our defense in the Pac-10?
Right now I think they will be in the top three. The problem will be whether or not the defense gets worn down during the season, of if the offense does enough to keep the defense fresh.

Do you see guys like Embree and Abbott eventually getting scholarships?
Embree, yes, since he already is on scholarship. I think Abbott has a chance to earn one in the next two years.

Joshua Edwards looked pretty big at the scrimmage. Do you see him having a big year?
No, I don't. I think the time he missed in training camp was vital to his development, and he is now relegated to a backup role. Unless there is an injury or two, I think he will be a role player.

From what you've seen, do Bradford and Baca have the ability to help us out in 2009?
I think Baca has a chance, but I think Bradford is a little more down the road. That said, Baca is missing valuable practice time because of his knee injury.