Fitting in
UCLA freshman hoops guard Malcolm Lee was a McDonald's all-American, so coming off the bench and averaging 14 minutes in the first two games isn't what he is used. Or, what many of his classmates are used to. The only freshman starting is guard Jrue Holiday.
"We've got three seniors, upperclassmen on this team, so basically we've go to play our roles," Lee said. "Just step up and come in and be like the Energizer Bunny and get the game going more and continue that spree, or sometimes put it back up if the seniors are having an off night."
Also, I'll set up an in-game chat tonight, which will begin a 6:20 p.m.
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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.
is the game gonna be on tv? i hope so! go bruins!
brian, thanks for this insight from lee. im happy to see him react this way rather than be upset about his role. these are the kind of players we need, and luckily have!
Can you introduce Lee to Aundre Dean? The game is on ESPN2.
The comparison is not exactly the same anonymous. First, Lee has been through two games, or about 5% of his freshman year, I don't remember hearing about Dean's unhappiness until about halfway through the season.
Second, 14 minutes is still 35% of the college game. Dean is getting nowhere near 35% of play time.
Third, Lee is playing behind a healthy Shipp and classmate Jrue Holiday who is considered by everyone to be the better player. Dean is playing behind a gimpy Bell and a classmate who was rated lower than he was. Lots of people are asking why Dean hasn't played (and I'm sure that includes the people close to Dean who can influence his decisions), but no one is asking why Lee isn't a starter.
That said, I think Dean should stick around, and I think it's silly to complain right now. But I don't think the comparison is called for.
nice post mindshed.