The young Bruins

Is Howland in Vegas for the tourneys? Do you think we can expect an answer from Josh Smith this week?

Howland is in Vegas. As far as Smith, I reported a few weeks ago that Smith's father was saying a decision would be made by mid-August.

Selective Amnesia Ben? We're young almost every year. That's what happens when you recruit well and win.

Weren't we just as youn if not younger, in Farmar's Freshman and Sophomore years?

Forget about Farmar's freshman year - that was all about transition.

In his sophomore season, we did have some pretty experienced kids that made big contributions - Cedric Bozeman and Ryan Hollins. In comparison, this year's squad looks younger to me as well.

Jeffrey Ropp

How do you figure? In Farmar's Sophomore season, the team was dominated by Freshman and Sophomore's. Cedric Bozeman and Hollins were minor contributors until Hollins blossomed in the Tourney. If I remember correctly, Bozeman and Hollins didn't even start most of that season.

This year we will have mostly Sophomore's and 2 maybe 3 Seniors starting, with 4 Scholarship Seniors. Dragovic and Roll will start, along with possibly Keefe. This year we also have much more depth, with a full 13 players on Scholarship, as opposed to the usual 10-11 players.

You could also make a case for the 2006 season with 4 Freshman, 5 Sophs, 2 JRs, and NO SRs.

Howland always likes to make this youth comment. If you haven't noticed. You haven't been paying attention.

This year will be Howland's deepest team ever and we'll probably start 2 Sophs and 3 Seniors, or 3 Sophs and 2 Seniors. We will be very deep in the frint court, where we are usually thin. This is imoportant for Ben Ball's rough style of play.

BruinFaithful,

Unfortunately, you didn't remember correctly...Ced Bozeman started 30 out of 39 games and he averaged about 27.4 mpg during Farmar's sophomore year. Ryan Hollins started 24 out of 39 games and played about 21.5 mpg. That season Hollins shared his starting position with Lo Mata and Ryan Wright. To say minor contributor for both Bozeman and Hollins that season is an understatement.

Farmar and Afflalo started every game as freshmen logging heavy minutes. By year two, UCLA had an experienced and seasoned backcourt.

In fact, both played more minutes in 29 games than any returning player did in 35 games last year.

You can add Jerime's, Malcolm's and Drew Gordon's minutes from last year and they wouldn't equal the minutes Farmar played in his frosh season and they barely beat Arron's minutes. And this is in 6 more games!

BW,

If you read correctly. We still only had 2 Senior contributors that year, who had hardly played before that year. Bozeman was consistently hurt and Hollins hardly played before that year.

This year we will have 4 Seniors, with 3 getting major minutes and who have extensive starting experience and who will probably start. Spin it however you want.

2009-2010
4 Seniors
4 Sophs
5 Freshman

In the 2002/03 season, Ryan Hollins started 15/24 games and averaged 16.7 min a game.

In 2003/04, he started 16/28 games and average 25.4 min a game.

In 2004/05, Hollins only started 6/28 games but still aveaged 16.4 mins a game.

There isn't a player on the current squad who has had more game playing experience than Hollins did prior to the start of Ryan's sr season. That includes Keefe, Roll and Drago.

Bozeman started all 28 games in 2003/04, averaging 33.7 min a game. He was the only Bruin to start every game. Of course he sat out 2004/05.

He did miss some games due to injuries his frosh and soph years, but still saw more time than Anderson, Lee or Gordon.

Regardless, both Hollins and Bozeman who were seniors in Howland's first FF run, were much, much more experienced going into their sr season, than any player on the current squad going into their last year.