Dragovic still suspended
By Jon Gold
Staff Writer
UCLA senior forward Nikola Dragovic remains suspended with a felony assault charge still pending, UCLA head coach Ben Howland said on Sunday.
Dragovic, the Bruins' lone returning starter, was arrested on Friday and was suspended for the team's 75-64 win over visiting Cal-State Bakersfield.
"I met with him after the game, and he'll be suspended again for (tonight's) game," Howland said during a conference call on Sunday. "We have to get more information that is going to be given to the appropriate people. This is a legal case, a case that is obviously pending, and he's got a lawyer now."
Dragovic filed a police report with the UCPD after an altercation at a concert in Hollywood last month, and after an investigation, the Los Angeles District Attorney's office filed a felony assault charge.
Dragovic was suspended for one regular-season game at the onset of last season following a misdemeanor battery charge stemming from an altercation with a former girlfriend, but was never charged with a crime. However, the city attorney's office reserved the right to revisit the case for up to a year.
Howland said Dragovic would be allowed at practice on Sunday but would not participate and would attend tonight's game against Pepperdine in street clothes.
"I spoke to him after the game on Friday, and everything had happened on that same day," Howland said. "It was a long day for him. He was very apologetic; he feels terrible about this whole situation."
In 34 games last season, with 21 starts, Dragovic averaged 9.4 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. In 40 minutes in the Bruins' season-opening, double-overtime 68-65 loss to Cal-State Fullerton, Dragovic went 2-for-14 for five points.
Prepping for Pepperdine
UCLA, which has allowed opposing guards to slash through the lane in its first two games, will have its hands full with the Waves' Keion Bell. Bell averages 21 points per game and in 29 minutes, and he's getting to the free-throw line almost eight times a game.
Playing the Pups
With a lineup that includes five freshmen, Howland knew there would be growing pains.
Now that he knows, though, he has to be OK with them.
After pulling freshman forward Reeves Nelson - who had 11 points and six rebounds - in the season-opening loss to the Titans, Howland admitted his mistake and played Nelson and fellow freshman Brendan Lane and Mike Moser throughout the game.
"First of all, inside with Reeves - Reeves has played the most of the freshman - he's done a good job," Howland said. "It was my mistake not to play him more minutes. All these freshmen are going to make mistakes. As long as they're trying their hardest and really, really playing with their heart that's something you just have to deal with. The experience they get is going to help them."
I gotta be honest, I actually emailed Jon's boss to tell him my opinion was that Jon was the best guy to replace The previous blogger(without using his name)At first, he busted his ass to make the blog his own but that stopped in about a month after he got the job. I find myself disappointed with the blogs content most of the time and
Jon gets out scooped by most of the blog readers here.......That was something that simply would not happen in the past!. I thought getting the scoop was everything! There have been several recruits commit without any post what so ever here. Its also quite obvious that Jon is an NFL fantasy geek hence his disappearance on most Sundays............ And the excuse that his AC adapter broke was a classic! Whats next, His dog ate his blog post? R.I.P. Inside UCLA
sorry to say, but i agree with the comment above. also you shouldnt need a computer to update the blog, jon should be able to do it from his phone so that if he gets a scoop while out somewhere he can post it asap.
9:07pm and 9:35pm are ridiculous. Emailing his boss to complain about something you're getting for free??
This just shows you that some people are entirely too entitled and thing they are all-important. If you don't like the reporting, don't come back to the blog, plain and simple. Go visit the other blogs if they're so superior, if not, don't criticize.
Jon, you are doing a great job, and keep it up. Love the game-day chats as well.
Disagree strongly with the first two comments. Don't you remember that Josh Smith's LOI was reported here before anywhere else? Jon's doing just fine - and I, for one, really appreciate his hard work and obvious enthusiasm for all things UCLA.
The important thing to remember is - Never trust European men with your wife. (Or your wife with European men, for that matter.)
Seriously, though, you need to lay off of Jon for now. Make suggestions - fine - but you're mad because he's getting scooped? He's got 3 months on the job in a field that takes years to develop contacts and a reputation.
And blogs are a new media, and in many ways, Jon is a better fit than Brian was. I'm sure he'll be a great UCLA source once he's had time to warm up. (And this is coming from a guy who sent UCLA baby clothes to Brian when his 2nd was born.)
So, let's just be gracious guests and hope the main course and dessert are better than the appetizers that most agree are good, but not amazing.
Christ, there's a lot of alarmist people on this blog...
everyone needs to stop hating, if u can do a better job, then maybe u should apply to do it. otherwise just enjoy whatever info we get from Jon. Dohn was a tough act to follow, give this guy a break