Anderson trying to find his way
The sweet taste of victory is even sweeter when it follows bitter defeat.
So often in the recent past, the UCLA men's basketball team has only had dessert.
This year, though, with seven losses in 11 games - after just nine in 35 games last season - the Bruins have become used to that sour, rancid, pungent aftertaste.
That made Tuesday's 75-63 victory over visiting Colorado State at the Pauley Pavilion all the more decadent.
"We expect to win every game, but right now it feels really good to get a win," point guard Jerime Anderson said with a weary smile after the game. "It should always feel really good to get a win, but there's a little extra right now."
And Anderson was a big factor in the win.
The much-maligned point guard, who came into the game averaging just 5.8 points per game and 3.8 assists on 38 percent shooting, had 12 points, seven assists and four rebounds in the win.
"I felt a lot more comfortable out there," Anderson said. "I'm starting to feel more comfortable every game. I was just trying to do my thing, and that happened. Right now is the best time for me to come out and play as confident as I can and try to put pressure on other guards."
Forget other guards: Anderson would best serve the team by taking some pressure off his Bruin backcourt mates.
Sophomore Malcolm Lee and senior Michael Roll are shouldering the scoring burden - averaging 15.2 points per game and 14.2, respectively - while playing the most minutes on the team. Lee played 39 minutes against the Rams, scoring 16 points, a far cry from his 29-point outburst in an 84-73 loss to Notre Dame on Saturday.
"The more players get the scoring opportunities, the more their confidence will come up," Lee said. "That's going to help in game situations like this. If they're not scoring, they're hesitant to take a clutch shot."
Taking Their Lumps
As the baby Bruins start to come of age - UCLA has seven underclassmen averaging more than six minutes per game - they're starting to realize that they might just have to learn as they go.
"You just have to really put yourself into games and learn on the run," said UCLA freshman forward Reeves Nelson, who had 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting and six rebounds against Colorado State. "This is not a time to get babied along, especially with the quality of teams we've been playing. You kind of have to take your lumps and learn when you can."
The Fourth Season
Forget the standard three mini-seasons within a season - non-conference, conference and postseason play - the Bruins are looking at this two-game stretch against Colorado State and Delaware State on Sunday as a micro-season.
With a win over the Hornets, now 4-5 after a loss to Ohio State on Dec. 19, the Bruins can even their record with a sweep of Arizona State and Arizona to begin Pac-10 conference play.
"We want to go into Pac-10 season with two more wins," said freshman forward Tyler Honeycutt, before the win over the Rams. "We look at (our losses) like, 'Yeah, we lost them, but it's the toughest schedule since Howland has been here.' I know we've played good teams. It's not like we're playing mediocre teams and are going into conference season unprepared."
"Yeah, we lost them, but it's the toughest schedule since Howland has been here"
Howland? Really? Not Coach, Coach Howland, etc.
Is that where our players are at with CBH?
Some people just have to find a reason to complain...
"spedjones" and "I Dig Go Go Girls" trolled a thread at Inside USC today.
"Charlie Bucket," "Rodney Guillory," "Cheat Carroll" and "dolphyfan1" joined "spedjones" in a thread later on.
Sweep Arizona & Arizona State? In light of how the season has gone so far, that's highly unlikely. I really think the team will be decent by season's end, but let's not build up unreasonable expectations at this point.
lots of minutes at UCLA? the underclassmen should take advantage of the opportunity. An if the Pac-10 proves weak, a tournament slot is still a possibility
nelson is a stud. if only JA could play with his intensity.
at least we all know that all the players will be returning next year, in addition to josh smith and tyler lamb. hopefully, the bruins can take a lot away from this season and JS and TL won't have as much growing pains.
looking ahead to next season...
Anderson is a total and utter zero, the kid should be in the WCC somewhere. As for a tough schedule? They've played ONE GAME outside of LA. Give me a break. This team is horrible, pure and simple.
mike=troll
the team is only going to go as far as the starting pg takes them.
Some of you are going to feel silly when JA is dropping 10 and 5 consistently at the end of the season.
(I'm not sure WHICH season, but I hope it might be this one...)
i like reading the comments more than the articles