How would you grade the UCLA men's basketball season so far?

I found myself voting for "Average", then realized...how is an 11-6 record with losses against Montana and SC an average season. Expectations have surely dropped when this is the norm. This is just an observation, as I understand this may reflect the team's performance vs. preseason expectations which were low

If I saw legitimate effort I would have given them an average but 1/4 of the time they look like they are coasting and their minds are somewhere else.

How can anyone give them an average? This program isnt even in the top 50 RPI! This is UCLA, people! This program should always be talked about as a top program year in and year out. Apparently, many fans dont care about the lack of effort this team puts in or the talent on the court. Come on! San Diego has out recruited CBH. That says it all.

I say average because they look like they're improving. I might have given them an F after the Montana game, but they've gotten better since then. They just won two conference road games despite some horrendous reffing. That 4 game loss streak earlier in the season was brutal, and yeah, the USC loss was brutal too, but they also strung together 6 wins in a row before the Washington loss. If they can continue to become more consistent, I think they could push their grade even higher towards the season's end.

I completely agree, outrebounding Kansas, ranked number two in the country at the time, at Kansas was surely and unarguably a lack of effort. Defeating BYU away was also pretty obviously a lack of effort. As anyone will tell you because you could tell BYU just didn't feel like winning.
Malcolm Lee holding Jared Cunningham to two for nine was largely because Malcolm as usual wasn't giving the effort and Jared was just having an off night at home which is typical for him. Because Malcolm rarely commits any effort on defense and was also just not giving it his all when he converted his last six shots under pressure in a close game against Oregon at Oregon while playing thirty minutes of shutdown defense without exerting any effort. If he only tried harder. And obviously Reeves Nelson's fourteen points and eight rebounds and fifty six percent from the floor indicates an untalented sophmore who just isn't into the game anymore(he just is always giving up while averaging close to a double double in his sleep because the opponents usually just let him). Joshua Smith's ten points and seven rebounds and fifty six percent from the floor (higher than Kevin Love's fg% at UCLA) in twenty minutes on average as a freshman most pundits would argue, is obviously from a lack of effort, practice, and heart. And its weird how Tyler Honeycutt gets eight rebounds simply standing there like he doesn't care. And I'm sure its largely because of lack of effort that only one out of seventeen opponents, including three in the top twenty-five, has been able to pull down five or more rebounds than UCLA in a game.

Stan, r u serious? Outrecruited by SD? hahahaha....take a look at the recruits, no comparison. I find it hilarious that UCLA is now compared to SDSU sports after one successful year of fb and bb...Utterly mindboggling. Lack of effort? The other poster put it correctly, as nobody references the performances against KS and BYU, amongst others. This team is young and fans are just going to be disappointed if they don't alter their expectations accordingly. It's not just the play of our guys is young, but the leadership as well. They are improving. We have many key deflections to the NBA and that has killed us. CBH has done fine with recruiting as people are starting to see the development of JA and steady ML. The big misses were Morgan and Moser. Gordon didn't have the mentality to deal with the turnaround. The team is on the upswing and continues to grind out wins. No hurt LJ finger against USC and the outcome could have been a lot different. The team is attempting to grow and is poised for sustained success for the next two to three years based on committed/current players. Enjoy the season.

Anyone who voted "excellent" needs to report for urine testing in the morning.

Lack of Effort? Usually seen on defense and even Tracy Murray speaks about this team not getting back on defense. Poor effort in stopping penetration in halfcourt. Lack of Effort? Did you see these games:

Montana
Cal Poly
UC Davis
UC Irvine
usc

And let's not hear the baloney about not getting up for 4 of those games. And you guys have been pleased with sc beating The Bruins up pretty easily the past few games. Let's not pin the season on 2 games The Bruins played well in. They are plenty more to go and lets hope for more consistency and more wins.

Hi Jon-
How about the women's team? They should be rated excellent!

One more time... VB you are a total idiot. No one forces you to read this absolutely free blog. If it is so painful to you, then stay the hell away. We don't need your crap.

Stan, yes, I watch every game and was just as frustrated by some of the outcomes, but it is not lack of effort in most you referenced...these guys need to grow and mature and will encounter such growing pains.

Montana – game after KS letdown game – young team came back deflated and rumor was a few of the players had been under the weather
Cal Poly – we won the game..CP only shot 42% and need couple late FGs to close the gap on what was a blowout
UC Davis – UCLA again won the game, largest lead 15 and ahead by as much for most of the game..it took one of the UCD players launching 3’s at the end to shorten the score
UC Irvine – Again, we won the game, young team had trouble closing out and struggled from the line (shocker); ahead by double digits most of the game
USC – No lack of effort, but instead, lack of execution…LJ hurt finger killed our outside shooting

How is www.firebenhowland.com not registered yet? Team has been awful for 3 years now. This is UCLA basketball right?

Looks like they've finally caught up with their football team!