Mens basketball notebook

Thursday, October 30, 1997

Mens basketball notebook

The long road back for suspended hoopsters Kris Johnson and
Jelani McCoy, both of whom have missed all of the team’s practices
and functions thus far, has apparently been partly navigated as the
two players look to get back into the program’s good graces.

"I’ve been very encouraged by the last couple of weeks in terms
of their actions, in terms of conversation, in terms of taking care
of business, which is what they need to do in the classroom and off
the floor," UCLA head coach Steve Lavin said.

Though progress has been made, the two players, whose
suspensions are nearing the end of their first month, have been
given no timetable for their reinstatement to the team.

"We intentionally haven’t done that because we don’t want to
send them a mixed message, for them to think that the solution is
necessarily basketball, but instead, it’s more about poor choices,
poor decisions, and where their commitment level is in terms of
wanting to be part of this basketball program."

***

Practice is only two weeks old, and the talk around the campfire
still centers on the six new freshmen on the team. In the setting
that Lavin has established in practices, enthusiasm and intensity
will get you a long way, and this sextet has brought more than its
fair share.

"What we talk about everyday in staff meetings is just our
freshman class as a whole," Lavin said, "I love our young players’
enthusiasm and their work ethic. They’re just so eager, it’s
refreshing, in part because they’re naive. You’d rather have a
group that’s a little naive, loves work, and looks forward to
practice."

The highest-touted duo in the freshman class, guards Baron Davis
and Earl Watson, have thus far been living up to their billing.
Pitted against each other in any number of drills, the two have
become a visual feast for the coaching staff.

"Baron and Watson, watching them has been probably the single
biggest treat, in terms of their competitive fire, guarding each
other and pushing each other," Lavin said. "They knock each other
down, extend a hand to help each other up and then knock each other
back down again."

***

With so many young minds to mold, Lavin is resorting to
subliminal messages to entrench his philosophies in the team’s
mind. The new practice shorts for the team have, in big blue
letters across the gluteal region, the slogans "Attitude" and "Play
Hard" as constant reminders to the team of their leader’s
expectations.

"That’s the whole premise of the program," Lavin said. "You play
hard, you compete, you have the right attitude. I’ll live with
missed shots, I’ll live with turnovers, I’ll live with
mistakes."

***

The list of practice casualties is growing. From two players
sitting down last week, now the team has three players out for
varying reasons. Freshman standout Earl Watson missed several days
of practice when he went back to Kansas City to attend to family
issues.

Freshman Todd Ramasar and sophomore Kevin Daly were also
sidelined for part of the week, Daly having undergone a root canal,
but both were expected back later in the week.

Senior J.R. Henderson, however, was back with the team this
week, having sorted out footwear difficulties that kept him out of
last Tuesday’s practice.

Compiled by Mark Shapiro, Daily Bruin Staff Writer.

Daily Bruin File Photo

Kris Johnson