Freshman are necessary for Bruin’s top play, domination
By Daily Bruin Staff
Jan. 13, 2002 9:00 p.m.
 EDWARD LIN/ Daily Bruin Senior Staff Freshman point guard
Cedric Bozeman (left) gets a step on Kansas’ Keith
Langford.
By Christina Teller
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
They didn’t lead the team in scoring. There were no
double-doubles among them. In fact, adding the three true
freshmen’s stats together still wouldn’t even complete
a double-double. The way the freshman trio of Cedric Bozeman, Dijon
Thompson and Andre Patterson helped the Bruins defeat No. 1 Kansas
doesn’t show up in the box score.
Bozeman brings a calming sense to the court. Thompson, the
versatility to handle the ball or shoot the rock. Patterson,
aggressiveness on the boards.
All three saw limited action in Thursday’s loss to USC,
with Thompson’s eight minutes being the most. But against
Kansas, Lavin knew he could wear down the Jayhawks with his deep
bench ““ and he did.
Giving 10 different players minutes through the course of the
game, Lavin kept the Bruins fresh, and the three freshman saw a
combined 50 minutes over the two halves.
Bozeman finished with four points, three assists and four
rebounds in his 27 minutes on the court ““ the most playing
time he’s seen since returning to the lineup on Jan. 4
against Washington.
“I just wanted to be out there and run the team and just
be solid,” Bozeman said. “I figure when I’m in
there, I just bust my butt and good things will happen.”
Bozeman was given more of a chance to find his rhythm in his
increased minutes on Saturday, and after the game Lavin told him,
“Good job” and “Way to run the team.”
Against Kansas, Bozeman again showed his advantage in being a
6-foot-6 point guard. Not only can he handle the ball, he can post
up and battle the opponent’s forwards for the rebound.
Thompson, who first checked into the game with 12:04 to go in
the first half, showed why he belongs on the court with his
consistent hustle. In the final minute of the first half, Thompson
prevented a Bruin turnover by forcing a Kansas defender to tip the
ball out of bounds. And just seconds later, Kansas had possession
of the ball and Nick Collison was driving to the basket when
Thompson caught up and swatted the ball away from him to end the
half and preserve the Bruins’ 46-35 half-time advantage.
“We knew we’d (the three freshmen) be a spark off
the bench today,” Thompson said. “I’m ready to go
when I’m sitting on the bench, so when he tells me I’m
in, I’m ready.”
Patterson finished with the second-highest rebounding total on
the team with five. Although not a spectacular stat on its own, he
snagged them all in his seven minutes of play in the first
half.
The freshman bring young energy into the game. As Bozeman put
it, you never know what you’re going to get when the three of
them are on the floor together.
The enthusiasm Bozeman, Thompson and Patterson bring to the
floor is an important part of the equation for Bruin success.
