2003 Basketball Preview

Howland looks to rebuild program through emphasis on
fundamentals

Starting over with a short bench and shallow talent It almost
seems like an afterthought. Stuffed between last year’s 19-loss
debacle and what looks to be a promising future, the 2002-2003 UCLA
basketball season very well could be one of the most forgettable in
the program’s storied history. Read More >> Pauley’s
student section moves closer to court Call them fair-weather, call
them finicky, call them loud. Either way, Bruin fans are getting
closer to the floor this season in Pauley Pavilion. Whereas the
previous student section on the arena, or floor, level was three
sections wide and bordered by non-student seats, recent changes
have moved the student section to stretch across the entire width
of the north side of the floor, across from the Bruin bench. The
number of student seats remains unchanged at 1,750. Read More >> Howland
questions schedule, late season start Ben Howland didn’t make the
schedule. But he wishes he did. The first-year UCLA men’s
basketball coach has questioned several components of the Bruin
schedule, including starting the season as late as Nov. 29. I don’t
like having just six games before Christmas, Howland said. Before
the season opener against Vermont, the Bruins were one of only four
Division I teams (out of a total of 326) who hadn’t started their
season. Some teams had played as many as four games by that point.
Read More >>
Scout squad gets beat ““ from practice with women’s
team Much has been made of the 2003-2004 UCLA men’s
basketball team. Los Angeles-area writers, talk show hosts and
television personalities have made a head coaching position in
Westwood look about as appealing as extracting teeth from a lion or
being Jabba the Hutt’s dinner. One year ago, Slick Steve
Lavin and Papa Bear Toledo were on Westwood’s most wanted list. Now
coach Karl Dorrell’s approach to football has been called boring
and dull by Los Angeles Times writer T.J. Simers. Talk about the
pot calling the kettle black. Read More >> Twist of fate
leads “˜Voice of Bruins’ to job he loves Chris Roberts,
the so-called “Voice of the Bruins,” grew up in the
very same area where his voice echoes throughout each UCLA football
and basketball game. “I’m a Southern California
guy,” Roberts said. During the 1980s, he had tried
unsuccessfully to get the play-by-play job for UCLA football games.
But a twist of fate led him to the job. After leaving KFI in 1992,
Roberts went to work at KMPC. John Reimenstorr, who had been
calling UCLA games up to that point, died of a heart attack one
month prior to the 1992 season. Read More >> Cautious
Optimism Men’s team shackled by limited bench but could
surpass expectations Read More >> Howland puts
academics first Ben Howland walked into the post-game press
conference beaming. But it wasn’t so much because he had just
coached the UCLA basketball team to an exhibition win, judging from
his opening comment to the media. “Trevor (Ariza) here got an
A on his midterm today,” Howland said, causing his freshman
forward who had just led the Bruins in points and rebounds to look
sheepish for the first time all night. Read More >> Young,
talented players lead women’s team Having relied on
experience of its seniors last season, the UCLA women’s
basketball program has taken a sip from the fountain of youth, and
led by sophomore Nikki Blue and freshman Noelle Quinn, the Bruins
have a new look this season. “It will be completely different
this year,” Coach Kathy Olivier said. “We’re
going to be up-tempo with a lot of different people touching the
ball.” Read More
>> Outlook not so good for Bruins Trying to
prognosticate the future of Bruin men’s basketball two games
into the season is always a little dicey, but especially for this
team. Who would have guessed, after two games, that last
year’s squad would end up losing 19 games and missing the
NCAA tournament? Who would be so bold to say that after starting
4-0 this year (Exhibition wins matter for this team. Recall the
25-point loss to Branch West last season?) that these Bruins will
also miss the NCAA tournament? Read More >> “˜If
the stars are aligned correctly’ What do you expect from
this UCLA basketball team? For the past few seasons, the answer
was: Expect anything. A few victories over No. 1 teams, and a few
losses to the EA Sports All-Stars. But this team, under the
guidance of new coach Ben Howland, will not vacillate between
greatness and utter ineptitude. No, it probably won’t beat Arizona,
and it probably won’t beat Michigan State. But what it will do is
beat Loyola Marymount and UC Santa Barbara. Yes, this is a UCLA
team that lacks depth and talent, but it will make up for those
deficiencies with good coaching and gutsy performances. Read More >> With
growth, squad can go a long way This close. That’s how
far the UCLA women’s basketball team was from earning an NCAA
bid last year. So what’s it going to take for this
year’s Bruin squad to advance to the postseason? Well, for
one thing, they are going to have to grow up. And soon. Read More >> Disorder
causes Washington’s Kayla Burt to reevaluate life on, off
court It has almost been one year since Kayla Burt stepped on the
hardwood floor for the University of Washington. However, the
memory of the time when she once laced up her shoes and played
competitive basketball still remains deep inside. “I’ll
always love the game,” Burt said. “But, it’s
different for me now. Basketball isn’t everything, and now I
appreciate my life more than ever.” Read More >> Pulling her
own weight Sophomore forward Julia Pitts looks to bulk up,
improve her court presence Measuring a woman by her weight
may seem taboo. Measuring a woman by her heart is not. That’s
why sophomore Julia Pitts stands just as firm as the bigger and
taller players she defends night in and night out for the UCLA
women’s basketball team. Entering her second season, Pitts is
undoubtedly a pivotal part of this year’s Bruin squad. A
mainstay in the starting lineup, UCLA has come to depend on Pitts
for her defensive presence and rebounding. Read More >>