UCLA Basketball

<p>We don't have to score a whole lot. We just have to stop Florida from scoring.</p>

<p>the amazing run is over.</p>

<p>Props to my man Bozeman.
Good luck Hollins in the NBA.</p>

<p>Farmar and Afflalo and new players next year!
They're getting a center and a big man.</p>

<p>I can see UCLA in the Final Four again!</p>

<p>does anyone know the team makeup of next year? i know if farmar and affalo are back...were gonna be good</p>

<p>farmar and afflalo are gonna be the core, Luc Richard is gonna tear it up, we recruited a big man up front (even tho he kinda sucked at the McD's game), and we're not losing anyone after next year, because we have no juniors right now :)</p>

<p>unless jordan or aaron, well, you know... let's hope they don't go pro.</p>

<p>Josh Shipp will be back too.</p>

<p>Farmar, Afflalo and Shipp will rule the perimeter with Afflalo and Shipp on the wings. Mbah a Moute will be his usual presence on the defensive end and on the boards. Mata/Aboya/Wright/Keefe will split time in the post. Collison will help handle the ball and be a defensive presence at the same time. Roll will bring some threes off the bench.</p>

<p>If Farmar goes to the NBA, Collison should step in and we won't lose too much. Farmar is a great player but at times our team was better with Collison on the floor.</p>

<p>dude i cant wait to watch the bruins play in the pauly pavillion...it was pretty fun to watch my cousin graduate with the other engineers in there.</p>

<p>if jordan farmar ends up being picked in the draft...im gonna cry.</p>

<p>Who thinks there will be a rematch next year? Florida's hot-shots are all returning next year (Noah, Horford, Brewer, Humphrey)</p>

<p>im sad to say that ucla will not be able to reach the final 4 this year if farmar is drafted.</p>

<p>"im sad to say that ucla will not be able to reach the final 4 this year if farmar is drafted."</p>

<p>That's ridiculous. We're bringing back everyone else and Darren Collison may even more efficient at running the point than Farmar was. He's certainly the better defender of the two. We're getting Josh Shipp back who is our best scorer and a guy who we really could have used last season.</p>

<p>Farmar or not we're going to be a force to be reckoned with next year.</p>

<p>thats true that most of the team will come back...but in the games i saw, farmar led the ucla attack most of the time.
but i may be wrong (and i hope so)
either way, go BRUINS!</p>

<p>Farmar was a huge, huge part of the attack despite not having the greatest season. The offense ran through him and his ability to control a game from the point was second to none in the Pac-10. That said, making it back to the Final Four isn't dependent on just him coming back. There are so many factors affecting that that one player won't make the whole difference. Maybe next time we don't squeek by the Zags. Maybe next time we don't have someone step up in the middle like Hollins did. No one really knows. That's why we play the games. Collison has the skills to be a good player too and brings some things that Farmar doesn't. He can penetrate nearly at will, is a much better on ball defender (though Farmar was decent off the ball), and just brings another dimension of speed. That being said, he's got to do things like refine his jumpshot, make better decisions, and be more of a distributor to take his game to the next level, but I wouldn't count that out. I'd still like Farmar to come back, but either way we will move on.</p>

<p>I'm not sure how many of you remember just how awful our team was at the beginning of the season. We almost lost to teams like Drexel and Albany. It got ugly. And then came the injuries, first to Shipp, then to Ced, then to almost everyone else. We were lucky to be peaking at the right time, but it was a very successful run, and the way that we are developing, I know we are doing things the right way to maintain a high level of success for a long time.</p>

<p>thanks for the breakdown. now i can look forward to another great season at ucla!!!!</p>

<p>Honestly, Farmar is reaching a substantial level of being overpraise. He's not a very strong guard, turns over the ball a lot for a true PG, and doesn't shoot very well for a shooting point guard (kind of sounds like Gerry McNamara, but he's much better than that). He can't get away with it as much as Baron did because he isn't a super-freak athlete, so I think it's a pretty big mistake that he'd be thinking about the NBA right now. Plus, while improving defensively, he's not at the level that he could even decently handle the average NBA PG.</p>

<p>Collison reminds me a lot of Tyus Edney (I feel bad for all the people whose farthest memories are those of the Steve Lavin era). I love the pace he brings to the game and how the teams scoring seems to greatly improve while he's on the floor. He has amazing speed and gets through the lane seemingly at will and always hits those short floaters, and while he did have some obvious flaws last years (particularly some bad decision making and freshman mistakes), I really like the future for him.</p>

<p>This doesn't mean I don't think Farmar is great, but I wouldn't be that disappointed if he left, especially not as much as if someone like Afflalo did (who seems to have the intent of staying).</p>

<p>The thing about Farmar is that he has some rare gifts and at the same time, has some absolutely huge flaws in his game. You really can't teach his feel for the game, and his vision as a passer is very instinctive as well. He's a pure point guard, and as much as I love Darren's game he has a very long way to go before he can control the offense like Jordan does. That being said, he really needs to learn how to shoot (he has good form already, just needs to go in consistently), take good shots, and give consistent effort on D. Really, his peak of ability would be Steve Nash (remember too he didn't become MVP Steve Nash til 30), but if he doesn't improve, he's out of the league by the time his rookie contract is up. No matter where he goes, comes back to school or goes to the league, how much he wants to work and mature will decide how good he will be.</p>

<p>Anyway, I really think our most important player is Prince Luc Richard Mbah a Moute. Talk about rare gifts, how many guys do you find who do that much dirty work that consistently? He's just the type of guy anyone would want to play with, like a Rodman or Artest but completely sane. Once he gets a jump shot, look out... he already gets to the bucket easily enough without one, if defenders have to play him honestly you can write him in for 14 and 10 every game next year.</p>

<p>You guys are forgetting Afflalo declared also. He is more crucial then Farmar. And if they both leave... And it has nothing to do with being picked in the draft, it has to do with whether they sign an agent. Once they do that, they lose their NCAA eligibility. They are just testing the waters to see if they are potential first round picks. I think that if the past is any indication of the future, they will go.</p>

<p>i dont think affalo will go to the nba unless hes a first rounder..i dont think affalo is gonna be picked in the first round, but farmar is a definite possibility</p>

<p>Afflalo isn't going; it's pretty obvious that he didn't show enough to prove to be a first rounder. Farmar entered a camp which have historically been for players trying to boost their value (players who are sure-fire first rounders don't go because they may risk losing spots), while it seems like Afflalo has stayed put and has the intent of staying.</p>