UCLA Basketball Media Day, Part 2

As the Bruin players posed for pictures, autographed some basketballs and then sat in folding chairs distributed around the Pauley Pavilion court for questions from the media, the focus was almost immediately on a player who put on his UCLA jersey for the first time.

Kevin Love.

Surrounded by media from the moment he sat down, Love was articulate and polite, complimenting his teammates and excited to begin his collegiate basketball career. "We want to win every game, to go undefeated," he said with a smile that made his statement seem like more of a hope than a certainty as he added, "I know that hasn’t happened in years."

And his teammates were just as excited about the season:

>> Center Lorenzo Mata-Real, whose playing time will be the most affected by Love, wasn’t concerned. "It’s Coach Howland’s team, and I’m going to be a leader," he said. "I’m OK if I play 10 minutes or if I play 25 minutes. I’m going to play; I’m not worried about that. He [Love] is going to help us win some games."

Mata-Real, who is recovering from a foot injury and though not yet cleared to practice expects to be ready when formal practices start Friday night, sees Love’s presence as an opportunity. "It’s going to be like a three-headed monster," he said, referring to himself, Love and Alfred Aboya as a formidable combination in the low post. He’s also ready to show off a couple of new moves he’s developed for himself around the basket to help increase his scoring chances.

He’s also excited to be on his way to a degree and needs just seven more units to graduate. "I don’t think anybody in the whole nation expected me to graduate from UCLA," he said and he’s using his own experience as an example for others who have dropped out or are considering it.

>> Said wing Michael Roll, whose opportunities expanded toward the end of last season, "We just kind of click on the floor now; we know how each other plays. That just comes with the bonding: They all know how I want to play, I know how they want to play, so they’re going to get me open when I want to get open and when I need to. It’s whatever the team needs at the time; we’re just going to do that."

>> Forward James Keefe, now recovering from shoulder surgery but whose improvement was quite visible in summer workouts, is excited about his added shooting range from summer work as well as an increased ability to contribute better rebounding and defense inside. Keefe expects to be ready by the Western Illinois game Dec. 18.

>> Center-forward Alfred Aboya, looking strong from summer workouts, said his focus is completely on the team and not on himself: "My role is to play. The coach’s role is to coach and use everybody’s ability to have the team win. However my skills are used, I will just go out there and do whatever I am told to do. I’m just looking forward to practicing and getting better."

He said he worked especially hard on his ball-handling and his shooting, and "so far, it looks pretty good." He also may have a chance to play for his native Cameroon next summer in a last attempt to qualify for the Olympic Games in Beijing. "I’ll always look forward to go back and help my country in any which way I can." He said the Cameroon coaching staff will decide if he will play on the national team next year. "Obviously, if my name is called, I will be there."

Aboya is well-known for his continuously expanding interest in politics, of course, and spent a few minutes during one interview session with a reporter trying to figure out how to end the Arab-Israeli conflict.

>> Countryman Luc Richard Mbah A Moute (pictured) said he takes nothing for granted. "All the rankings . . . don’t mean anything. Florida, two years ago, wasn’t even ranked [going into the season], but they won the national championship. Everybody is good. You’ve got to go by ‘Fear nobody, but respect everybody’ and that’s what we go by."

Asked if he was concerned about O.J. Mayo and USC, Mbah A Moute smiled and said, "I’m concerned with everybody in America . . . you just got to go out there and play. You have to go out there and prove it."

He really enjoyed his time with the Cameroon team at the African Championships this past summer, where he was part of the silver-medal-winning team "It was real similar to playing in the Final Four," he said. "You’ve got the pressure and everything. A lot of people watching you, a lot of pressure and a lot of good players playing against you. So it was good and it was fun."

Once back from the Afrobasket tournament, he said, "I worked a lot on my shooting and I think it’s improved a lot from the end of last year to this year." And his range now? "Any range: inside, outside, anywhere. Shooting is shooting."

Tomorrow: a guess (prediction?) on who will be the surprise star of this year's Bruin team. Your idea? Send in your nomination in the Comments section.

Comments

[bhsportsguy]

I vote for Russell Westbrook.

[bhsportsguy]

Russell Westbrook

[Alexis]

Great write-up.

The surprise star has got to be Westbrook. He gives us quickness and explosiveness at the 2 that we just don't have with Shipp or Roll.

Any word on how Stanback looks?

[Skip Maison]

Russell Westbrook...He will shock everyone this year. The improvement that Collison made between Freshman and Sophomore years is the same bridge that Russell will cross. Watch out for this kid who averaged close to 30 a game in high school.
Bruins...#1

[Marco]

Westbrook will be the player with the flashy moments, but I'm looking forward to Luc Richard. He didn't have that leap from his freshman to sophmore year (like Collison), so I expect him to really take it to another level this year. He should be able to benefit from having Love drawing double teams at times to use his jump shot/cuts/put-backs to average 15pts and 11 rebs. Looking forward to another undefeated season at home, and a Final Four tri-fecta!

[Frank Bonaccorso]

Rich: The surprise player if given a chance to step up might very well be a player who always has been under the radar. Nicola Dragovic. If Dragovic has learned enough defense to gain coach Howland's trust and can just get some playing minutes --- the kid can light it up with his shooting.
Both Westbrook and Luc Richard will contribute greatly -- that is not in doubt in my mind. No one will be surprised if Kevin Love is spectacular-- that is an expectation in all corners. A very pleasant surprise will be the emergence of Dragovic from out of the blue. It could happen.

[GML]

The "C" on the basketball jerseys is absolutely nauseating! It makes a classic uniform look like a clown costume! Please go back to the tried and true classic!!!!