UCLA Team Report
GETTING INSIDE
Nikola Dragovic has had more on his mind recently than making a making a basket.
And the senior forward hasn’t made many, either.
Three days before Christmas, Dragovic entered a not guilty plea to felony charges stemming from a fight at a Hollywood concert, and it seemed to clear his head a bit. That night he scored a season-high 17 points in the Bruins’ 75-63 win over Colorado State.
“Just by not having to deal with lawyers, not going to meetings, just even think about it, I’m able to put more time into basketball,” Dragovic said.
Dragovic entered the game shooting just 27 percent for the season, but he was 5-for-8 against Colorado State, giving the Bruins’ a much-needed offensive boost. The win over the Rams improved UCLA to a still-struggling 4-7.
He still faces a Feb. 1 court date to set a date for his preliminary hearing, but if Dragovic is able to compartmentalize his life on and off the court, the Bruins will be the better for it.
His performance against Colorado State was just his third double-digit scoring game of the season. He averaged 9.4 points as a junior, despite the presence of three established seniors.
Dragovic missed all three of his 3-point tries in UCLA’s 66-49 win over Delaware State on Dec. 27, but scored 11 points.
NOTES, QUOTES
• The 84 points UCLA allowed in a loss to Notre Dame equaled the most points the team has surrendered in a game since the 2004-05 season.
• UCLA entered the Dec. 27 Delaware State game converting just 59.7 percent from the free throw line, worst in the Pac-10. The Bruins shot a respectable 11 of 15 from the line in that game.
January At A Glance: Can the Bruins’ young players begin to mature in a hurry? UCLA opens the Pac-10 season at home against the Arizona schools, then faces conference co-favorite Cal in Berkeley on the second weekend of the league schedule. Seems a long time ago when the Bruins were projected to finish third in the Pac-10.
Quote To Note: “We have to improve. It’s going to be a whole new season when you get to Pac-10 play.”—UCLA coach Ben Howland.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
Season Recap: Yikes. The Bruins were just 2-6 at one point—matching their worst eight-game start since the 1945-46 season. The team was wracked by injury and illness early, then starting center Drew Gordon announced he was transferring. It can only get better, right?
Player Rotation: Usual Starters—C Reeves Nelson, F Nikola Dragovic, G Malcolm Lee, G Michael Roll, G Jerime Anderson. Key Subs—F Tyler Honeycutt, G Mustafa Abdul-Hamid.
Game Review:
Notre Dame 87, UCLA 73
Ucla 75, C olorado State 63
Ucla 66, D elaware State 49
Game Preview:
vs. Arizona State, Thursday, Dec. 31
vs. Arizona, Saturday, Jan. 2
at California, Wednesday, Jan. 6
at Stanford, Saturday, Jan. 9
vs. USC, Saturday, Jan. 16
In Focus: The Bruins get to open conference play at Pauley Pavilion, but must deal with Arizona State’s veteran backcourt and sticky defense in the Pac-10 opener. ASU won both meetings last year … and a third straight win would match its longest streak in the series since joining the league.
Roster Report:
• Freshman C Reeves Nelson, becoming more comfortable as a starter, had 15 points and six rebounds in the win over Colorado State, then a career-best 21 points against Delaware State. He averaged 15.8 points on 77.4 percent shooting in four games prior to the start of the Pac-10.
• Sophomore G Malcolm Lee continues to emerge. He averaged 20.3 points over a four-game span headed into the Dec. 27 game vs. Delaware State, improving his season scoring mark to 15.2. Lee scored seven points against Delaware State.
• Senior G Michael Roll battled a flu bug before Christmas, but still managed double-figure scoring in six straight games prior to Delaware State. He scored only two points against Delaware State.
