BANGED-UP BRUINS FACING HUGE TEST NO. 12 WEST VIRGINIA GOOD MARCH PRIMER.Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX has been masterful overcoming injuries to nearly every member of its roster, but the long-term ramifications ramifications npl → Auswirkungen pl might be seen today when the 18th-ranked Bruins host No. 12 West Virginia West Virginia, E central state of the United States. It is bordered by Pennsylvania and Maryland (N), Virginia (E and S), and Kentucky and, across the Ohio R., Ohio (W). Facts and Figures Area, 24,181 sq mi (62,629 sq km). Pop. . The Mountaineers have won 11 in a row, play the rugged Big East style, and possess the type of talent the Bruins could see as early as the second round of the NCAA Tournament NCAA Tournament can mean: Men's Sports
Yet to be determined is how the loss of several top players, and the lack of continuity from so many missed games, will affect UCLA as the NCAA Tournament progresses. ``I'm glad we get to play a team like this right now, so if we win we know where we stand, and if we can improve.'' said sophomore guard Arron Afflalo Arron Agustin Afflalo (born October 15, 1985) is an American professional basketball player, currently with the Detroit Pistons. He recently completed a three-year career at University of California, Los Angeles in the Pacific Ten Conference of the NCAA as the starting shooting , who leads UCLA in scoring at 19.8 points per game. ``And if things don't work out and we lose, we know things we need to work on to get past the injury part of it, and maybe see that team again and become successful.'' A year ago, UCLA used a late February non-conference victory at Notre Dame Notre Dame IPA: [nɔtʁ dam] is French for Our Lady, referring to the Virgin Mary. In the United States of America, Notre Dame as a springboard to the NCAAs, but Bruins coach Ben Howland Ben Howland (born May 28, 1957 in Lebanon, Oregon) is an American college head coach of men's basketball. He has been the head coach of the University of California, Los Angeles since 2003, and recently signed a contract extension through 2013. would not indulge about the Mountaineers (13-3) providing an opportunity for a better seed this year. ``I'm worried about getting in the NCAA Tournament, period,'' Howland said. ``Seeding is not on my mind.'' UCLA (15-3) lost 49 games from seven players because of bumps, bruises and breaks. The biggest losses are two sophomores - wing Josh Shipp Josh Shipp (born 23 January in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) is an American motivational speaker and author focusing on youth and college-aged audiences. He is noted as being one of the youngest speakers ever accepted into the National Speakers Association. and center Lorenzo Mata. Shipp, who played in only four games, already is out for the season with a hip injury. Howland said UCLA was trying to get a ``bone stimulator to try and stimulate'' the healing process. But Mata remains out at least five to seven more weeks with a broken leg, and, even if he returns, the missed practice time will be detrimental. Also on the list of concerns are point guard Jordan Farmar Jordan Robert Farmar (born November 30, 1986) is an American professional basketball player at starting point guard for the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers. He was previously the starting point guard for the UCLA men's basketball team. (ankle, two missed games), centers Michael Fey (groin/shoulder/ankle, 10 games) and Ryan Hollins Ryan Hollins (born October 10, 1984) is an American professional basketball player. At 7 foot, 225 lbs, he is a center from the University of California, Los Angeles. He was selected in the second round of the 2006 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Bobcats. (groin, six games), and power forward Alfred Aboya (knee, six games). ``The way the year is going, yeah, the injuries are always going to be a problem for us in the postseason, but we really can't think about,'' said UCLA center Michael Fey, who missed 10 games with various ailments. ``When it comes down to the Pac-10 Tournament and the NCAAs, we're just going to have to deal with it.'' There is also no guarantee versatile wing Cedric Bozeman Cedric R. Bozeman (born March 7 1983 in Los Angeles, California) is an American professional basketball player, formerly of the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA. Bozeman averaged 1.1 points in 23 games with five starts with the Hawks before being waived in January 2007. will finish the season. Bozeman, a fifth-year senior, was the starting point Noun 1. starting point - earliest limiting point terminus a quo commencement, get-go, offset, outset, showtime, starting time, beginning, start, kickoff, first - the time at which something is supposed to begin; "they got an early start"; "she knew from the guard the last time the Bruins had an extended stay in the tournament. He has missed the past seven games with a shoulder injury, but is hopeful of returning Thursday when UCLA plays at Oregon. However, Bozeman, who acknowledged he still has weakness in the shoulder, is experiencing tendinitis in his surgically repaired right knee. ``(The injuries) hurt and it helps,'' Bozeman said. ``It's 50-50. We allow other people to step up and get a chance to play, which could help us down the road. But it also sets us back a little bit because I think we can also be an even better team with everybody healthy. It's a win-lose situation.'' Freshmen Michael Roll, Darren Collison, and most notably, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (born 9 September 1986 in Yaounde, Cameroon) is a 6' 8" Cameroonian basketball player who plays for the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Bruins in the Pacific Ten Conference of the NCAA. , all played well in the absence of others, but there could bea price. Mbah a Moute, averaging eight points and a team-leading 8.7 points, is playing nearly 31 minutes per game. Roll, a 3-point specialist, had his minutes increase dramatically, to 32 per game since Shipp stopped playing. ``It's tough to say how those things are going to work out because in the postseason, it's a one-game elimination,'' Afflalo said. ``You'll never know, 'If we had this guy, this would have happened.' (Depth) is definitely a luxury we do not have, and it's the type of personnel we're losing. We're losing a lot of key guys.'' Continuity is another issue. The injuries often leave eight or nine scholarship players for practice, and damages familiarity with one another in games. Also, freshmen usually wear down as a season goes along, as was evident a year ago with Farmar, Afflalo and Shipp. ``The injuries are definitely hurting because guys have to play added minutes that they haven't played before,'' Hollins said. ``Guys have to step up, but at least they're learning now rather than being thrown in the fire later in the tournament.'' Brian Dohn, (818) 713-3607 brian.dohn(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: UCLA will miss players such as Lorenzo Mata, who is out with a broken leg, in today's noncoference game against No. 12 West Virginia. Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer Box: NO. 16 UCLA vs. NO. 12 W. VIRGINIA - Brian Dohn |
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