One year ago, the issue of pulling down rebounds was laughable for the Bruins.
With a front court that was as deep as anyone’s in the country, getting to the glass was UCLA’s forte.
Now the tables have turned.
With the Bruins losing their top four rebounders to graduation and the NBA draft, the big question now becomes where will the boards come from?
“It’s a major concern,” coach Ben Howland said. “We lost our four leading rebounders. If you ask me one thing that concerns me most about this team will be our ability to rebound.”
The team will look on senior Alfred Aboya to step up from his 2.2 rebounds per game last season, but grabbing boards will be a team effort.
“Our rebounding will be done by committee,” Howland said. “It’s got to be a real point of emphasis for the entire team.”
Even though the Bruins lost key rebounders Kevin Love and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute to the NBA, the expectations will not change.
“We’re supposed to out-rebound everybody, every year,” Howland said. “But when you have a guy like Kevin and Luc who are very, very good rebounders, it was a little easier.”
This season the Bruins will need to rely on two freshmen ““ J’Mison Morgan and Drew Gordon ““ to help fill the hole under the hoop.
That means Aboya, as the most experienced postman, becomes the veteran relied on to help tutor the freshmen.
“Alfred is very much helping those two freshman bigs,” Howland said. “He’s constantly talking to them, constantly encouraging them. He gets upset when they’re not playing as hard as he thinks they should. He has no mercy in practice in terms of him playing physical and him playing tough and playing hard, which is a good thing because it helps raise those guys’ level of play.”
Aboya’s intensity was a “shock” to Morgan when he first got to UCLA, but his physicality in practice has rubbed off on the newcomers.
“Going against Alfred every day is intense,” Morgan said. “It gets me ready to play. It gets me over-ready to play. I don’t think anyone plays as hard as he does or rebounds as hard as he does. I think it gets me more ready than I need to be for all the centers in the Pac-10.”
Junior forward James Keefe has become a mentor in the post for Morgan and Gordon. After missing the first 12 games due to injury, Keefe came on last year for the Bruins, exploding in the Sweet 16 with his first career double-double. His experience on the glass will be necessary this season.
“So, I just help them every day in practice, giving them pointers, little tricks of the trade,” Keefe said about his leadership role. “They’re really coming along well. I think they’re going to be fine.”
DRAGOVIC TO BE DISCIPLINED: Howland announced after forward Nikola Dragovic’s arrest last week on suspicion of misdemeanor battery, Dragovic will be disciplined internally. Howland would not say whether the punishment would involve a suspension.
“Some of it’s been decided,” Howland said. “I’m still getting more information.”
INJURIES NOT A PROBLEM: As opposed to this time last year when Darren Collison, Michael Roll and James Keefe were all injured, this year’s squad has nobody limping into the season.
“Knock on wood, (the team’s health) is the best it’s been since we started,” Howland said. “Nobody had to go to the training room (on Sunday).”