UCLA: February 2008 Archives

This is from UCLA's release:

John Wooden, UCLA's legendary former basketball coach, is resting comfortably this evening in an area hospital. The name of the hospital is being withheld at the request of the family.

Coach Wooden, 97, is doing fine and has visited with family throughout the day, according to his daughter, Nan Muehlhausen.

Coach Wooden was hospitalized earlier today. He has a hairline fracture of his left wrist and a fractured left collarbone from a fall in his condo last night. He also hit his head, but a CT-scan of his head and neck were negative.

“Dad’s spirits are good,” Muehlhausen said. “He is up and joking around with the family. He will probably be in the hospital for a couple of more days before he goes home.”

“We appreciate everyone’s concern, but we are requesting that people do not call the hospital and do not try to visit Dad at this time.”

“The entire UCLA community wishes Coach Wooden a speedy recovery,” said UCLA head coach Ben Howland, who is in Tucson for Sunday’s game versus Arizona. “We are glad that his injuries are not more serious, and we look forward to seeing him when we return to Los Angeles.”

UCLA 70, Arizona State 49
WHAT WENT RIGHT: Josh Shipp emerged from an agonizing 0-for-20 three-point shooting slump to knock down 4 of 8 from behind the arc. Darren Collison knocked down four first-half threes to help UCLA build an 11-point halftime lead despite a gruesome offensive start. Kevin Love played with far more energy and emotion than he did against Oregon, scoring 18 points, grabbing 12 rebounds and helping limit Jeff Pendergraph to just five points. And finally, the defensive effort of Luc Richard Mbah a Moute on James Harden was superb. Harden had 11 points and was a non-factor in the second half.
WHAT WENT WRONG: Perhaps it just took some time for UCLA to feel out Arizona State's aggressive 3-2 zone, but yikes, that first 10 minutes was ugly offensively. Two offensive fouls from Russell Westbrook, two threes that failed to draw iron from Shipp and even a baseline jumper that caromed off the side of the backboard from Mbah a Moute. The Bruins missed 10 of their first 14 shots, struggling to penetrate the middle of the zone before correcting their mistakes in the final 25-30 minutes of the game.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I guess it was a moment of relief. It felt good to finally get one down." -- Josh Shipp on knocking down his first three to break an 0-for-20 skid.
UP NEXT: UCLA at Arizona, Sunday, 1 p.m.

UCLA center Chris Joseph has earned an NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship, it was announced by the NCAA today. He is one of 58 NCAA student-athletes (29 men and 29 women) representing fall sports participants who will receive the one-time grant of $7,500.

Joseph, who started every game this past year at center after starting at guard as a junior, owns a 3.95 GPA at UCLA and is majoring in Geography. He earned first-team Academic All-America honors in both 2006 and 2007.

Joseph is the 63rd UCLA student-athlete to earn an NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship and the 17th in the sport of football.

With two weeks remaining in the regular season, UCLA is among the seven teams realistically competing for four No. 1 seeds in next month's NCAA tournament. Here's a look at how the seven stack up:

Tennessee (24-2, 11-1 SEC)
RPI: 1; Last 10: 9-1
Key wins: at Xavier, at Memphis, Vanderbilt
Bad losses: at Kentucky
Toughest remaining game: at Florida, March 5

North Carolina (26-2, 11-2 ACC)
RPI: 3; Last 10: 8-2
Key wins: at Clemson, BYU at Miami
Bad losses: Maryland
Toughest remaining game: at Duke, March 8

Memphis (26-1, 12-0 C-USA)
RPI: 2; Last 10: 9-1
Key wins: Connecticut, Georgetown, Arizona
Bad losses: none
Toughest remaining game: Alabama-Birmingham, March 8

UCLA (24-3, 12-2 Pac-10)
RPI: 9; Last 10: 8-2
Key wins: Michigan State, at Stanford, at Washington State
Bad losses: at Washington
Toughest remaining game: Stanford, March 6

Texas (24-4, 11-2 Big 12)
RPI: 4; Last 10: 9-1
Key wins: Tennessee, Kansas, at UCLA
Bad losses: at Missouri
Toughest remaining game: at Texas Tech, Saturday

Kansas (24-3, 9-3 Big 12)
RPI: 8; Last 10: 7-3
Key wins: Arizona, at USC, Baylor
Bad losses: at Oklahoma State
Toughest remaining game: at Texas A&M, March 8

Duke (23-3, 10-2 ACC)
RPI: 5; Last 10: 8-2
Key wins: Marquette, Wisconsin, at North Carolina
Bad losses: at Wake Forest, at Miami
Toughest remaining game: North Carolina, March 8

UCLA WR Brandon Breazell ran a 4.47 40-yard dash at the combine, putting him in the Top 10 among WR's. Here is his Q&A, with a nice shout-out to one of his teammates who knocked him silly this season.

Q: Growing up, who was your favorite NFL player and why?
A: Jerry Rice. I thought he was the best wideout.
Q: In college, what player hit you the hardest? Who was the recipient of your best hit?
A: Logan Palson our TE (UCLA)
Q: What TV-show marathon will keep you on the couch all day?
A: Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
Q: What are the five most-played songs in your iPod? What's the one song you hope nobody ever finds out is in your iPod?
A: Chris Brown - Take You Down, Lonny Bereak (Jamie Foxx) - Tell Him You're With Me, Marques Jones - Touch Your Body,
Q: What celebrity would play you in the movie version of your life and why?
A: Mike Epps, because my brothers say I act like him.
Q: What is one thing your teammates don't know about you?
A: My teammates know everything about me because I open up to them.
Q: What reality TV show would you like to be on and why?
A: College Hill
Q: What's your proudest moment in football? Proudest moment off the field?
A: Game winning catch vs. Stanford; Seeing my son (Bryson) for the first time
Q: When you play Madden, what team do you use? Do you put yourself on the team?
A: 49ers, and yes I do.
Q: Who has been the biggest influence on your football career and how?
A: My parents and Clifton Smith Jr. (godbrother)

UCLA will do its pro day for NFL scouts on March 13 at 9 am.

UCLA 84, OREGON STATE 59
WHAT WENT RIGHT: Unlike last month's game in Corvallis, UCLA seized control of this one early, storming to a 22-point halftime lead. Kevin Love sparked the Bruins early with 11 points and 9 rebounds by halftime. Darren Collison and Russell Westbrook carried the load the rest of the way, knocking down jumpers and scoring in transition. UCLA showed signs of emerging from its shooting slump, hitting 55 percent of its shots and 5 of 14 from behind the arc. And, perhaps most importantly, the starters got some rest for once heading into Saturday's matchup with high-octane Oregon, playing no more than 29 minutes apiece.
WHAT WENT WRONG: Lakers guard Jordan Farmar, a close friend of Josh Shipp, walked up the Pauley stairs after the game and told reporters, "Don't say Josh is in a slump. He'll be scoring." Maybe so ... But at this point, Shipp's shooting slump has to be one of UCLA's primary concerns. He missed all four of his threes again last night, making him 0-for-19 in UCLA's last five games.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I would not be surprised if they make it back to the Final Four," Oregon State interim coach Kevin Mouton said. "Their help defense is as good as their one-on-one defense. And they have been there before."
NEXT UP: Oregon at UCLA, Saturday, 12:30 p.m.

As if Oregon State didn't have enough problems heading into tonight's matchup with UCLA, now the hapless Beavers reportedly will be without two key players. Starting forward Marcel Jones and reserve Sean Carter will serve a one-game suspension tonight for their role in last week's confrontation with several Washington players during the Huskies shootaround in Corvallis, according to reports out of Oregon.
This is about as lopsided a game as you'll find in conference play this year, with the Bruins atop the Pac-10 and the last-place Beavers coming off a 38-point drubbing by Washington and flirting with the first winless season in modern-day Pac-10 history. For those curious what the line is for tonight's mismatch -- and frankly I was -- it's UCLA by 27 1/2. Yikes.

I ran into UCLA LB Christian Taylor -- one of my favorite athletes that I've covered -- on campus yesterday and saw that he finally had surgery on his torn right bicep, which he injured in the 2006 season but played a year and a half with it hurting.

Taylor said he had surgery shortly after the Las Vegas Bowl and that he was slated to get the brace off on Thursday. He said he will be unable to do any workouts for NFL teams this year and wasn't sure where this would leave his future.

Although if there was anybody on that team that would succeed and be happy with life after football, it may have been him. Something tells me he'll end up doing well in life regardless of what path he takes.

UCLA fullback Michael Pitre will participate in spring football, though it is unclear yet if he will play next year.

Pitre is applying for a sixth year of eligibility from the NCAA after missing all but seven plays last year due to a bone bruise in his knee. He also missed his first season in the program because of a neck injury.

Rick Neuheisel said that the school may not know until late spring if Pitre is granted the extra year but that his understanding is that Pitre can do spring drills and work out with the team so long as the case is pending.

UCLA Coach Rick Neuheisel said that tight end Scott Glicksberg, who played sparingly in a blocking role, would move to center to try and add depth at the interior line.

In talking to Rick Neuheisel on Tuesday, here are some injury updates....

He is optimistic that QB Pat Cowan (minor knee surgery last week) will be ready for spring ball.

RB Raymond Carter (torn ACL in August) should be cleared for non-contact work for spring ball.

RB Kahlil Bell is healing nicely and could be ready by fall camp.

WR Marcus Everett (ankle) should be able to do some spring ball.

In talking with UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel on Tuesday, I asked what type of offense he would run and he said he still hasn't put a name on it, but opted to call it "Chow-ball" and stressed the importance of a strong ground game.

I then asked if he and Norm Chow would be using something similar to what Chow used at USC, and Neuheisel said that it would bare a strong resemblance.

"I hope so," Neuheisel said. "I like the way that thing turned out."

Here is the story I wrote for today's print edition regarding Rick Neuheisel responding to the recent Seattle Times stories.

And here is a link to the homepage for the Seattle Times series. It's worth reading.

UCLA signees Malcolm Lee of Riverside North and Jrue Holiday of North Hollywood Campbell Hall were named McDonald's All-Americans.The game will be played on March 26th in Milwaukee, and televised by ESPN. Here's a look at the full rosters for both teams.

For the Pac-10 to get more than four or five NCAA berths, the selection committee is probably going to have to do something it hasn't done since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985: invite a Pac-10 team with a .500 record.
Of the 14 Pac-10 teams to finish 9-9 in the conference during the past two-plus decades, none have made it to the NCAA tournament. Of course, very few of those teams had the strength of schedule and RPI of this year's USC and Arizona teams, the four RPI top 25 victories of Arizona State or were coming off an elite eight run like Oregon.
With three weeks remaining in the conference season, UCLA, Stanford and Washington State are near-certain NCAA tournament teams. Here's my best guess for what the Pac-10's other five teams need to do to get invited to the dance:

Arizona (16-9, 6-6) -- With an RPI of 16 bolstered by non-conference wins over Texas A&M, UNLV and Houston, the Wildcats seem pretty safe. Still, they would be wise to at least get to .500 in conference play by winning three of their final six games -- no easy task considering four of six are on the road and UCLA is one of the two home games. If Arizona goes into a late tailspin, would the selection committee take into account that three early losses came without Jerryd Bayless and all the late ones are without Nick Wise? In theory, it would, but that's a big risk.
USC (15-9, 6-6) -- Even with four of six games at home, USC's spot in the field is tenuous because of Daniel Hackett's absence. I can't see the Trojans missing the tournament if they get to 18 wins, but USC is so short on depth right now that getting to 9-9 may be a tall order. Plus, if Hackett is truly out for the season, the selection committee would take that into account. I still like USC's chances, but sweeping the Oregon schools at home this week would be a huge coup.
Arizona State (16-8, 6-6) -- Had the Sun Devils beaten Cal at home on Saturday, they would be in great shape right now. Instead Arizona State has a tough path ahead of it with road trips to the Washington schools and the Oregon schools sandwiched around home games against USC and UCLA. A horrid non-conference schedule has Arizona State's RPI still way down in the 70s, but the Sun Devils do have four RPI top 25 wins (Xavier, Stanford and two over Arizona). Still, they would be wise to get to 20 wins, including the Pac-10 tournament, to feel safe.
Oregon (15-10, 6-7) -- This is a must-split road trip for the Ducks in Los Angeles, which makes Oregon's game at USC Thursday night absolutely essential. With an RPI of 50 and ugly early losses to Nebraska and Oakland, the Ducks need at least three wins in their last five games to have any chance and maybe a win or two in the Pac-10 tournament on top of that.
Cal (15-9, 6-7) -- The Bears appear to be in identical position to Oregon, except their schedule is far tougher. Road games at Stanford, USC and UCLA remain, as does a home date with Washington State. With an RPI of No. 77, Cal must get to at least .500 in conference play before the Pac-10 tournament -- a near impossible task given the road in front of the Bears.

UCLA 56, USC 46
WHAT WENT RIGHT: The defensive effort, highlighted by Russell Westbrook's blanketing of O.J. Mayo, was the perfect response to last Sunday's lackadaisical performance at Washington. The Bruins dove for loose balls, fought through screens, crashed the boards and generally made the hustle plays they needed to in order to offset a truly dreadful offensive night. The return of Luc Richard Mbah a Moute helped stymie USC's Davon Jefferson, and the Bruins did an excellent job in transition defense -- an area they struggled with during the first USC-UCLA game. Also key: Forcing 22 turnovers and winning the rebounding battle.
WHAT WENT WRONG: Had USC's offense not been so impotent and UCLA's defense not been so stout, the Bruins' inability to score down the stretch probably would have cost them the game. UCLA had two field goals in the final 11:33 -- two! Yet still they never let USC get any closer than 46-42. Why the offensive woes? Give some credit to the USC defense, but UCLA did a poor job of attacking off the dribble. Too often the Bruins settled for the shots USC was willing to give up -- mainly Mbah a Moute jumpers -- or were left to take a contested perimeter three with the shot clock running down.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “I’ve known O.J. since eighth grade, and I’ve never seen a player take him out of the game like Russell Westbrook did tonight. Overall, that probably won us the game." -- UCLA's Kevin Love on Russell Westbrook limiting O.J. Mayo to four points.
NEXT UP: Oregon State at UCLA, Thursday, 7:30 p.m.

With reserve guard Michael Roll still at least two weeks away from participating in any kind of basketball drills, UCLA coach Ben Howland said the junior is “very likely” to redshirt.
Roll has healed slower than expected after re-rupturing the plantar fascia in his left foot during practice on New Year's Eve. He is eligible for a medical redshirt because he played in less than 30 percent of UCLA's total games this season.
“The bottom line is he's still in pain right now,” Howland said. “I don't want to ask a kid to blow his whole year for four games.”

Quarterback Pat Cowan had surgery on Friday to repair a small piece of torn cartilage from his left knee and will begin rehabbing next week. Cowan's status for spring ball will be determined closer to the April 3 start date.

Here is the UCLA release....

Tim Hauck, who has spent the past four years of the staff at the University of Montana, has been hired as an assistant coach at UCLA, Bruin head coach Rick Neuheisel announced today. Hauck will assist defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker with the secondary.

“Tim was an outstanding college football player and enjoyed a long, productive career in the NFL,” said Neuheisel. “He has transitioned nicely into the coaching profession and will be a nice fit with DeWayne in the secondary. Our defensive backs will benefit from his experience as a player and a coach.”

During Hauck’s four years at his alma mater, Montana compiled a record of 43-10, making the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoffs all four years, including the title game in 2004.

This past season, Hauck coached the Montana secondary. The Grizzlies ranked 10th nationally in pass efficiency defense and allowed just eight touchdowns while making 17 interceptions en route to a record of 11-1. Strong safety Colt Anderson was named first-team All-Big Sky Conference.

In Hauck’s three previous seasons on staff (2004-2006), he worked exclusively with the safeties. In 2006, Anderson and free safety Torrey were named to the Big Sky Conference's first team. In 2005, brothers and safeties Torrey and Tyler Thomas were honorable mention selections.

Hauck, 41, played safety in the National Football League for 13 seasons, retiring in 2002. He originally signed with the New England Patriots as a free agent in 1990 and played for Green Bay, Seattle, Denver, Indianapolis, Philadelphia and San Francisco.

A safety for the Grizzlies, Hauck earned first-team All-America honors in both 1988 and 1989. He was voted the Big Sky Conference's defensive MVP as a junior and a senior and he also was voted the recipient of Montana's Steve Carlson Award (MVP) those two seasons. He is the only player in school history to receive the Golden Helmet Award (“Hardest Hitter”) three times, winning it in 1987, 1988, and 1989. He earned his degree in Business Education in 1990.

Hauck is ranked third in Montana history with 305 career tackles in just three seasons at Montana. He's third in school history with 15 career interceptions. He began his college career at Pacific University in Oregon and was an all-conference pick there as a freshman.

Hauck (pronounced: Howk) prepped at Sweet Grass High School in Big Timber, MT and was an all-state quarterback and defensive back, playing for his dad, Bob Hauck Sr. His brother, Bobby Hauck, is the head coach at Montana. Bobby worked on Neuheisel’s staff at both Colorado and Washington and was a graduate assistant at UCLA while Neuheisel was an assistant coach.

Tim Hauck is a native of Butte, MT and was born on December 20, 1966.

UCLA’s Luc Richard Mbah a Moute has not been cleared for a full practice, but the versatile forward is still expected to be available Sunday at USC. Mbah a Moute participated in shooting drills on Wednesday and Thursday, and he is scheduled to partake in some full contact drills today.

Bob Connelly, who coached UCLA's offensive line last season, has been hired as the line coach and co-offensive coordinator at Texas-El Paso.

UCLA recruit Kevin Craft, who played at Mount San Antonio College last season, has been cleared to enroll at UCLA in the spring quarter and will participate in spring practice.

UCLA has hired Frank Gansz Jr as its new special teams coach. Here is the release from UCLA:

Frank Gansz Jr., who spent the last two seasons on the staff of the Baltimore Ravens, has been hired to coach Bruin special teams, UCLA head football coach Rick Neuheisel announced today.

“Frank is an outstanding addition to our staff,” said Neuheisel. “Any time you have the opportunity to hire someone who is considered among the best at what he does, you have to take advantage of it. Frank will be a tremendous asset to our special teams.”

Gansz, who has an extensive background at the professional and collegiate levels, was the special teams coordinator for the Ravens in 2006 and 2007, coaching with Neuheisel. In 2007, the Ravens placed ninth in the NFL in punt returns (9.7 yards) and 10th in the league in kickoff returns (23.5). In addition, place kicker Matt Stover made 27 of 32 field goals and all 26 PATs. His 27 field goals tied for 10th in the league.

In 2006, Stover led NFL kickers with a 93.3% conversion mark, making 28 of 30 field goals, and ranked fourth among all kickers with 121 points. He was named a first alternate for the Pro Bowl. In addition, linebacker Gary Stills led the NFL with 44 special teams tackles, the second most in NFL history, and was also named a Pro Bowl first alternate. Rookie punter Sam Koch produced just three touchbacks, 30 punts inside the 20 (fifth in NFL). He was second in the league with 12 punts inside the 10.

Gansz, 45, spent the previous five seasons (2001-05) as special teams coordinator with the Kansas City Chiefs. During that span, Stills became the Chiefs’ all-time leader in special teams tackles (148) and Dante Hall was named to the Pro Bowl in both 2002 and ’03 as a kick returner and also led the NFL in most kicks for touchdowns (10, six on kickoffs and four on punts). Gansz-led units excelled in blocking punts and kicks, recording four blocked punts from 2001-02 and Kansas City batted away three field goals in two seasons (2002-03).

In 2005, the Chiefs’ special teams units ranked fourth in the NFL in average drive start (30.7) and eighth in the league with 1,591 kickoff return yards. Kicker Lawrence Tynes converted two 50-yard FGs for the second time in two years. Hall scored a TD on a kickoff for the fourth straight. In 2004, Hall scored two kickoff return touchdowns for the second straight year and Tynes made two 50-yard FGs in his first NFL season. Kansas City also set single-season franchise records in kickoff returns (75) and yardage (1,820).

In 2003, Gansz’s units excelled, leading the NFL with four special teams touchdowns, as Hall scored two kickoff returns and two punt returns for scores, en route to his second consecutive Pro Bowl appearance. Hall became the first player in NFL history to record a score on a kickoff returrn in four straight games. His touchdown in the divisional playoff game vs. Indianapolis gave him five overall returns on the season. Hall also broke a single-season franchise record with 2,446 combined net yards. Kansas City led the league in both punt return average (16.4) and kick return average (25.4), the first team to do so since Washington in 1995. The 16.4 punt return average broke a 43-year-old team record.

In Gansz’ second season with the Chiefs (2002), Hall scored on three kick returns (two punts and one kickoff) to earn his first pro bowl berth. In 2001, the Chiefs blocked two punts and partially blocked a third.

Prior to his tenure in Kansas City, he coached special teams for the Oakland Raiders for two seasons (1998 and 1999), tutoring standouts Desmond Howard, Darrien Gordon and Napoleon Kaufman. He was also coached in the 1999 Senior Bowl.

Gansz spent five seasons (1993-97) as tight ends and special teams coach at the University of Houston, setting a school record for kickoff return average in 1996. His units set another school record with an 87-yard punt return vs. SMU en route to the Conference-USA championship and a trip to the Liberty Bowl vs. Syracuse.

He spent one season (1992) with the New York/New Jersey Knights of the World League (NFL Europa).
The Knights led the league in punt returns, kickoff returns, kickoff coverage and special team touchdowns (four).

Gansz spent two years (1990-91) as tight ends/special teams coach at West Point, two years at the University of Pittsburgh, coaching special teams and the offensive line in 1988 and special teams and the secondary in 1989, and one season (1987) as a graduate assistant at Kansas, working with the wide receivers.

Gansz was a four-year defensive back at The Citadel, graduating with a B.A. in history in 1985. He was born on August 8, 1962. His father, Frank Sr. coached 24 years in the NFL, including two as head coach of the Chiefs (1987-88). He was also an assistant coach at UCLA (1976 and 1977).

Five of UCLA’s last nine opponents have shot over 45 percent from the field, a statistic that’s especially galling to a Ben Howland-coached team that prides itself on its defensive excellence.
“It’s embarrassing,” Collison said “Since I’ve been here, we’ve been all defense. We’ve done a good job on the defensive end. When a team does shoot that high of a percentage, it’s going to be real hard to win games.”

Here are the dates for UCLA's spring practice. They are subject to change and times will be announced at a later date. All practices are open to the public.

Week One – April 3, April 4 and April 5.
Week Two – April 7, April 8, April 10 and April 12.
Week Three – April 14, April 15, April 17 and April 18.
Week Four – April 21, April 22, April 24 and April 26 (Spring Scrimmage at the Rose Bowl).

This is from UCLA:

UCLA junior forward Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, who is no longer wearing a boot, but is wearing an air cast on his left ankle, is probable for Sunday's game at USC (Feb. 17).

For those still irate over the facial Tim Morris delivered to Alfred Aboya in the final minute of Sunday's game, here's the Washington senior's reaction to the play, according to the Seattle Times.
"I threw it off his face and one of their guys said something like, 'Don't do that again,' and I said something back to them. And Howland said, 'Back up,' just trying to cool down the situation a little bit," Morris said.

Even after falling into a first-place tie with Stanford today, UCLA seems to still be in the drivers seat in the Pac-10 title chase thanks to its road victory in Palo Alto last month. The Cardinal have one more road game remaining than the Bruins, and they still must come to Westwood to play UCLA during the final weekend of conference play. Here's a look at the remaining schedules for both teams:

UCLA (21-3, 9-2)
at USC
Oregon State
Oregon
at Arizona State
at Arizona
Stanford
California

Stanford (20-3, 9-2)
at Arizona State
at Arizona
California
Washington
Washington State
at UCLA
at USC

I wrote a story today about UCLA's interest in LSU signee J'Mison Morgan, a coveted 6-foot-11 center who, according to his AAU coach, is considering asking for a release from his letter of intent following the dismissal of longtime Tigers coach John Brady. Here's more information on the process Morgan would have endure to try to free himself from the letter of intent he signed:

The basic penalty for not fulfilling the terms of his letter of intent to LSU would require Morgan to sit out the 2008-09 season and forfeit a year of eligibility. That penalty could be eliminated, however, if Morgan asks for and receives a release from LSU.
If LSU doesn't grant the release -- a very strong possibility since Morgan is its top recruit -- he has a slim chance of avoiding the one-year penalty. A player can petition for a complete release from his letter of intent, but the document specifically states that a coaching change is insufficient reason for such a request to be granted.

With LSU's program in disarray following the firing of longtime coach John Brady on Friday, you might be wondering how this affects J'Mison Morgan, the coveted 6-foot-11 center who signed with the Tigers over UCLA, Alabama and Kansas in November.
Well, according to Morgan's AAU coach Jazzy Hartwell, UCLA was wondering the same thing.
UCLA assistant coach Donny Daniels left a message with Hartwell regarding Morgan hours after Brady’s firing, the AAU coach said. Morgan hasn't had enough time to decide whether he'll seek a release from his letter of intent, but if he does, Hartwell expects UCLA to be one of the schools the Dallas South Oak Cliff High senior considers.
I'm trying to track down Morgan himself for comment, and I'll have more as soon as it's available. Check tomorrow's P-E for a more complete update.

Here's one tidbit that didn't make it into my story on Russell Westbrook's emergence from this morning's paper.

Starting UCLA's season opener in place of Darren Collison was a very special moment for Westbrook, who wondered as a seldom-used freshman whether he would ever be able to gain Coach Ben Howland's trust.
"When he started me in the first game of the season, that’s when I knew," Westbrook said. "It was a feeling of pride. He trusted me to start games, so obviously he trusted me."

I always think it's interesting to see who Vegas thinks are the favorites to win the NCAA title and how those odds change over the course of the season.
UCLA, for instance, began the season as the second most likely team to win the NCAA title and it remains in that position. Ohio State, on the other hand, was sixth to start the season and is now well back in the pack. Here's a look at the odds for some of the nation's top teams as well as other notable contenders:

The Favorites
Team Current Line (Opening Line)
1. Memphis 3/1 (6/1)
2. UCLA 7/2 (7/1)
3. Kansas 4/1 (7/1)
4. North Carolina 5/1 (8/1)
5. Duke 8/1 (30/1)
6. Georgetown 9/1 (9/1)
7. Tennessee 15/1 (15/1)
8. Indiana 15/1 (25/1)
9. Michigan State 20/1 (20/1)
10. Louisville 30/1 (12/1)
11. Texas 30/1 (30/1)
12. Marquette 30/1 (40/1)
13. Butler 30/1 (50/1)
14. Stanford 30/1 (50/1)

Other Notable teams
* USC 50/1 (18/1)
* Washington State 35/1 (22/1)
* Oregon 75/1 (40/1)
* Gonzaga 45/1 (40/1)
* Arizona 40/1 (60/1)
* Washington 250/1 (50/1)
* California 150/1 (125/1)

Surprises
* Duke 8/1 (30/1)
* Pittsburgh 35/1 (75/1)
* Clemson 40/1 (100/1)

Disappointments
* Ohio State 75/1 (10/1)
* Southern Illinois 1000/1 (40/1)
* Kentucky 200/1 (30/1)
* NC State 200/1 (45/1)
* Washington 250/1 (50/1)
* Georgia Tech 750/1 (50/1)
* Virginia 1000/1 (85/1)
* Providence 500/1 (85/1)
* Illinois 2500/1 (125/1)
* LSU 2000/1 (125/1)

If you think UCLA is thin in the backcourt, check out the news from Tucson today. Nic Wise, Arizona's lone true point guard, will miss at least the next three weeks after having knee surgery today.
That means big trouble for Arizona, which was already only playing seven guys in its rotation. Daniel Dillon will absorb the majority of Wise's minutes, while freshman Zane Johnson should see some playing time as well.

With UCLA set to begin the second half of the Pac-10 season Thursday night, it's time for some midseason grades. Here's a look at my evaluations of UCLA's 11 scholarship players:

Russell Westbrook
Guard
A-
Perhaps the Pac-10's most improved player, Westbrook gained Ben Howland's trust in November by playing flawlessly while Darren Collison was out with a knee injury. Westbrook forced his way into UCLA's starting lineup, showcasing improved decision making, superior defensive instincts and a dangerous mid-range game.

Darren Collison
Guard
B+
After missing the first month of the season with a knee injury, Collison looked a step slow throughout much of December and January. In his last four games, however, the junior has regained his Preseason All-American form, averaging 20.3 points, 6.3 assists and 1 turnover.

Josh Shipp
Guard/Forward
B+
His shooting is streaky and his defense is inconsistent, but Shipp has embraced a leadership role on this team. He kept UCLA in the USC game for 35 minutes with his shooting, and almost singlehandedly beat Stanford in the Pac-10 opener.

Alfred Aboya
Forward
B
Aboya's hustle and defensive intensity continue to make up for his offensive shortcomings. This grade would be higher, however, if he could figure out how to play defense without piling up fouls so quickly.

James Keefe
Forward
B-
Keefe hoped to redshirt after missing the first month of the season as a result of an offseason shoulder injury. Instead he was pressed into duty at the start of conference season, averaging 10.8 minutes and showcasing an improved jumper but failing to make a significant impact thus far.

Lorenzo Mata-Real
Center
B-
Mata-Real's playing time and production are down from last year, but he deserves tremendous credit for selflessly moving to the bench in favor of Kevin Love without so much as a complaint. Not every ex-Final Four starter could have absorbed that ego blow.

Michael Roll
Guard
Inc.
A torn plantar fascia in his left foot has cost Roll all but six games this season. It's uncertain whether the reserve guard will be able to return to the court in time to assist UCLA in its quest to return to the Final Four.

Chace Stanback
Guard
C-
Freshman growing pains are to be expected, but Stanback must improve his defensive commitment if he has any chance of seeing the court this year. He showed flashes of offensive brilliance during the non-conference season, but hasn't played much since he appeared scared during a cameo appearance at Oregon.

Luc Richard Mbah a Moute
Forward
B+
While Mbah a Moute's jump shot remains inconsistent, his defensive versatility more than makes up for it. His defense has been instrumental, whether it's bodying Washington's Jon Brockman around the basket or pressuring Arizona's Chase Budinger around the perimeter

Nikola Dragovic
Forward
C+
Dragovic's 21.2 three-point shooting percentage is abysmal for a guy whose greatest strength is supposed to be his outside shot, but the Serbian did hit a crucial three at Oregon last month. His defense is still a liability, but he at least appears to know where he's supposed to be on the floor.

Kevin Love
Center
A
What more could you ask for from Love? The prized freshman has 13 double-doubles, and his numbers improve as the spotlight gets brighter. In UCLA's last six games, averaging 22.2 points and 14.3 rebounds per game during that span.

Ben Howland
Coach
A-
Despite numerous injuries to key players, Howland has UCLA in great position to win the Pac-10 title and gain the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament's West Region. He could have done more to develop his bench in the non-conference season, but at this point that's a fairly minor quibble.

Three days before embarking on one of its most difficult road trips of the season, fifth-ranked UCLA learned it will be without one of its most versatile defenders.
Luc Richard Mbah a Moute will miss both the Washington State and Washington games this week due to the sprained left ankle he suffered in the second half of Saturday's victory over Arizona. The junior forward will receive daily treatment and is expected to be reevaluated early next week.
Mbah a Moute's absence deprives UCLA (20-2, 8-1) of one of its top rebounders and perimeter defenders. The Bruins will likely rely more heavily on reserves Nikola Dragovic, James Keefe and Chace Stanback to compensate.

New football coach Rick Neuheisel was just interviewed by Erin Andrews on ESPN during the UCLA-Arizona basketball game. Apparently, Neuheisel introduced his coordinators at halftime of the game and told the crowd "We're going to get after those asses across town."

Andrews asked him about it, using the word "behind" instead and Neuheisel said "I wish I would have said it that way" while smiling and referring to USC.

"Obviously they are a great program and they've been on top of this Pac-10 Conference for a long time and it's not like we can act like they are not there. They are the elephant in the room and it's time to go after them."

Neuheisel also made sure to give credit to Karl Dorrell for putting the class together, something he has done since he was hired.

I caught the second half of ESPN's College GameDay broadcast from Pauley Pavilion, and I must admit I was surprised at the student turnout. For a Saturday morning show that began 10 hours before tipoff, nearly filling one side of the bleachers was pretty impressive.
Did anyone else catch the vintage "Digger is a Wimp" folding sign the UCLA students dusted off? An old-school 70s throwback if ever there was one. Among the other most creative signs on display were: "The Pit Crew has a Potty Mouth" and "My Intramural Team Could Win Out in C-USA"
Typically the home team's head coach will appear on the broadcast, but Ben Howland passed on that opportunity. Howland said Friday he preferred to spend the morning preparing for the Arizona game.

X-rays taken Thursday night on Lorenzo Mata-Real's left wrist were negative and an MRI revealed no signifcant damage, according to UCLA coach Ben Howland. Though Mata-Real still may be too sore to play on Saturday against Arizona, his wrist shouldn't be a longterm issue.
"Thank goodness," Howland said. "I didn't sleep well last night. I felt terrible because I should have had him out of the game. You guys have no idea how thankful I am."

UCLA 84, ARIZONA STATE 51
WHAT WENT RIGHT: UCLA emphatically answered questions about its ability to attack a zone, shredding Arizona State's stingy defense with crisp passing, dribble penetration and smart shot selection. Josh Shipp emerged from his shooting slump with five threes and Darren Collison picked up where he left off during the Oregon trip. Plus UCLA's defense was stifling, holding Arizona State's leading scorers, James Harden and Jeff Pendergraph, to nine and six points respectively.
WHAT WENT WRONG: The lone negative was a left wrist injury suffered by Lorenzo Mata-Real when he fell taking a charge in the final 30 seconds of the game. UCLA will have a better idea the severity of the injury once results of X-Rays taken after the game are available.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "That's the best we've attacked the zone in five years since I got here." -- UCLA coach Ben Howland after the game.
UP NEXT: Arizona (15-6, 5-3) at UCLA (19-2, 7-1), Saturday, 6 p.m.