Jonathan Lee    AccuScore Analyst
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Ben Howland, now entering his sixth year as head coach in Westwood, has the UCLA program rolling once again having reached three consecutive Final Fours.  His 2008-2009 team is a threat to play deep into March once again.  The Bruins are ranked fourth in the pre-season ESPN/USA Today poll, and were picked nearly unanimously by the media to win the Pac-10. 

Howland brings back a strong core of veteran players led by point guard Darren Collison, wings Mike Roll and Josh Shipp, and a pair of big men in James Keefe and Alfred Aboya.  Joining them is the consensus number one recruiting class in the nation comprised of five supremely talented freshmen capable of playing on the floor at the same time.  Guards Jermie Anderson and Malcolm Lee will force their way into the rotation, while 6-foot-3 Jrue Holiday was named among the best three high school seniors in the nation.  Drew Gordon is an athletic four man that will provide energy, while J’mison Morgan is a true center that will bring size and skills in the paint.

AccuScore was able to attend a recent UCLA practice, and talked to Coach Howland about how he sees the upcoming season unfolding.

How is practice going so far?
Today we had good intensity.  I thought the guys played hard.  I think the last three practices they’ve played very hard.  We’re moving a little faster doing 5-on-5 more than I’d like, but with such a young team it’s hard because we only have seven practices to go before we have a game.  We still have a lot of things that we haven’t put in yet before we play our first three games.

How does Alfred Aboya look?
You know, Alfred is an experienced senior that knows what he’s supposed to do.  He has a good feel for everything.  He’s playing with a lot of confidence and a lot of intelligence.  He’s playing very well out there.

How is freshman center J’mison Morgan’s conditioning?
It’s improving.  He’s still got a ways to go.  We started conditioning about a month ago when we started school, and he’s come a long way.  That’s going to be a big point of contention for him in his career.  Also we’ve done a lot of half-court stuff in our practices because we’ve done so much teaching.  We did a little more full-court there at the end partly just to get some more condition, some up-and-down part of the game.

Darren Collison and Jrue Holiday seem to be working well out there.
Yea, they look good together.  Jrue has had some good practices and is getting better and better.  Darren has been very solid, and is playing very well.

Are you pretty happy with having freshman Jerime Anderson as your back-up point guard?
Jerime has done a good job.  This is the third day he’s gone the full practice (due to a minor injury).  Part of the reason we keep our practices shorter is that we have so few bodies out here (*UCLA has only 11 of the allotted 13 scholarships filled this season).  But yes, he’s going to be very good.  He has habits like any freshman he has to break like jumping in the air to pass.  He’s always done it so now he does it even when he doesn’t need to, and it will end up costing us and him with turnovers at times we don’t need them.  He’s very skilled, very smart, and quick with a great feel for the game.

Without the size inside from last season, what is this team going to look like?
We have good quickness.  We don’t have the size of a Kevin (Love) or even a Lorenzo (Mata) or Ryan Hollins inside so we’re much smaller in terms of our starting lineup.  Right now we would start Alfred (Aboya), James (Keefe), Josh (Shipp), Jrue Holiday, and Darren (Collison). 

Where do you see Jrue Holiday’s scoring coming from?
Everywhere.  Jump shots, drives, second shots, transition.  He does a little bit of everything well.

Where will you get some low-post scoring?
It will primarily be from Alfred Aboya, J’mison Morgan, and Drew Gordon.

Has Morgan surprised you with his ability to score?
He had a good practice today.  He led us in rebounding with 8 rebounds, and he scored well.  He’s a big kid.  Like most big kids they develop slower than guards.  They’re still developing almost always.  You saw that with Ryan Hollins and Lorenzo Mata.  We’ve seen that with Alfred as a five man.  I think the upside with both Morgan and Gordon is tremendous.

Is Morgan a good post passer?
Oh he’s a very good passer period.  His biggest strength, combined with his size, he has great hands.  His hands are exceptional.  He catches everything.  He sees the floor, has good feel, but his hands are very very good.

How rare is it to find a big man with such good hands?
There aren’t that many.  Big guys with good hands are tough to find.  J’mison is a true five man, a center.  He’s 257 pounds, 6-foot-11, and he’s long.

What are you seeing from (redshirt senior) Josh Shipp?
One thing you’ll notice about Josh is that he’s changed his body.  He is as lean as he’s ever been.  He’s playing at about 207, 208.  He’s quicker and faster.  He’s stronger.  He’s really done a fantastic job through his diet.  He’s done a lot of yoga, and lifted weights.  He’s run the sand dunes (out in Manhattan Beach).  He and (Los Angeles Laker point guard and former UCLA Bruin) Jordan Farmar worked out together all summer, and I think that really helped Josh to have someone pushing him.  It’s helped both of them because Jordan is playing really well right now too.

His position is on the perimeter.  Josh is very strong.  He’ll end up playing at 208-210.  Last year he was probably at 216 to 218, but now you just notice when you look at him how lean he is.  He’s eating right and really taking care of his body.

What have you seen from junior forward James Keefe?
James has been our best rebounder, which is what I anticipated.  He’s played very physical which is great to see.  He wasn’t greatly physical as a freshman.  This is something he has understood, and come to learn to do.  He and Alfred are our most physical players so it’s been great to see all that he brings.  He just knows what to do.  He’s a third-year player, and does all the little things it takes to win.  Screening, getting guys open against the zone; he’s playing with a lot of intelligence.

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