If you’re a UCLA Bruin basketball fan you probably cringe when you see that your ex-powerhouse ranks 7th in the Pac-12 this season. Although they’re 10-8, they’ve had losses to unranked Loyola Marymount, Middle Tennessee State, and Texas. Also they weren’t able to prove themselves against ranked teams in Kansas and Michigan early in the season. But hey, at least they’re doing better than USC. A lot of their troubles have to do with Ben Howland. I’ve heard nothing but bad things about Ben Howland and how he deals with his players. Consequently 5 players left the Bruins and are currently flourishing in other programs. It’s unfortunate and laughable, that UCLA is a few solid role players away from taking over the Pac-12 and making a run in the tournament. Let’s take a look at the guys that could’ve helped turn this team around.
G: Chace Stanback (UNLV)- Stanback was recruited as a 4 star in 2007 and is now one of two transfers that went from UCLA to UNLV. Stanback leads the #14 Runnin’ Rebels in ppg with 14.6. The leading scorer for UCLA, Lazeric Jones, is averaging 13.5 ppg. Stanback is also shooting 47.7% from behind the arc and he could have significantly improved UCLA’s perimeter game.
G: Matt Carlino (BYU)- Carlino finally became eligible to play in mid-December and has done nothing but help the Cougars. The 3-star UCLA recruit is now averaging 12.6 ppg, 4.5 apg, 3.3 rpg, and 1.3 spg. He would rank 2nd on the team in scoring ahead of the Wear brothers. Carlino, is also shooting over 40% from three-point range.
F: Mike Moser (UNLV)- Moser is the 2nd UCLA to UNLV transfer, where he has become one of the best rebounders in the country. Moser is averaging a double-double with 14 ppg and 11.3 rpg. UCLA’s top rebounder is David Wear with a whopping 6.4 rpg. Moser, a 4 star recruit, was probably the biggest loss to UCLA, and would have had a huge impact if he were on the team this year.
F: Drew Gordon (New Mexico)- Last year for the Lobos Gordon averaged a double-double, and he’s still on track to repeat his stats this season. Gordon is averaging 12.6 ppg and 10.5 rpg, and not to be repetitive but Gordon would easily have been the leading rebounder if he had stayed. Drew Gordon was another UCLA 4-star loss…
C: J’Milson Morgan (Baylor) – J’Milson Morgan was a 5 star recruit who played two years at UCLA and transferred to Baylor. J’Milson has been considered a bust, but this year Morgan is redshirting, and this big body can potentially make some noise next year.
It’s such a shame for the Bruins that these guys didn’t stay because they easily could have helped UCLA become a top 10 team this year. With their added scoring, rebounding, and depth there’s no reason why this team couldn’t go undefeated in Pac-12 conference play. I personally think that this starting five could beat Howland’s starting five. These guys are gifted athletes and are huge proven losses to Bruin Nation. And if UCLA continues to lose in the Pac-12, then Ben Howland will be directly on the hotseat, even with his phenomenal incoming recruits. It really can’t be a good thing that your transfers are better than a majority of the starters on an unranked team.
-Schotz
Original Story:
