UCLA

Jim Harrick’s wife passes away

Mark Whicker, ocregister.com — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:18:51 +0000

Sally Harrick was a prim, gracious complement to Jim Harrick’s coarse, extroverted persona. She was with Jim when the two came west, from West Virginia, and Harrick worked at a toy factory while he waited for his break in coaching.

As Harrick rose through the ranks and finally got the UCLA job in 1988 and won the NCAA championship in 1995, Sally was content to stay in the background and support her husband and his players. There would be more bumps later as Harrick’s career took him to Rhode Island and Georgia and controversy, but Sally remained loyal and steadfast.

Sally passed away Friday at age 70 from complications of schleroderma, a disease of the immune system. She and Jim were married for 49 years and they had three sons and nine grandchildren.

A memorial service is scheduled for Tuesday at 11 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints at 30522 Via Con Dios in Rancho Santa Margarita.

Donations should be sent to The Schleroderma Foundation at www.schleroderma.com.

She was a class act.

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UCLA basketball: Howland talks Dragovic arrest

Adam Maya, staff writer since 2006 — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:12:38 +0000

Here’s an updated version of my story in UCLA senior forward Nikola Dragovic’s arrest and suspension Friday, including quotes from Coah Ben Howland:

Forward Nikola Dragovic was suspended for the game against Cal State Bakersfield after he was arrested Friday and charged with felony assault.

The Los Angeles District Attorney’s office charged the UCLA senior following an investigation over an incident involving Dragovic last month at a concert in Hollywood, team officials said. He was freed on bail.

Dragovic was informed of the charge Friday morning and turned himself into campus police later in the day. Coach Ben Howland said he escorted Dragovic to the station this morning but does not know the details of the incident.

“I don’t know,” Howland said. “I got to find out the information. I did not get into any of that this morning. I’m going to meet with him either tonight or tomorrow.”

Dragovic filed a report with the UCLA police department a week after the episode occurred. Howland said Dragovic, the team’s lone returning starter from last season, was suspended for only Friday’s game and that his status is uncertain.

“Until we get more information, I just really have no comment,” Howland said. “I will meet with my superiors and discuss the facts that I find out. … He made us aware of the incident when it occurred but until this morning, we did not know charges would be filed.”

Last November, Dragovic was arrested for suspicion of misdemeanor battery following an altercation with the woman he had been living with. That arrest came on the day of UCLA’s first exhibition game.

City attorneys decided last December not to file charges after meeting with Dragovic and the alleged victim, but prosecutors reserved the right to revisit the case for up to a year.

“That will be taken into account,” Howland said when asked how long a possible suspension might be.

Dragovic struggled in UCLA’s season-opening loss to Cal State Fullerton, shooting 2 of 14 for five points. Last year he averaged 9.4 points and 4.3 rebounds in 24 minutes a game.

Dragovic’s absence meant several more minutes for UCLA’s bench. Freshman forwards Mike Moser and Brendan Lane played a combined 24 minutes after not appearing in the opener. Freshman Reeves Nelson spelled Drew Gordon at center and continued to make an impression, collecting eight points and six rebounds.

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UCLA basketball: Bruins beat CS Bakersfield, 75-64

Adam Maya, staff writer since 2006 — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:35:36 +0000

Was it only one game?

The question hovered over UCLA all week following its shocking, season-opening defeat to Cal State Fullerton. The Bruins answered with an uneven, 75-64 defeat against Cal State Bakersfield on Friday at Pauley Pavilion.

The Bruins’ flair for the dramatic extended into the first half of Friday’s game with Cal State Bakersfield and ended shortly after.

“We got off to a rocky start,” Coach Ben Howland said. “In the second half we got better shots. We were more patient. We settled down.”

UCLA shot 59.3 percent — it shot 31 percent in the opener — and made six more field goals despite taking 30 less attempts than it did Monday.

Tied at halftime, the Bruins opened with a 17-6 run ignited by 3-pointers from guards Jerime Anderson and Michael Roll. The momentum initially began to shift in the closing minutes of a first half in which UCLA led for all of 55 seconds.

The Bruins went on a 15-4 run before halftime, stamped by forward Drew Gordon blocking Cal State Bakersfield’s Stephon Carter on a dunk attempt. It helped erase an 11-point first-half deficit for the Bruins, who fell behind 10-2 in the opening minutes.

“We’re learning each other,” Anderson said. “It’s going to take us a little time to find our identity. We’re going to have some tough games. As the season goes on you’re going to see that chemistry going forward.”

Gordon had a game-high 19 points as all five UCLA starters scored in double figures. Guard Malcolm Lee had 10 points, six rebounds and five assists, and Roll had a team-high six assists.

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UCLA basketball: Dragovic arrested, suspended

Adam Maya, staff writer since 2006 — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:37:02 +0000

Starting senior forward Nikola Dragovic was arrested today and has been suspended for tonight’s game against Cal State Bakersfield, the school announced.

Here’s the rest of the release:

Dragovic was involved in an incident last month at a concert in Hollywood. He filed a report with the UCLA Police Department early the following week. Following an investigation, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office filed a felony assault charge against Dragovic and he was informed of the charge this morning. He turned himself into the UCPD and Hollywood Division detectives earlier today.

“This is an unfortunate situation for Nikola,” Coach Ben Howland said. “Our staff and players will do what we can to help him during this time. He made us aware of the incident when it occurred but until this morning, we did not know charges would be filed.”

Dragovic’s status for upcoming games will be determined as more information becomes available.

City attorneys decided last December not to file charges after meeting with Dragovic and the alleged victim, but prosecutors reserved the right to revisit the case for up to a year.

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UCLA basketball: Up next: Cal State Bakersfield

Al Balderas, staff writer — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:08:40 +0000

Cal State Bakersfield (1-1) at UCLA (0-1)

Site: Pauley Pavilion

Time: 7:30 p.m.

TV: FSN

Outlook: The Bruins didn’t waste any time in figuring out what went wrong in their season-opening loss to Cal State Fullerton on Monday. They spent Wednesday and Thursday working on their shooting (less shots, better accuracy), and how to combat a zone defense. Bakersfield likes to employ a physical approach to its game with 6-6, 275-pound senior Santwon Latunde creating space underneath the basket. Latunde is averaging 18 points for the Roadrunners, with Trent Blakley leading the way with 19 points.
Cal State Bakersfield is 0-7 against Pac-10 teams in its basketball history and is looking foward to its inaugural game against UCLA. The Roadrunners are hoping to follow Cal State Fullerton’s lead by notching its first victory over the Bruins.

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Powerhouses headed for Anaheim hoopfest

Mark Whicker, ocregister.com — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:42:16 +0000

In Sports Illustrated’s preseason Top 25, West Virginia is ranked eighth, Butler 14th.

In the Blue Ribbon Yearbook, Portland is ranked second in the West Coast Conference and Long Beach first in the Big West, and Butler was 11th, West Virginia 12th and Minnesota 14th.

Add Clemson, UCLA and Texas A&M, and you’ve got some basketball cruiserweights coming to Anaheim Convention Center for the 76 Classic, beginning Thursday.

This is one of those ESPN showcases to fill up the holiday programming, but it’s also — by far — the best college hoop event to come to Orange County this season, both in terms of price and quality.

The sessions are Thursday, Friday and Sunday.

The first round matchups: West Virginia vs. Long Beach, Clemson vs. Texas A&M, Minnesota vs. Butler, and UCLA vs. Portland.

Winners of the first two games meet Friday, and winners of the last two games, and the losers also play. Twelve guaranteed games for what spectators decide to show up.

There’s a few story lines here. Long Beach State could run into Minnesota, which fired Dan Monson, who now coaches the Beach.

UCLA could run into Texas A&M for the third time in four years in an Anaheim event. You’ll recall that the Bruins escaped A&M in an NCAA second-round game at Honda Center two years ago. The Aggies certainly recall how difficult it is to try to hit a game-winning shot with someone’s hand encircling your wrist.

And if you enjoy watching coaches let it all hang out with no inhibitions whatsoever, remember that Bob Huggins now coaches West Virginia.

Post from: UCLA

UCLA football: Is the Bruins’ season on the line?

Adam Maya, staff writer since 2006 — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:38:49 +0000

Before Coach Rick Neuheisel walked off the practice field Thursday he stopped and delivered one final message: “We need this win, guys. We need this win.”

He was talking to the student marching band. From the moment last season’s 4-8 campaign ended everyone in Westwood has known UCLA’s magic number is six.

The Bruins (5-5), who missed the postseason last year for the first time since 2001, have two more chances to become bowl eligible: Saturday at the Rose Bowl against Arizona State, and next weekend at USC, where UCLA has not won since 1997.

In other words, UCLA is desperately trying to knock down door No. 1.

“We have a chance to accomplish something this Saturday and we don’t want to miss that opportunity,” Neuheisel said.

Six victories do not assure UCLA of a bowl invite, however, given the jumbled state of the Pac-10. There are only six automatic bids in the conference and the Bruins will finish no better than seventh if they split their remaining two games. They could finish seventh even if they win out. Either instance would leave UCLA looking for an invite from a bowl whose contracted conferences do not have enough eligible teams.

Arizona State (4-6), which also missed the postseason last year, comes in with an outside shot as well.

“It’s going to be a barnburner of a ballgame,” Neuheisel said. “We’ve got two programs trying to keep fighting for every inch. I know they’re going to have a similar attitude toward this game.”

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UCLA football: Siewierski back, Hester TBD

Adam Maya, staff writer since 2006 — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:38:40 +0000

**Defensive tackle Jerzy Siewierski, who has missed the past three games, will start Saturday against Arizona State.

**Coach Rick Neuheisel was noncommittal about how much he will use cornerback Aaron Hester this weekend. Hester, who began the season as a starter, has not played since reinjuring his right leg three weeks ago against Oregon State. “We’ve got to clean up some stuff,” Neuheisel said. “He’s still got a bad habit of grabbing.”

**Jake Dean will start at right guard, Neuheisel said. Neuheisel said last week Dean would start but ended up going with Darius Savage. “I just believe in his mobility against very talented guys,” Neuheisel said of Dean. Ryan Taylor (foot) will not play.

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UCLA football: ASU still undecided on starting QB

Al Balderas, staff writer — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:43:25 +0000

Arizona State coach Dennis Erickson has not decided on a starting quarterback for Saturday’s game against UCLA and joked that he might wait until Saturday morning to make a decision.

The list of candidates was at three when the week started but has since been whittled to two: Danny Sullivan and Samson Szakacsy.

True freshman Brock Osweiler, who started last week’s game against Oregon, will start the game on the sideline.
Sullivan has been the Sun Devils’ starter through most of the season but a biceps injury kept him out of last week’s game.

“I don’t think he’s totally healthy,” Erickson told the Arizona Republic on Wednesday. “That’s part of the decision. He’s throwing it OK but not like he can. It’s still bothering him.”

Erickson’s plan this week was to have Szakacsy get most of the reps with the number one offense.

“We’ve never seen him take that first group so we’re going to let him take that first group quite a bit in the next two days and see where he’s at,” Erickson said Monday on a conference call.

Szakacsy played the entire second half of last week’s 44-21 loss to Oregon, after Osweiler injured his shoulder. My guess would be that the Sun Devils go with Szakacsy.

“He’s practiced very well,” Erickson said Wednesday of Szakacsy. “He’s smart and understands what’s going on. He gets the ball out quick.”

UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel and his coaching staff spent more time focusing on the Sun Devils’ collective offense, rather than who is going to start at quarterback.

“They’ve played three different guys and their offense hasn’t changed,” Neuheisel said. “That kid that came out late (Szakacsy), he offers them a different spark with respect to his legs. He’s made a lot of plays getting out of trouble. You have to be much more contain-conscious when he’s in the game.”

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UCLA football: ASU or UCLA?

Adam Maya, staff writer since 2006 — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:35:32 +0000

Click here for this week’s Pac-10 power poll and predictions on the top college football games.

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Who will win Saturday?

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