Mens basketball notebook

Published: Thursday, October 30, 1997

Thursday, October 30, 1997

The long road back for suspended hoopsters Kris Johnson and Jelani McCoy, both of whom have missed all of the team's practices and functions thus far, has apparently been partly navigated as the two players look to get back into the program's good graces.

"I've been very encouraged by the last couple of weeks in terms of their actions, in terms of conversation, in terms of taking care of business, which is what they need to do in the classroom and off the floor," UCLA head coach Steve Lavin said.

Though progress has been made, the two players, whose suspensions are nearing the end of their first month, have been given no timetable for their reinstatement to the team.

"We intentionally haven't done that because we don't want to send them a mixed message, for them to think that the solution is necessarily basketball, but instead, it's more about poor choices, poor decisions, and where their commitment level is in terms of wanting to be part of this basketball program."

***

Practice is only two weeks old, and the talk around the campfire still centers on the six new freshmen on the team. In the setting that Lavin has established in practices, enthusiasm and intensity will get you a long way, and this sextet has brought more than its fair share.

"What we talk about everyday in staff meetings is just our freshman class as a whole," Lavin said, "I love our young players' enthusiasm and their work ethic. They're just so eager, it's refreshing, in part because they're naive. You'd rather have a group that's a little naive, loves work, and looks forward to practice."

The highest-touted duo in the freshman class, guards Baron Davis and Earl Watson, have thus far been living up to their billing. Pitted against each other in any number of drills, the two have become a visual feast for the coaching staff.

"Baron and Watson, watching them has been probably the single biggest treat, in terms of their competitive fire, guarding each other and pushing each other," Lavin said. "They knock each other down, extend a hand to help each other up and then knock each other back down again."

***

With so many young minds to mold, Lavin is resorting to subliminal messages to entrench his philosophies in the team's mind. The new practice shorts for the team have, in big blue letters across the gluteal region, the slogans "Attitude" and "Play Hard" as constant reminders to the team of their leader's expectations.

"That's the whole premise of the program," Lavin said. "You play hard, you compete, you have the right attitude. I'll live with missed shots, I'll live with turnovers, I'll live with mistakes."

***

The list of practice casualties is growing. From two players sitting down last week, now the team has three players out for varying reasons. Freshman standout Earl Watson missed several days of practice when he went back to Kansas City to attend to family issues.

Freshman Todd Ramasar and sophomore Kevin Daly were also sidelined for part of the week, Daly having undergone a root canal, but both were expected back later in the week.

Senior J.R. Henderson, however, was back with the team this week, having sorted out footwear difficulties that kept him out of last Tuesday's practice.

Compiled by Mark Shapiro, Daily Bruin Staff Writer.

Daily Bruin File Photo

Kris Johnson