alamo50
03-16-2008, 07:59 AM
By Steve Dilbeck, Staff Columnist
Article Launched: 03/16/2008 04:57:02 AM PDT
It was all so familiar, yet somehow wrong, somehow not quite right.
Darren Collison was back for UCLA after missing the first six games of the season with a sprained knee.
There were certainly moments when he looked like the point guard who had been such a sensation last season, the explosive player who finished in the top 10 in five conference categories.
Yet if he was almost the same player, he was not quite. Still quick but a step shy of dazzling. Still dangerous, but not a player who seemed capable of raising his game at any moment.
Very good, but something shy of truly special. UCLA was used to special.
Collison was injured in UCLA's final exhibition game of the season. On the eve of a season many felt he could prove himself the country's finest college point guard, he was suddenly an observer.
"It was just frustrating, because when I got hurt it was like I put all that hard work in the offseason to waste," Collison said. "That's what it seemed like."
In his second game back, he was outplayed by Texas sophomore point guard D.J. Augustin. In a game the Bruins trailed throughout and lost at home, Coach Ben Howland played him all but one minute, a decision he would later regret.
Afterward there were good games, mixed with some poor ones. Brilliant moments, blended with disappointing play. He was the Almost Collison.
It wasn't until he had 10 games behind him the former Etiwanda High standout began to feel comfortable, began to play consistently, began to truly resemble the player from last season.
And now he just may have elevated past that, may have raised his own personal bar with his sparkling performance Saturday in the Pac-10 Conference Tournament final.
Collison played at a different speed from everyone else. Played like someone who could do anything he wanted. He had a jet ski, the others flippers.
He finished with a game-high 28 points, and UCLA needed almost every one in holding off Stanford, 67-64, at Staples Center to capture the tournament title.
http://images.sportsline.com/u/photos/basketball/college/img10712469.jpg
After 28 points and two clutch free throws late, Darren Collison deserves to cut down the nets. (US Presswire)
He finished as the Outstanding Player of the tournament. Played a full 40 minutes and never committed a turnover. Played with the confidence of someone who has been in consecutive Final Fours and has designs on a third.
"He took the game over," Howland said.
Collison would come off a high screen to find Stanford's twin 7-footers, Brook and Robin Lopez, waiting in the lane. If they came out, his quickness jetted by them for a layup. If they stayed home, he'd hit a soft floater in the lane.
He scored from all over the floor. Keyed fast breaks. Frustrated Stanford guard Mitch Johnson. Hit on drives from the right and the left.
On a day when UCLA played without injured forward Luc Mbah a Moute, and center Kevin Love struggled in the first half with back spasms, several Bruins stepped forward.
Little-used 6-8 forward James Keefe made an impact for the second consecutive game, scoring eight points, pulling down three offensive rebounds, blocking a shot and often guarding one of the Lopez twins.
Center Lorenzo Mata-Real played 16 tough minutes off the bench. Struggling with their shot, Josh Shipp (3-for-10) and Russell Westbrook (3-for-12), tightened the defense and hit the boards.
"It wasn't just me, with guys injured, everybody felt they had to step up," Collison said.
It's just that no one stepped up like Collison. He played with a fast-forward button. Played like he could dribble around and through any one Stanford placed out there.
"Darren was really special today," Howland said.
He had to be for the 31-3 Bruins to hold off 11th-ranked Stanford for the third time. UCLA had a 10-point lead just over 2 minutes to play, when Stanford put together a rally that had ultimately them within a point with 19.6 seconds to play.
Collison was fouled, and the conference's best from the line, calmly hit both free throws. Johnson missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer and UCLA had survived yet another close Pac-10 game.
In a season where Love has received most of the individual UCLA attention, Collison was the player who clearly made the difference.
The injury that had slowed him early the season, finally seemed far away.
"He had never been injured before," Howland said.
"That was his first real injury.
"It's always hard to come back from an injury, especially one that's a sprain of that (medial collateral) ligament. He did a great job coming back."
Now he's not only all the way back, but seeming ahead of his game from a year ago. A blur playing with reborn confidence, playing with determination.
"Now everything is coming along, coming together and I can help my team win," he said.
For UCLA, it was all somehow very right.
[email protected]
Link (http://www.dailybreeze.com/ci_8590561)
Article Launched: 03/16/2008 04:57:02 AM PDT
It was all so familiar, yet somehow wrong, somehow not quite right.
Darren Collison was back for UCLA after missing the first six games of the season with a sprained knee.
There were certainly moments when he looked like the point guard who had been such a sensation last season, the explosive player who finished in the top 10 in five conference categories.
Yet if he was almost the same player, he was not quite. Still quick but a step shy of dazzling. Still dangerous, but not a player who seemed capable of raising his game at any moment.
Very good, but something shy of truly special. UCLA was used to special.
Collison was injured in UCLA's final exhibition game of the season. On the eve of a season many felt he could prove himself the country's finest college point guard, he was suddenly an observer.
"It was just frustrating, because when I got hurt it was like I put all that hard work in the offseason to waste," Collison said. "That's what it seemed like."
In his second game back, he was outplayed by Texas sophomore point guard D.J. Augustin. In a game the Bruins trailed throughout and lost at home, Coach Ben Howland played him all but one minute, a decision he would later regret.
Afterward there were good games, mixed with some poor ones. Brilliant moments, blended with disappointing play. He was the Almost Collison.
It wasn't until he had 10 games behind him the former Etiwanda High standout began to feel comfortable, began to play consistently, began to truly resemble the player from last season.
And now he just may have elevated past that, may have raised his own personal bar with his sparkling performance Saturday in the Pac-10 Conference Tournament final.
Collison played at a different speed from everyone else. Played like someone who could do anything he wanted. He had a jet ski, the others flippers.
He finished with a game-high 28 points, and UCLA needed almost every one in holding off Stanford, 67-64, at Staples Center to capture the tournament title.
http://images.sportsline.com/u/photos/basketball/college/img10712469.jpg
After 28 points and two clutch free throws late, Darren Collison deserves to cut down the nets. (US Presswire)
He finished as the Outstanding Player of the tournament. Played a full 40 minutes and never committed a turnover. Played with the confidence of someone who has been in consecutive Final Fours and has designs on a third.
"He took the game over," Howland said.
Collison would come off a high screen to find Stanford's twin 7-footers, Brook and Robin Lopez, waiting in the lane. If they came out, his quickness jetted by them for a layup. If they stayed home, he'd hit a soft floater in the lane.
He scored from all over the floor. Keyed fast breaks. Frustrated Stanford guard Mitch Johnson. Hit on drives from the right and the left.
On a day when UCLA played without injured forward Luc Mbah a Moute, and center Kevin Love struggled in the first half with back spasms, several Bruins stepped forward.
Little-used 6-8 forward James Keefe made an impact for the second consecutive game, scoring eight points, pulling down three offensive rebounds, blocking a shot and often guarding one of the Lopez twins.
Center Lorenzo Mata-Real played 16 tough minutes off the bench. Struggling with their shot, Josh Shipp (3-for-10) and Russell Westbrook (3-for-12), tightened the defense and hit the boards.
"It wasn't just me, with guys injured, everybody felt they had to step up," Collison said.
It's just that no one stepped up like Collison. He played with a fast-forward button. Played like he could dribble around and through any one Stanford placed out there.
"Darren was really special today," Howland said.
He had to be for the 31-3 Bruins to hold off 11th-ranked Stanford for the third time. UCLA had a 10-point lead just over 2 minutes to play, when Stanford put together a rally that had ultimately them within a point with 19.6 seconds to play.
Collison was fouled, and the conference's best from the line, calmly hit both free throws. Johnson missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer and UCLA had survived yet another close Pac-10 game.
In a season where Love has received most of the individual UCLA attention, Collison was the player who clearly made the difference.
The injury that had slowed him early the season, finally seemed far away.
"He had never been injured before," Howland said.
"That was his first real injury.
"It's always hard to come back from an injury, especially one that's a sprain of that (medial collateral) ligament. He did a great job coming back."
Now he's not only all the way back, but seeming ahead of his game from a year ago. A blur playing with reborn confidence, playing with determination.
"Now everything is coming along, coming together and I can help my team win," he said.
For UCLA, it was all somehow very right.
[email protected]
Link (http://www.dailybreeze.com/ci_8590561)