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UCLA point guard Jerime Anderson has assumed a leadership role with the Bruins despite his sophomore status. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times / November 10, 2009) |
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Talk to the young man about pressure and he smiles.
"What's life without pressure?" he says.
Tell him that everyone is watching, waiting to see whether he screws up.
"I've noticed," he says.
Jerime Anderson understands that as UCLA's new point guard, he not only controls the offense but also serves as the linchpin for a defense that has traditionally relied upon pressuring the ball.
More than any other player on the roster, Anderson holds the key to the Bruins' season. As California Coach Mike Montgomery, watching from up the coast, put it: "Are they going to have that veteran leadership?"
The answer rests with an unproven sophomore guiding a team full of question marks, their uncertain journey beginning with tonight's opener against Cal State Fullerton at Pauley Pavilion.
"I know there's going to be a lot of pressure coming to my position," Anderson said. "It's not something that I take lightly."
For the first time in a long while, UCLA has been left out of the top 25, picked to finish a pedestrian third in the Pacific 10 Conference.
To surpass those expectations, the Bruins will need seniors Nikola Dragovic and Michael Roll to provide a more-consistent scoring punch, and senior James Keefe to work harder on the boards.
Sophomores Malcolm Lee and Drew Gordon must step up after playing spot roles last season. A highly touted freshman class has loads of potential but zero experience.
The early schedule won't offer many breaks, not with a tough 76 Classic tournament leading into games against top-ranked Kansas and Mississippi State.
"Obviously, it's different than we're used to at UCLA," Keefe said. "We're going to have to fight every game."
Which puts the onus on the new floor leader, a young man who has already endured a few bumps in the road.
The Bruins recruited Anderson from Canyon High in Anaheim Hills as a relentless defender who averaged five steals, a ballhandler who could take control of the offense.
It was the spring of 2008 and most people expected junior Darren Collison to jump to the NBA, leaving Anderson to play significant minutes on a highly ranked team. But Collison opted to stay put.
"I was like, damn," Anderson recalled. "I was a little hurt."
Suddenly the odd man out, he did his best to stay patient, averaging about two points and an assist in eight minutes a game. Too often, he pressed on court.
"I thought I had to make plays all the time," he said. "You don't have to do that."
Collison graduated in the spring, but there was still a good deal of suspense in the backcourt, the much-hyped Jrue Holiday wanting to switch from off-guard to the point.
"What's life without pressure?" he says.
Tell him that everyone is watching, waiting to see whether he screws up.
"I've noticed," he says.
Jerime Anderson understands that as UCLA's new point guard, he not only controls the offense but also serves as the linchpin for a defense that has traditionally relied upon pressuring the ball.
More than any other player on the roster, Anderson holds the key to the Bruins' season. As California Coach Mike Montgomery, watching from up the coast, put it: "Are they going to have that veteran leadership?"
The answer rests with an unproven sophomore guiding a team full of question marks, their uncertain journey beginning with tonight's opener against Cal State Fullerton at Pauley Pavilion.
"I know there's going to be a lot of pressure coming to my position," Anderson said. "It's not something that I take lightly."
For the first time in a long while, UCLA has been left out of the top 25, picked to finish a pedestrian third in the Pacific 10 Conference.
To surpass those expectations, the Bruins will need seniors Nikola Dragovic and Michael Roll to provide a more-consistent scoring punch, and senior James Keefe to work harder on the boards.
Sophomores Malcolm Lee and Drew Gordon must step up after playing spot roles last season. A highly touted freshman class has loads of potential but zero experience.
The early schedule won't offer many breaks, not with a tough 76 Classic tournament leading into games against top-ranked Kansas and Mississippi State.
"Obviously, it's different than we're used to at UCLA," Keefe said. "We're going to have to fight every game."
Which puts the onus on the new floor leader, a young man who has already endured a few bumps in the road.
The Bruins recruited Anderson from Canyon High in Anaheim Hills as a relentless defender who averaged five steals, a ballhandler who could take control of the offense.
It was the spring of 2008 and most people expected junior Darren Collison to jump to the NBA, leaving Anderson to play significant minutes on a highly ranked team. But Collison opted to stay put.
"I was like, damn," Anderson recalled. "I was a little hurt."
Suddenly the odd man out, he did his best to stay patient, averaging about two points and an assist in eight minutes a game. Too often, he pressed on court.
"I thought I had to make plays all the time," he said. "You don't have to do that."
Collison graduated in the spring, but there was still a good deal of suspense in the backcourt, the much-hyped Jrue Holiday wanting to switch from off-guard to the point.
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