Bruins Have a Nice Blend of Old and New

And now . . . Kazball!

As if she didn’t have enough in the cupboard for another run at the Final Four, UCLA Coach Kathy Olivier has returned with a major recruit, believed to be comparable to past signings of Ann Meyers, Denise Curry, Natalie Williams and present-day senior center Maylana Martin.

She’s Nicole Kaczmarski, answers to “Kaz,” and she may get her chance for major minutes sooner than anyone expected.

Of course, Olivier isn’t one to put any pressure on her.

Yeah, right.

When Kaczmarski, from Holtsville, N.Y., signed with UCLA, Olivier said: “She could become the Michael Jordan of women’s basketball.”

One preseason publication has her as the No. 4 recruit in the country, behind No. 1 Kourtney Walton, Rutgers; and Tasheika Morris and Kara Lawson, both of Tennessee.

She’s 5 feet 11, and brings, it’s said, a game blending long-range marksmanship, power drives and advanced passing skills.

But until returning all-Pacific-10 senior point-guard Erica Gomez tore up her shoulder in a pickup game last summer, Kaczmarski looked as if she’d have to sit and wait.

Now Gomez is out until at least the January start of conference play, meaning we’re in the countdown for Kazball.

Of course, returning sophomore guard Michelle Greco (Kaz’s roommate) will contend for the starting point spot too.

This is the season UCLA’s women have been pointing to since 1996, when the talented recruiting class of All-American Martin (6-3), Marie Philman (6-0) and Janae Hubbard (6-4) entered school. Last season, as juniors, those three led UCLA to within a game of the Final Four, losing in the West Regional final to Louisiana Tech, 88-62. Gomez, who earlier lost a season to knee surgery, could not contribute in the Louisiana Tech game because of an ankle sprain.

UCLA’s players want to become the first national champions of the 2000s.

There isn’t much missing here. The Bruins, defending Pac-10 co-champions with Oregon, have senior leadership, explosive players such as junior guard LaCresha Flannigan (coming off minor arthroscopic knee surgery) and Greco, major inside scoring and rebounding from Martin and Hubbard.

Martin, who had part of a troublesome disk removed last May, hasn’t been medically cleared to play. She expects her first three weeks of practice to be at half-speed.

The Associated Press preseason poll ranked the Bruins No. 5 in the nation, and they moved up to No. 4 (without playing a game) after Tennessee’s season-opening loss. The Pac-10 coaches voted UCLA the preseason favorite to win the conference title, Oregon to finish second, Stanford third.

Martin believes the team was an ankle sprain [Gomez] away from the Final Four last year. “Our confidence level dropped a bit, I think, when we didn’t have Erica for Louisiana Tech,” she said.

“We’re an experienced team now, and we will handle situations much better.”

Olivier: “Erica is very important to us--she gets May and Janae so many easy shots. Her whole aura makes her special.

“I can’t get over how much more mature the seniors seem. It’s a reality check for me. Game problems that arise for this team won’t be a big deal.”

Here’s a problem for Olivier: Almost too much depth.

“I worry about that,” she said, “making everyone happy with their playing time.”

Remaining returnees: 6-4 senior Carly Funicello, 6-0 junior Ayesha Rembert, 6-1 senior Takiyah Jackson. Melanie Pearson, a 6-1 forward who started nine games last year, will miss the next two seasons while on a church mission. Redshirt freshman guard Natalie Nakase (5-2) debuts after missing her first year to knee surgery. Two other top-rated recruits are 6-0 Natalie Jarrett and 5-7 Jalina Bradley. Both were high school All-Americans.

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UCLA WOMEN AT A GLANCE

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Date Opponent, Time Nov. 28 Tennessee, 2 Dec. 5 Louisiana Tech#, 12:30 Dec. 9 San Diego State, 7 Dec. 11 at Pepperdine, 3 Dec. 17 at Cal State Fullerton, 7 Dec. 21 at Rutgers, 7:30 Dec. 23 at Connecticut, 2 Dec. 29 Old Dominion, 7 Jan. 7 Washington*, 7 Jan. 9 WASHINGTON STATE*, 2 Jan. 16 USC*, 1 Jan. 20 at Arizona*, 6 Jan. 22 at Arizona State*, 6 Jan. 27 OREGON STATE*, 7 Jan. 29 OREGON*, 1 Feb. 3 at Stanford*, 7:30 Feb. 5 at California*, 1 Feb. 12 at USC*, 2 Feb. 17 Arizona State*, 7 Feb. 19 ARIZONA*, 1 Feb. 24 at Oregon*, 7 Feb. 26 at Oregon State*, 7 Mar. 3 STANFORD*, 7:30 Mar. 5 CALIFORNIA*, 2 Mar. 9 at Washington State*, 7 Mar. 11 at Washington*, 1

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# At Honda Elite 4 Holiday Classic in Orlando, Fla. * Pac-10 Conference Game.

UCLA ROSTER

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Name Pos. Ht. Yr. Natalie Nakase G 5-2 Fr. Ayesha Rembert F 6-0 Jr. Marie Philman F 6-0 Sr. Erica Gomez G 5-9 Sr. Maylana Martin C 6-3 Sr. Natalie Jarrett F 6-0 Fr. Michelle Greco G 5-9 So. Jalina Bradley G 5-7 Fr. Nicole Kaczmarski G 5-11 Fr. Takiyah Jackson F 6-1 Sr. Janae Hubbard C 6-4 Sr. Carly Funicello F 6-4 Sr. LaCresha Flannigan G 5-7 Jr.

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