Freshman Orientation for Bruins

Jordan Farmar, his cap turned backward, hands gesturing and demonstrating how he’d throw a pass, feet tapping a rhythm of defense, indicating how his coach wants him moving to keep his opponent off guard, stops still when a question is posed.

What will make this a successful season for the UCLA Bruins?

Senior Dijon Thompson answers simply: “Making the NCAA tournament.” It is a lofty goal. The Bruins were 11-17 a year ago and have already lost their best defender, three-year starter Cedric Bozeman, to a knee injury.

Farmar, polite enough to let Thompson, his elder, complete his sentence, quickly adds a thought.

“We want to do more than just make the tournament,” Farmar says. “We want to do some damage.”

Thompson smiles.

UCLA opens its second season under Coach Ben Howland on Saturday with a 1 p.m. game against Chicago State at Pauley Pavilion.

Thompson, a 6-foot-7 forward, will be the only senior starter. Not inclined to vocal displays of leadership, he admires Howland’s first rookie class and the confidence the young players have.

Farmar, who inherited Bozeman’s spot as starting point guard, and Arron Afflalo already have established themselves as UCLA’s first all-freshman backcourt in six years. All four freshmen in a class ranked as high as third by recruiting experts -- center Lorenzo Mata and swingman Josh Shipp join Afflalo and Farmar -- will be among the top eight in the rotation.

Thompson assesses what is ahead for the youngsters.

“A lot of responsibility,” he says. “A lot of pressure, a lot of playing time. Things are a lot different for them than it was for me. They’ve got a lot more to do.”

When Thompson was a wide-eyed freshman -- “It seems a long time ago,” he says -- he was awed by the UCLA tradition and was happy to step in line behind seniors Dan Gadzuric, Matt Barnes, Billy Knight and Rico Hines, happy to let them be the leaders, teach him the ropes, take the heat, accept the pressure.

Thompson was content to be “only a freshman.” With Bozeman sidelined for the season, rehabbing from surgery, Thompson is the lone representative left from the 2001-2002 freshman class.

Andre Patterson is long gone, an academic casualty at UCLA and now eligible again and playing for Tennessee.

Ryan Walcott, who was a redshirt freshman that season, chose to transfer to Grand Canyon University.

Says Thompson: “It’s a little lonely. I look around and just see me. Where did everybody go, you know? It’s a weird feeling.”

Howland’s first Pittsburgh team finished 13-15, his second was 19-14 and went to the National Invitation Tournament, and his third was 29-6, won the Big East title and went to the NCAA Sweet 16.

His first Northern Arizona team was 9-17, his second was 7-19 and his third was 21-7. In his fourth year, Howland took Northern Arizona to the NCAA tournament for the first time.

His is a record of steady improvement as he brings in his own players.

“You can tell Coach has a plan,” Thompson says. “We’ll be better at it this year than last year and better next year.”

Howland lists increased depth, “especially on the perimeter,” and veteran players being stronger in general and “a year older and more experienced,” as areas of obvious improvement.

Even the freshmen learned quickly that Howland likes strength.

Farmar says he has gained 17 pounds of muscle in his few months in UCLA’s weight program.

Afflalo says he has added about 10 pounds.

“And it’s solid muscle,” he says.

The Bruins of a season ago were seventh in the Pacific 10 in rebounding.

“That’s not good enough,” Howland says.

It might have to be, though, for at least one more season.

Howland says the Bruins will miss the size and mobility of Trevor Ariza, the 6-7 forward who left after a year for the NBA.

“He would have really helped us, and now our weakness is the four spot,” Howland said, referring to the strong forward position that will be handled mostly by junior Ryan Hollins, a 7-footer who was set back over the summer when he needed arthroscopic knee surgery.

Afflalo and Farmar, though, hold the key to UCLA’s improvement.

“Jordan is already a leader,” Thompson says.

“I am,” Farmar echoes. “I was born a leader.”

Farmar feels comfortable with the ball. He’s eager to direct his teammates.

Afflalo already looks for his shot and is considered by Howland as the best defender on the team.

“I love to play defense,” Afflalo says. “I’ve always looked at it as, if my guy averages 20 points a game and I hold him to 10 and score 20 myself, it’s as good as if I scored 30.”

If the Bruins make the NCAA tournament, Howland says, “That will be great.”

He cautions, “We can’t sustain one more serious injury. Losing Ced was a huge blow. He was our best defender, he had worked incredibly hard on his shot, he was going to play the point guard with Jordan, he was going to play at forward. The silver lining is that he’ll be back next year. But this year, it’s a blow.”

Farmar is polite again but firm.

“I’m not happy for the reason, but I’m ready to be the point guard,” he says. “As many minutes as I can get, that’s great. That’s the attitude of the freshmen. We’re ready. Let’s go.”

*

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

COLLEGE BASKETBALL 2004-05

Bruin Lineup

The probable starting lineup for the UCLA men’s basketball team:

*--* F DIJON THOMPSON 6-7 Sr.

*--*

Leading returning scorer, expected to improve rebounding.

*--* F RYAN HOLLINS 7-0 Jr.

*--*

Regaining touch and strength after off-season knee surgery.

*--* C MICHAEL FEY 7-0 Jr.

*--*

Prone to foul trouble, the big man needs to be an inside presence.

*--* G ARRON AFFLALO 6-5 Fr.

*--*

Tough on defense, confident shooter.

*--* G JORDAN FARMAR 6-2 Fr.

*--*

Was on his way to winning point guard spot before Bozeman’s injury.