dailybruin.com/sports | sports | Friday, March 1, 2013 | DAILY BRUIN
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like it’s
2008 ESPN’s College GameDay is back at UCLA for the first time since 2008, and they’re here for the same matchup between Pac-12 rivals UCLA and Arizona.
COURT VISIONS In order for UCLA to succeed on the national stage, Shabazz Muhammad needs to take a key role.
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SHABAZZ D A M M A H MWUhile he has had many
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DIXON From Long Beach to Rutgers to UCLA, Women’s basketball’s Jasmine Dixon has carried one thing with her: a winning attitude.
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DAILY BRUIN | Friday, March 1, 2013 | sports | dailybruin.com/sports
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Power Rankings
1. Oregon (23-6, 12-4, Last week: No. 1)
7. USC (13-15, 8-7, Last week: No. 7)
Duck Nation can breathe a little easier now that Dominic Artis is back. The team’s starting point guard missed nine games with a foot injury before returning on a limited basis in Oregon’s win over rival Oregon State on Thursday night. What helps Artis is that Oregon got its rivalry game out of the way early in the week, now giving the freshman more time to heal and carry his usual minutes load. This weekend: No game
The USC team that looked careless, out of sync and frustrated on offense against UCLA didn’t show up against Arizona. The Trojans handily beat the Wildcats and the few students in attendance at Galen Center rushed the court in celebration. That win makes it more likely that the game against UCLA was an aberration. This weekend: Saturday v. Arizona State
2. UCLA (21-7, 11-4, Last week: No. 3)
8. Stanford (16-13, 7-9, Last week: No. 8)
The Bruins are on a three-game winning streak with three games left to play. Arizona’s loss Wednesday pushed UCLA into the top two of the conference standings. Another win over the Wildcats in ESPN’s College GameDay game tomorrow and the Bruins could create even more distance between themselves and the team that looked like the Pac-12 favorite. This weekend: Saturday v. Arizona
Stanford had already played their way out of the NCAA Tournament picture before dropping a heartbreaker at home to Colorado. The Cardinal had held a double-digit lead in the second half until they squandered it. Dwight Powell had a chance to tie the game but took too long to dunk and the game-tying basket was ruled off. Stanford will proudly carry the Pac-12 flag at the National Invitation Tournament, again. This weekend: Sunday v. Utah
3. California (19-9, 11-5, Last week: No. 4)
9. Washington (15-13, 7-8, Last week: No. 9)
Another win Thursday night over Utah made it a six-game winning streak for the Bears. What’s more, their last two games of conference play are at home. The Pac-12’s hottest team seems to be getting better and better. Cal could get off the plane in Vegas as the team no one wants to play. This weekend: Saturday v. Colorado
The Huskies are out of the NCAA tournament picture and are almost guaranteed to be playing on the opening Wednesday of the Pac-12 tournament. They haven’t played this week yet, but have three games left in their regular season. Coach Lorenzo Romar should forget about a one-game-at-a-time mentality and experiment with strategies for the Pac-12 Tournament during Washington’s stretch run. This weekend: Sunday v. Washington State
4. Arizona (23-5, 11-5, Last week: No. 2)
10. Utah (11-16, 3-12, Last week: No. 10)
Arizona’s losses seem to be getting worse each time. On Wednesday, the Wildcats were shocked by USC at the Galen Center, the same Trojans that the Bruins easily handled three days earlier. Their poll ranking may take a hit, but the loss should do little to hurt the Wildcats’ chances at the NCAA tournament. They are still a relative lock as an at-large team. This weekend: Saturday at UCLA
The one redeeming quality about Utah might be how well the Utes are playing against the spread. Many of their games have been close losses or wins and they’re rarely favored to begin with. Fans of the Utes might have a great time betting on their team at the Pac-12 tournament and less of a pleasant experience watching them. This weekend: Sunday at Stanford
5. Colorado (19-8, 9-6, Last week: No. 6)
11. Oregon State (13-16, 3-13, Last week: No. 11)
The Buffaloes are looking like an NCAA Tournament team again after winning on the road in Stanford. If the Pac-12 was a five-bid league, it’s looking more likely that the top five in these rankings have the best chances of selection right now. There is still room for Colorado to go up: If it beats Cal in Berkeley on Saturday, a top-four seed and first-round bye in the Pac-12 Tournament is in reach. This weekend: Saturday at Cal
The Beavers were swept by the Ducks this season, and now have lost five of six to their intrastate rivals. It is abundantly clear that the two programs are headed in opposite directions and that may be impetus enough for the Beavers to make a coaching change. At risk is losing even more recruiting battles. This weekend: No game
6. Arizona State (20-9, 9-7, Last week: No. 5)
12. Washington State (11-17, 2-13, Last week: No. 12)
It appears that the Sun Devils’ bubble burst after losing in overtime to UCLA. A two-game skid has derailed the early-season momentum ASU built, but the Sun Devils aren’t to be ruled out just yet. With super-quick guard Jahii Carson and athletic wing Carrick Felix leading the way, ASU can beat anyone on a given day. Even four teams in four days during the Pac-12 Tournament. This weekend: Saturday at USC
Nothing to report from Pullman, Wash., where the Cougars are in the middle of a losing streak that keeps on growing. The tally stands at eight after getting swept in Arizona last week. Washington State closes with games against Washington, UCLA and USC. It’s tough to see a game in there that the Cougars could use to crack their losing streak. This weekend: Sunday at Washington
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dailybruin.com/sports | sports | Friday, March 1, 2013 | DAILY BRUIN
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DAILY BRUIN | Friday, March 1, 2013 | sports | dailybruin.com/sports
clash CLASSES OF THE
V
3 515 Shabazz
Jordan Adams
Jordan Adams (Scout: 74, Rivals: 62, ESPN: 41) Jordan Adams was the lowest-ranked player in the UCLA’s 2012 recruiting class according to all three major rating organizations. Known as a pure shooter with great range, Adams was viewed as a spot up shooter, which the Bruins hadn’t seen since Michael Roll graduated. Like Parker, Adams is originally from Georgia, but played for Oak Hill Academy in Virginia, arguably the most prestigious high school basketball program in the country with alumni such as Carmelo A nthony and Rajon Rondo. While Adams may not have been the most heralded recruit in the class, he was the first to make an impact on the court. In his first game as a Bruin, Adams came off the bench against Indiana State and posted a team-high 21 points. He would then go on to post three more consecutive 20-plus point performances and eventually found himself a role as a starter. His production has since leveled off as he now averages 15.1 points per game, but he is coming off a 20-point game against USC.
Muhammad
Kyle Anderson Kyle Anderson (Scout: 4, Rivals: 3, ESPN: 5) Measuring 6-foot-9 with the court vision and passing ability of a point guard, Kyle Anderson was one of the most intriguing prospects in the entire nation. Anderson attended St. Anthony High School in New Jersey, where he did not lose a single game in his last two seasons there. A proven winner with a unique skill set, Anderson was a consensus top-five prospect in the nation, with offers from across the country. Anderson was shifted from his high school position of a point guard to be small forward for the Bruins. The adjustment to playing off rather than on the ball led to a seemingly slow start for Anderson. However, as he began having the ball in his hands and calling plays himself, he became an integral part of the offense. He averages nearly a double-double with 10 points per game and 9.1 rebounds per game – the most on the team – and is the team’s secondleading assist man.
Sh aba zz Mu h a m m a d (Scout : 2, Rivals: 1, ESPN: 2) Shabazz Muhammad was touted as the best player in the nation with a scoring arsenal that could propel UCLA to new heights. With an unrelenting ferocity, Muhammad dominated high school basketball and was expected to do the same at the college level. Muhammad’s talent was enough to render him a top pick in the very next NBA draft according to numerous draft experts. Due to NCA A el i g ibi l it y i ssues, Muhammad was forced to sit out the first three games of the season, with cha nts of “F ree Shaba zz” echoi n g through Pauley Pavilion. When he was finally cleared by the NCAA, Muhammad’s conditioning had regressed after having to sit out and suffering from various injuries. However, once he found his comfort zone in the college game, he has been one of the most dominant players in the Pac-12 Conference, averaging 18.2 points per game.
TIM BRADBURY/ dai ly
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23 Tony Parker
Tony Parker (Scout: 20, Rivals: 27, ESPN: 26) In high school, Tony Parker was one of the most highly-rated big men in the country. Hailing from Georgia and playing for arguably one of the most dominant high school programs in the nation, Miller Grove, Parker was sought after by some of the biggest programs in the country such as UCLA, Duke and Ohio State. Known for his unique combination of both size and skill, Parker was believed to make a contribution right away for the Bruins and fill a need in the post. Parker’s decision ceremony received national media attention as he brought up on stage numerous family members, friends and coaches before finally making his decision to attend UCLA. Much like his ceremony, his career as a Bruin was slow to take off. He is the only player out of the 2012 recruiting class yet to start a game. With the departure of center Josh Smith, many thought Parker would need to step up and fill the void, but he still struggled to receive major minutes. However, Parker is coming off his most productive performance in Pac-12 play against USC, in which he saw 17 minutes. During the away game, Redshirt junior forward Travis Wear, the Bruins’ best post player, was out with a foot injury and Parker stepped up with eight points and three rebounds.
dailybruin.com/sports | sports | Friday, March 1, 2013 | DAILY BRUIN
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UCLA and Arizona waged numerous recruiting battles in the offseason to put together two of the best recruiting classes in the nation. Scout and Rivals both had UCLA at No. 2 and Arizona at No. 3, while ESPN had UCLA at No. 1 and Arizona at No. 3. Both programs’ seasons were contingent on the immediate impacts these freshmen could have. With multiple freshmen receiving starting roles on both squads, inconsistency has plagued both teams, but along with that came flashes of brilliance and potential. However, the Wildcats find themselves ranked at No. 11 while the Bruins are hardly a blip on the national radar. But the game is played on the court, not on paper. In their first matchup of the season, UCLA beat Arizona 84-73. Coach Ben Howland has confidence in his freshmen, starting three of them and beginning to trust the fourth with more minutes. After Wednesday’s game against Arizona State, in which the freshmen combined for 66 of UCLA’s 79 points, Howland said, “I think the media got it right, they are the No. 1 recruiting class in the country.” Compiled by Chris Nguyen, Bruin Sports senior staff.
V. c o u rt e sy o f
ADAM GONZALEZ
21 35 3 33 1 Kaleb Tarczewski
Brandon Ashley
Brandon Ashley (Scout: 10, Rivals: 23, ESPN: 16) Brandon Ashley was another component of Arizona’s front court-loaded freshman class. He played his high school basketball at Findlay Prep in Henderson, Nev. Known for his overall versatility and refined skills for a big man, Ashley was highly sought after by numerous schools – including UCLA. With a solid frame and good hands, Ashley capitalized on the opportunity to contribute immediately and did just that, starting 21 of 26 games this season. Ashley scores 7.7 points per game but has great shot selection, scoring 52.9 percent of his field goals. Ashley nearly posted a double-double against the Bruins in their first matchup, scoring nine points and grabbing eight rebounds in 24 minutes.
Grant Jerrett
Grant Jerrett (Scout: 9, Rivals: 15, ESPN: 9) Grant Jerrett is another big man making an immediate impact for the Wildcats. With great fundamentals, hands and footwork, Jerrett dominated during his prep career at La Verne Lutheran High School, averaging 22.3 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. Known to be a hybrid post player, Jerrett possesses the skill set to finish around the rim and shoot threes consistently. Jerrett is the second man off the bench for Arizona, playing in all but one game and averaging 18 minutes per game. He averages 5 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. Jerrett struggled offensively against UCLA, going just 2-7 from the field for five points. However, he was a menace on the glass, grabbing 10 rebounds, four of which were offensive.
Kaleb Tarczewski (Scout: 6, Rivals: 9, ESPN: 4) The imposing, 7-foot Kaleb Tarczewski was one of the highest-rated big men in the entire recruiting class. While raw in skill, Tarczewski was endowed with a considerable amount of athleticism for his size: Throughout his high school career, he demonstrated his ability to get up and down the court, block and alter shots, and grab rebounds. Tarczewski has made an immediate impact for the Arizona Wildcats, starting all 28 of their games thus far and playing for just over half of a game on average. He hauls in a team-leading 5.6 rebounds per game to go with his 6.5 scoring average. Tarczewski was all but shut down against UCLA, scoring zero points and grabbing only one rebound in fifteen minutes of play.
Gabe York
Gabe York (Scout: 80, Rivals: 46, ESPN: 65) At Orange Lutheran High School, Gabe York was known as a prolific scorer with unlimited range and athleticism. Despite being 6-foot-2-inches, he can fly toward the rim for spectacular dunks. In his senior year of high school, York averaged 24.9 points per game and became the school’s all-time leading scorer. Playing behind multiple upperclassmen in a veteran backcourt, York has yet to make an immediate impact for Arizona. He has seen action in 14 games off the bench thus far.
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DAILY BRUIN | Friday, March 1, 2013 | sports | dailybruin.com/sports
Preseason darlings draw national crowd BY SAM STRONG
Bruin Sports senior staff sstrong@media.ucla.edu
ESPN’s College GameDay crew will roll into Westwood for the first time in five years when UCLA hosts Arizona on Saturday. On Feb. 2, 2008, The Worldwide Leader in Sports brought its satellite truck, portable stage and bevy of basketball analysts to campus for the very same Pac-12 rivalry game. The event didn’t disappoint, as future No. 5 overall NBA draft pick Kevin Love wowed the national television audience in an 82-60 win with 26 points and 11 rebounds. Future No. 4 overall draft pick Russell Westbrook wasn’t far behind, scoring 21 points.
Scrutiny under prime-time lights Sports network showcases Arizona-UCLA, game while the basketball world intently eyes Shabazz
Men’s basketball ARIZONA Saturday, 6 p.m. Pauley Pavilion ESPN
RYAN MENEZES
T
The Bruins wouldn’t mind seeing history repeat itself. When ESPN announced its return in August, it looked to be a heavyweight battle between highly ranked conference contenders, but some of the luster has been lost since. UCLA hasn’t appeared in the national rankings since Jan. 20, and while Arizona sits at No. 11, a fall is surely TIM BRADBURY/ dai ly
M. BBALL | Page 9
game is that of a volume shooter, one that scores a lot but takes plenty of bad shots COURT VISIONS for every good shot he makes. he spotlight Being left-handed is an advanof the tage against some defenders, college basketball world but opposing teams quickly is about to shine on Westwood. sniff out that he struggles The ESPN College Gameusing his right hand and shade Day desk will sit on the Pauley him to that side. Pavilion floor all day Saturday Despite the fact that he while the show tapes in front often attracts double- and of students who get to feel like triple-teams that leave others belles at a rarely held ball. wide open, Muhammad has The UCLA men’s basketball more turnovers than assists team will then play Arizona in this season and hasn’t shown a game crucial to the Pac-12 the ability to make his teamleaderboard before ESPN mates better. His defense, tears down the set and leaves. though improving, has not Less than 24 hours after the been tough enough for coach spotlight is turned on, it will Ben Howland to stick him on be dimmed. the other team’s best guard Having GameDay in town (that assignment usually goes is a big deal, but a fleeting to Jordan Adams). one. The same can be said of Where Muhammad gets Shabazz Muhammad’s UCLA drafted to in June has little career. bearing on UCLA’s success. Today the calendar flipped But if he makes incremental to March, the month most improvements to those holes synonymous with college in his game now, he and the basketball. Three games Bruins could prosper together plus the Pac-12 tournament before Muhammad leaves remain in UCLA’s season town. before the NCAA Tournament, It seemed like that was if the Bruins get there. At the case Wednesday against season’s end, there’s a good Arizona State, when Muhamchance Muhammad follows mad actually tried to be a the path that many Bruins playmaker. Going against an have recently taken: withdraw exceptionally strong defender from UCLA during in Carrick Felix, spring quarter, who had plenty of work on basketball help from the Sun But if he around the clock, Devils, Muhammad makes incremen- looked to feed his impress NBA teams, get drafted, tal improvements teammates. Many profit. ... he and the Bru- of his passes didn’t It is no secret result in assists – he that the freshman ins could prosper finished with just guard has his eye one – but it was a together before on playing profes- (he) leaves town. start. sional basketball. As great as that Were it not for an game was for UCLA, NBA rule requiring Muhamit’s doubtful that it registered mad to be 19 years old and across the country. Tipoff a year out of high school, was just after 8:30 p.m., right Muhammad could have a about the time when scouts on contract and sneaker deal the opposite coast are in their right now. At least NBA scouts pajamas and watching David seemed to think so, with some Letterman in bed. billing him as a potential No. 1 That’s why GameDay overall pick in the draft before coming to town, which puts he played a collegiate game. the Arizona-UCLA game in a Instead, he came to UCLA, prime-time slot on ESPN, is where his game hasn’t necesimportant. sarily matched the hype. Already, we’ve seen how a Muhammad doesn’t deserve nationally televised game can blame, since he can control the impact perceptions. Muhamformer but not the latter. mad was a hero one day, dropWhen it comes to watching ping 23 points in a big road Muhammad play, it has been win in Tucson, Ariz. He was an underwhelming season. later a pouter, for seeming to That’s not just my opinion. It’s refuse to celebrate after Larry also that of NBA scouts and Drew II shot a game-winner observers charged with evaluto beat Washington at home. ating college talent. Both games were on ESPN. Saturday’s game can change Muhammad spends more that. There will be eyes on the time under a magnifying glass game and plenty of judgment than some ants do, sometimes passed afterward. This is the getting burned when the spotshowcase Muhammad needs light shines over him and hits to correct his slipping draft at a particular angle. stock and, in the process, help The fact that GameDay is the Bruins make the NCAA even coming to town is parallel Tournament. to the running theme here. Here’s some of what’s ESPN picked UCLA as a host to like: Muhammad has an site in August, back when almost-unparalleled effort the Pac-12 didn’t seem as level. This season, he has weak and a Wildcats-Bruins grabbed nearly as many offenmatchup figured to feature a sive rebounds, which are a couple of the country’s best challenge to snag, as defensive teams. rebounds. He is a great athlete, Predictions don’t always hit as evidenced by the fact that the mark, so Muhammad is he stands 6 feet 6 inches tall not the only over-hyped party but handles the opening tip here. On Saturday, he can do against taller players and often something to shed that label wins. He’s also a nice guy, if with the country watching. not a little reserved, and isn’t one to brag. Email Menezes at There are also plenty of rmenezes@media.ucla.edu or shortcomings. Muhammad’s tweet him at @ryanvmenezes.
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Guard Jordan Adams believes UCLA will have to match the intensity of Arizona in Saturday’s primetime game.
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dailybruin.com/sports | sports | Friday, March 1, 2013 | DAILY BRUIN
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not
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BACK Shabazz Muhammad overcame Tourette Syndrome as an adolescent to become one of the best freshman players in the nation
BLAINE OHIGASHI/ dai ly
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Shabazz Muhammad has had a lifelong struggle with Tourette syndrome. Though remnants of it are present, he has largely moved past the diagnosis and the effect it has had on his court performance. His tics have become less and less noticeable as his basketball career has flourished.
BY SAM STRONG
Bruin Sports senior staff sstrong@media.ucla.edu
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Muhammad has dealt with criticism on and off the court this season, from the NCAA declaring him ineligible to national bloggers questioning his designer backpack.
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Muhammad maintains that Tourette syndrome is now a part of his past. His family says it has largely forgotten about it as well, as it is no longer a hindrance.
A certain burden comes with being one of the best players in the nation and a surefire first-round NBA draft pick. Shabazz Muhammad knows its weight all too well. He is constantly under a microscope. He can’t win even when his team does. He sat out the first three games of the season because of an NCAA investigation later discovered to be tainted. He scored 23 points to lead UCLA to a win over then-No. 6 Arizona in January only to have a nationally renowned columnist call the legitimacy of his designer backpack into question. He recently caught heat for not joining a team dogpile when he wasn’t the one taking the gamewinning shot. Not long ago, Muhammad carried a very different sort of burden, one that cast a wide shadow over his future and had many questioning whether or not he would ever reach his potential. “He would start shaking in the middle of a game,” said Muhammad’s father, Ron Holmes. “His guy would go right around him. I thought he would never be able to play basketball. How could he when he couldn’t stand still and stop convulsing in the middle of a play?” At age six, Muhammad began to exhibit odd behavior that was later diagnosed as Tourette syndrome, a disorder of the nervous system characterized by involuntary movements or sounds called tics. Roughly three out of every 1,000 children living in the United States suffer from Tourette syndrome, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Initially, Muhammad’s family dismissed the tics as unique “habits.” He would twitch often, blink rapidly, smell his hands after touching things and shake his arms. Medication was an option, but not one Muhammad’s family was interested in exploring. They didn’t feel he needed it. “We just dealt with it,” Holmes said. “It got worse before it got better.” At that young age, his only postgame interviewers were his parents. The questions were much tougher. “We would see him do something on the court and we knew what it was but no one else did,” said Muhammad’s mother, Faye. “We would say, ‘You had a tic out there. If you’re going to keep playing, the competition will get better and you can’t let yourself do that.’” Tics are more prone to show up during times of stress when the heart or respiratory rate increases, according to Dr. Charles McDan-
iel, director of psychiatry at UCLA Grant Rice, Muhammad’s high Counseling and Psychological Ser- school coach, was made aware of the vices. condition through his parents but For Muhammad, the court was never spoke with him about it. There a minefield. He told himself to turn was no need. his disorder off and turn basketball W h i l e Mu h a m m a d r o s e u p on, but it wasn’t that simple. He was recruiting boards, college coaches frustrated and found himself dis- started to call. His Tourette syntracted or mentally checked out of drome took a back seat. games. “Every once in a while he would The tics were most severe in the do some tics but it didn’t really fifth and sixth grades. His peers affect him,” said Rice, who coached and opponents began to ask ques- Las Vegas-based Bishop Gorman tions and tease him about his odd High School to three state champibehavior. onships in Muhammad’s four years. His sister Asia, two years his “It would be after a workout or senior, characterized the harass- something or if he was resting on ment as constant “little jabs.” the bench. Maybe when he was at “He’s very confident,” said Asia the free-throw line, you could tell Muhammad. “He would get frus- there were some movements. We trated because he couldn’t really turned it into a positive and it’s probcontrol it. The teasing forced him to ably one of the things that makes control it.” Shabazz such a relentless worker.” As the nagging began to pile up, For roughly half of those affected he became determined to suppress with Tourette syndrome, tics resolve the tics, often using the pestering after the age of 18, Dr. McDaniel to fuel his play on the court. The said. Muhammad, who will turn 20 tics remained prevalent at home but in November, wasn’t so lucky. started to become less noticeable But the remnants of Muhammad’s in public. battle are slight. “We laid it out to him For the most part, his and said, ‘If you want to tics subsided around his play this sport, you can’t junior year at Bishop do this’ and he underGorman and have been He would stood it,” Faye Muham- get frustrated be- “pretty stable for the mad said. “It was a mindlast three or four years,” over-matter thing for cause he couldn’t according to Holmes. him. He had to overcome really control it. But they haven’t vanit. I think that’s what The teasing forced ished completely. helped m a ke h i m so They reappear during mentally strong today.” him to control it.” times of great exciteEventually, Muhamment. Occasionally, he’ll Asia Muhammad rapidly tap his thumb mad began to shrug off Sister to his iPhone or crane the disorder entirely. Upon returning home from middle his neck when listening to a quesschool one day, Faye Muhammad tion he’s asked. Slow-motion replays told her son she recorded an infor- show him briefly blinking before mational television program about shoots. adolescents living with Tourette Nonetheless, he is UCLA basketsyndrome. He wanted no part of it. ball’s poster boy – in good times and “That’s not me,” he quipped back. bad – and leads all NCAA freshmen “I don’t want to watch that.” in scoring. His attitude hasn’t changed much “He’s come such a long way from since. He declined to comment on that,” Holmes said. “We don’t have to his condition for this story. deal with it too much. I was relieved His parents spoke privately about because I knew it could be a hinhis progress but rarely addressed drance. When I saw that this wasn’t him directly for fear that the tics going to be a hurdle anymore, it’s in might intensify. For the most part, the rearview mirror for us. We conHolmes left the issue for his son to tinue to move on.” take care of on his own. Some of his family members say Hol mes ca l led Mu ha m m ad’s they’ve forgotten about it altogethTourette syndrome “the elephant er. Muhammad would like to count in the room” and admitted he may himself in that group as well. He have been too hard on his son. His maintains it’s a part of his past. family’s tough love didn’t allow him That was never more evident to shy away from the challenge. than in the first half of Sunday’s “When he says something is going week’s win at USC. After Muhamto get done, he’ll find a way to do it,” mad was fouled, the rival crowd Asia Muhammad said. “It just came greeted him with a different kind to a point where he got pissed off of teasing. A few Trojan fans began and said, ‘I’m not going to do this to chant “overrated” in his direcanymore.’ ... He didn’t stop but he tion. The jeer soon grew louder as it made it less noticeable.” spread throughout the arena. The tics slowly began to disMu h a m m a d c a l m ly stepped appear and his basketball career to the free-throw line and made flourished as Muhammad focused both shots using the same smooth on both. motion.
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DAILY BRUIN | Friday, March 1, 2013 | sports | dailybruin.com/sports
Keeping it closer to home Jasmine Dixon grew into the player she is today under the tutelage of her father: her life’s coach
BY CHRIS KALRA
Bruin Sports reporter
ckalra@media.ucla.edu Jasmine Dixon isn’t one for many words when she steps on the court, instead keeping her cool and composure at all times. But that silence speaks volumes to her teammates. To them, she brings “a swagger and confidence” that they feed off, one that redshirt junior forward Atonye Nyingifa calls a “power energy.” Even though Dixon isn’t a team captain, coach Cori Close is quick to point out how that doesn’t define the redshirt senior forward’s leadership skills. “Leaders aren’t titles. Leaders are people who influence, and Jas influences,” Close said. It’s an influence that has led UCLA to a 68-17 (.800) record in her four-year playing tenure, far and away better than its .591 winning percentage without her. That success has been a lifelong trend for Dixon. When she arrived at Long Beach Poly tech n ic H i g h School, it went on to win three consecutive Division I state championships. And when she switched travel teams in the ninth grade, her new squad went undefeated for two straight seasons, climbing to No. 1 in the national rankings. “She just has a w i n n i n g mentality. And it’s a lifestyle choice. It’s not something you can turn on and off,” Close said. I n between a l l the tea m success, Dixon has garnered some of the highest individual basketball accolades possible – from McDonald’s All-American and Gatorade California Player of the Year in high school to Honorable Mention A P A llAmerican at UCLA. But when Dixon looks past all that she has accomplished, she understands just how much she had to overcome along the way, and that she didn’t do it alone. Making sacrifices Dixon’s dad, Billy Brown, didn’t play a lot of basketball, but it was clear to him, early on, that his daughter was special. He could see it in the way she tenaciously drove to the rim against older, stronger boys at the local park, unafraid of contact as just a six-year-old. As Brown put it, “she was fearless.” Dixon caught on to basketball fairly quickly, developing an instinctive feel for the game. Still, for her talent to blossom, she needed guidance, something that her dad provided unconditionally. Not only did he coach many of her basketball teams up until high school, he took her under
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Dixon had a natural talent for basketball that her father helped her grow throughout her childhood, leading her to become the strong player she is now. Dixon’s father encouraged her and trained her in ball handling, footwork and other fundamental skills.
his wing for extra practices during that time. Together, they spent hours working on ball handling, footwork and other f u nda menta l sk i l ls – week after week, year after year. Even off the court, Brown didn’t stop preparing her. When Dixon’s travel teams played road games – sometimes venturing across the country – he was there, ensuring she would get her eight hours of sleep. “Any little thing he did was to make me better,” she said. Over time, she emerged as one of the top young players in the nation. But when Dixon, who soared above her competition, wanted to “chill out,” Brown pressed otherwise. “I explained to her, ‘The Lisa Leslie’s don’t just chill out.’ … ‘The (Kobe Bryant’s) don’t just chill out to get to that level,’” he said. “You have to get out and sacrifice.” At times though, it felt like nobody sacrificed as much as Brown did. “I pretty much committed my life to raising Jasmine in basketball,” he said. “I sacrificed a lot. There were times where I should have been working or what not, and I was with Jas.” Getting a second chance At one poi nt i n h is l i fe,
Brow n found himself in his Brown said. daughter’s shoes – a talented, D i xon’s f a m i l y hover e d young athlete ready to play at around the poverty line for the college level. much of her childhood, and A standout high school foot- lived in a neighborhood cloudball safety, he had earned many ed with gang activity. Division I college scholarship But Dixon used basketball as offers. her way out, spending almost But in a house with five other all her time practicing and children, his parents never had playing on any team possible. ample time for him, and Brown When they would travel for slipped down the wrong path, basketball, many times to afflugetting caught up ent neighborhoods, in gang activity. Brow n rarely let “I knew I had her forget about her She just decisions that I dream – their dream c o u l d m a k e o r has a winning – that she was chasnot ma ke, but I mentality. And it’s ing. thought that par“I (would) tell Jast icu l a r l i fe w a s a lifestyle choice. mine, ‘Okay Jas, look the decision I was It’s not something at how all the cars supposed to make you can turn on start to look different b e c au s e it w a s now. Look at how all and off.” glorified, it was the houses are startlike ‘Th is is the ing to look different Cori Close thing to do,’” he now. This is where Women’s basketball you want to get. … said. coach T h is is why we do It cost him the coveted scholarwh at we’re doi n g. ship offers. Instead of forget- This is why you play basketting about his misguided past, ball,” he said. Brown used it as a blueprint to keep his daughter, who grew up Going and coming in the same area as him, from Brown said that it bothers making the same mistakes he him when talented Southern did. California high school girl’s “I often tell Jas, ‘This is all basketball players bolt across about decision-making. It’s so the country to play for powereasy to make a bad decision house college programs. and get into major trouble. But I f they attended a loca l sometimes it’s hard to make school such as UCLA or USC, a wise decision and say, ‘Hey, they could build their own traI’d rather go the other route,’” dition here, he believes.
During the recruiting process, his daughter, who garnered offers from numerous top college programs, began seriously considering Rutgers University in New Jersey, almost 3000 miles from Long Beach. “I was like, ‘Please don’t, for me and your family, you got a lot of fans here, (stay) here and start a tradition,’ because I wanted her to go to a close (Pac-12) school,” Brown said. But he understood Dixon was becoming an adult; this was her decision. She chose to attend Rutgers University, joining four other High School McDonald’s All-Americans in a heralded recruiting class deemed ‘The Next Fab Five.’ The talk of four straight F i n a l Fou r s a nd mu lt iple national championships spread throughout the campus before she and her teammates even played a game. But t he f it never q u it e matched the expectations. Dixon and her fellow freshmen saw little playing time early, even though they had been recruited on the pretense that they would play right away. It was then she turned to her father, not for his help, but to receive reassurance from the man who had believed in her since day one. “I had never had this happen, but Jasmine wrote a letter to me,” Brown said. “(She) was
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Jasmine Dixon returned from injury this year to become a silent leader for her teammates, helping UCLA women’s basketball to a strong season. Although she is still regaining her feeling for the game, Dixon’s physical strength and quick hands haven’t changed.
like, ‘I’m (going to) really work hard for you guys and represent our family well. I’m (going to) stay strong.’” But to Brown, it was a sign that his daughter’s situation was serious. Soon thereafter, she called him and her mom, telling them she was ready to leave the program after just five games. Dixon never had any doubt where she was going next – UCLA. “It’s home. Thirty minutes from my house, my family,” Dixon said. “Why not have a new start and have my family with me?” Pushing to the end T h is season hasn’t gone quite as Dixon had planned. She returned from a ruptured Ach i l les tendon that caused her to miss last season entirely, only to suffer a bone bruise to her leg earlier this season. It’s an injury that has hindered her all year. ‘This is probably one of the roughest seasons Jas has ever had,” Brow n said. “She has played at a high level for all of (her) life. This is the first year her stats ... don’t reflect her actual ability.” Dixon is averaging just 7.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game this season. Two years ago, she averaged 12.1 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.4 steals per game, earning AP Honorable Mention All-American as the anchor of a UCLA team that finished with the most regular season and conference wins in school history. Dixon’s precise footwork and lightning-quick hands haven’t changed. She still has the same physical strength dow n low that her teammate, Nyingifa, likens to that of the Hulk. But her aggressive “attack mentality” and explosiveness just aren’t what they used to be as she still regains her feel for the game. She’s had to adjust her indiv idual expectations for her final season, as has her dad. Typically after home games, when the two of them speak, he’ll ramble on about game situations that Dixon could have done better in, because he’s never really stopped coaching her. But he understands that his daughter isn’t 100 percent just yet. Instead, he asks her about her health and other things. How’s she’s feeling? Is she eating right? How’s school? But occasional ly, he’l l sl ip i n a pointer or two. “I have to; it’s just in me and she’s used to it,” Brown said. Still, Dixon understands her father’s relentless passion, and just how far it has brought her. “Without my dad pushing me, I wouldn’t be here,” Dixon said.
dailybruin.com/sports | sports | Friday, March 1, 2013 | DAILY BRUIN
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UCLA looks to cap season with road wins The Bruins would secure the third seed in the Pac-12 Tournament with a victory in Arizona BY KEVIN BOWMAN
Bruin Sports reporter
kbowman@media.ucla.edu
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Kyle Anderson said that the Bruins play as a team, not as individuals. He and two others had double-digit-scoring performances Arizona State.
M. BBALL | Arizona looking to redeem previous defeat from page 6 coming no matter the outcome of Saturday’s game. The Wildcats lost an 89-78 decision to the USC Trojans on Wednesday. When the score was announced in Pauley Pavilion during Wednesday’s win over Arizona State, a mix of groans and cheers filled the air. Fans were excited to see their rival knock Arizona (23-5, 11-5 Pac-12) down a rung in the Pac12 standings but knew nothing makes a team hungrier than a bad loss. “They don’t want to lose twice in L.A.,” freshman Jordan Adams said. “We’re going to have to match their intensity.” Coach Ben Howland agreed. “Arizona is going to come in here rip-roaring and ready to go,” he said. “They’re a great team who will represent our conference very well in the tournament. “This would be a great opportunity if we can play well enough to win on Saturday. We know it’s going to be tough. They’re very good.” The Wildcats should have plenty of motivation from the teams’ previous meeting this season.
UCLA toppled then-No. 6 Arizona at the McKale Center in another nationally televised contest. Freshman Shabazz Muhammad led the way in that Jan. 24 contest with 23 points. He had 22 on Wednesday despite playing on a sprained left ankle. The Bruins (21-7, 11-4) are 11-1 when Muhammad has more than 20 points. Fellow freshman guard Kyle Anderson said the team’s fate doesn’t l ie i n Muham mad’s hands alone, especially late in games. “We’re going to be there for whoever takes that last shot,” he said. “We just want everybody to know that so when they have the chance to take the last shot, they do it with confidence.” UCLA has a chance to retain a share of first place in the conference on Saturday but it may have to do so shorthanded. Redshirt junior forward Travis Wear has not played in the team’s last two games because of a sprained right foot. Howland said on Wednesday Wear was “day-to-day” but seemed more confident in Muhammad’s availability as Muhammad “assured him” he would be okay.
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W i t h t h e B r u i n s p l aying their final regular season games against two opponents in the bottom half of the Pac-12 standings, it’s easy to conclude that this weekend’s games are little more than a formality. But UCLA certainly doesn’t see it that way. UCLA will end its season on the road, taking on Arizona State and Arizona in games that could still have an impact on its postseason position. With at least one win this weekend, the Bruins clinch the third seed in the Pac-12 Tournament, which starts next week. While Arizona State (13-15, 5-11 Pac-12) and Arizona (1215, 4-12) might not be the most intimidating teams based on their records, UCLA is not taking either team lightly. “As a team, we’ve learned that everyone is bringing an A-game against us,” said senior forward Alyssia Brewer. “I think that’s a compliment to us because it means people respect us. I don’t think necessarily a lot of people did last year, so I think that’s a big compliment to our team.” As they head into the final stretch of their college careers, UCLA’s seniors are hoping to make the most of the time they have left, starting with this weekend’s games. “Us four seniors, we ended it good here at home, so the only complement to that is to end it
Women’s basketball ARIZONA STATE Today, 5 p.m. Tempe, Ariz. Pac-12 Networks
good away,” Brewer said. The idea of winning for the seniors has become a theme t he re st of t he t e a m h a s embraced. “It’s always sad to see our seniors have their last goaround, but we’re going to play hard for them and we’re going to try to fix our mistakes and correct them going into the tournament so we can have a better seed in the NCAA Tournament,” said redshirt junior forward Atonye Nyingifa. With the NCAA and Pac12 tournaments approaching, the Bruins realize they have a tough road ahead of them. That makes this weekend’s games even more significant, as No. 17 UCLA (21-6, 12-4) tries to establish momentum heading into postseason play. “I think it’s very important,” said senior guard Mariah Williams. “At this point, it’s not going to get easier. Every team plays really good and they’re prepared. They know everything about you in terms of your strengths and weaknesses, so to build that momentum is vital.” I n or der t o bu i l d t h a t momentu m, the Bru i ns are looking for a number of improvements in these two games. Despite their impres-
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Road wins against the Arizona schools figure to prepare senior guard Mariah Williams and the Bruins well for the postseason atmosphere.
sive regular season coming to an end, they still don’t see themselves as a finished product. “Nowhere near close,” Nyingifa said. “Our team has a lot of chemistry things on the court that we still need to fix. I think we could limit some of our turnovers, we could crash the boards harder and increase our rebounding margin.” Despite their desire to con-
tinue improving, the Bruins have said they are pleased with how the year turned out as they head into their final two regular season games. “It’s a ga me of ups a nd downs, but I think this year we had more ups than downs,” Williams said. “I think we’re still building and growing to where we want to be. I’m just thankful we have one more month to do that.”
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DAILY BRUIN | Friday, March 1, 2013 | sports | dailybruin.com/sports