Ben Howland's UCLA Bruins Are a Mess and Their Best Player Was Just Suspended
By Jason McIntyre
UCLA’s most talented player, Josh Smith, can’t control his weight. He was a non-factor in an embarrassing season-opening loss to Loyola Marymount. It gets worse – Howland has been feuding with his best scorer, Reeves Nelson. The two had a meeting this week, and Monday night, Howland suspended Nelson indefinitely for “conduct unbecoming of the team.” From the LA Times:
"The 6-foot-8 junior seemed increasingly frustrated as the Bruins’ 69-58 defeat progressed, tuning out coaches during timeout huddles and appearing irked that he was not a focal point of the offense."
The Bruins leave next week for Maui. Will Nelson be with the team?
Man, that UCLA athletic department is FUBAR. Rick Neuheisel’s football team is a disaster, and now Howland’s program is a mess. You have to wonder: How long before that sick basketball recruiting class begins to have second thoughts?