SoCalHoops College News

UCLA Freshman PG Cedric Bozeman
To Undergo Surgery--(Dec. 1, 2001)

UCLA Men's Basketball announced yesterday that freshman Cedric Bozeman (6'-7" Fr. G/F), who has been struggling at the point guard position thus far this year for the Bruins, will undergo surgery early next week for a torn meniscus in his right knee.   According to the official press release issued yesterday by UCLA, the rehab period for Cedric is expected to take approximately 4-6 weeks, which according to most medical experts is a realistic timetable for recovery;  most patients who undergo arthroscopic surgery for this injury are treated on an out-patient basis and usually able to walk within 48 hours, and start their rehab process within a week of the surgery.

Here's the official press release (which can also be found at the official UCLA Men's Basketball site):

Bozeman Suffers Torn Meniscus
Point guard to have surgery next week

Nov. 30, 2001

UCLA true freshman Cedric Bozeman, who has started the Bruins' first four games at the point guard position, has a torn meniscus (cartilage) in his right knee and will undergo surgery at the UCLA Medical Center early next week. 

After the Bruins returned from the Maui Invitational, Bozeman's right knee began swelling and the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test was ordered Thursday night as a precautionary measure (and it revealed the tear).  The rehabilitation and recuperation period will take approximately four-to-six weeks. 

Bozeman, a McDonald's All-American as a senior prepster at Mater Dei HS last season, after four starts for the Bruins was averaging 25.0 minutes, 5.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and a team-high 3.3 assists. He's shooting 47.4 (9-19) from the field, 33.3 (1-3) from three-point range and 66.7 (2-3) from the foul line.

So who will play the point for the Bruins now that Cedric won't be available?  Will he "redshirt?"  Will Ray Young decide to play and will the coaches now ask him to play instead of redshirting, despite apparently spending considerable time and energy with Young over the summer convincing him to sit out this season?   

The Los Angeles Times today had a story in which it was suggested that either freshman Dijon Thompson or 5th year senior Rico Hines might take over the responsibilities at the point.  Despite the cries from the critics, we'd like to see coach Lavin give Ryan Walcott the opportunity to succeed or to fall flat on his ass, one way or the other, and UC Riverside, who the Bruins play this Wednesday, might be a good time to try it out.  

Sure, starting a point guard who hasn't played much at the D-I level in two years has got to be a scary proposition for a coach who, after recruiting one of the best classes in the country is now under intense scrutiny and unbelievable and extreme pressure from all corners to not just win, but to win huge, to erase the pain of those recent losses.   But Walcott is, after all,  the only true point guard on the team....Yeah, yeah, yeah, we've heard that those "in the know" don't believe Walcott can play at this level, that he's not strong enough, not big enough, that he's afraid to handle the ball, tentative, or just not ready.  And those same pundits will say, "Oh, sure, that idiot over at SoCalHoops doesn't know what he's talking about...."   Let em flap their lips, we don't care, and besides, Lavin is probably one of those saying, "Gee, that guy at SCH is just an idiot...does he think I'm suicidal?"  

Well, we know this:  You don't take your best shooter, Jason Kapono, and turn him into a point guard, charged with the responsibility of bringing the ball up the floor and getting it to others, because it's awfully hard to pass the ball to yourself coming off a hard screen when you're also the guy with the ball in his hands in the first instance.   Simply stated, while Jason could play the point, that's not his natural position.  Likewise, you don't take a player like Dijon Thompson, a wing with a decent, but not spectacular handle, and try to turn him into a point in a highly structured offense.    Dijon's handle is good enough to do some really great things and he can make great passes, and we saw him just take over at the point a number of times when playing for Redondo.  But were convinced he's more effective on the wing, getting the ball out ahead of the break and cutting and slashing to the basket than he is bringing it up the floor and looking to run an offense.     And as far as Rico Hines is concerned, well, the only hesitancy we have with the concept of him at point is that if he hasn't run the show ever before on any team that we know he's played for, and certainly hasn't ever been in a position to do it at UCLA for four years prior to this (well, ok, three, because he redshirted last year), what makes anyone believe he'd be well-suited to take on the responsibility now?   

Short of these options, a quick look down the roster discloses that there really aren't very many other options besides Walcott. . . . And it's not like he doesn't understand the position.  Walcott did run the point for Arizona Shadow Mountain, averaging 16 ppg and 6 assists and 5 steals a game as a senior, leading his team to the State Championship, and was named a USA Today All-American honorable mention. . . . Call us uninformed, call us stupid,  but these things generally have a way of working themselves out, and we'd at least like to see the coaches give it a try while it's still early in the season and there is still time to try other options if this one doesn't work. 

In the meantime, a speedy recovery to Ced. 

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