Holiday leaning toward ...

It would be great if Holiday comes back.

Good for Jrue, and I hope he does come back, because he's going to be an excellent PG. Despite some struggles, he still had a pretty good year for an 18-year old playing out of position. If he didn't come in with unrealistic expectations, everyone would be begging for him to come back.

Dear Jrue,

Please follow Darren and Josh out of town. If you are any good, you will never be allowed to show it playing for Ben and his Preshistoric Sytle of Ball.

Jrue has great potential and will eventually have an outstanding NBA career, but seriously, could he have even started for Villanova this year?

Isn't that what they all say after a heartbreaking loss like this? Seriously, why do I feel like someone just died? Let's talk to Jrue in a few weeks when it's all settled. Put your money where your mouth is, kid, and do come back. We can use you at the point next season and I personally am dying to see what you can do there.

love to see Jrue back! Forget all the haters, a year showing his true potential at the 1 and he'll turn even the biggest haters!

I do not want to rip the young man. He played hard for the Bruins this year, but I still find it hard to believe that he even has a legit 'option.'

I think his play proved this year that he is supremely talented, but very unready for the rigors of college basketball, let alone the NBA.

I think it would be a wise decision for him to come back . I am not sure if, from a monetary standpoint, he would benefit, as some already project him as a lottery selection, but he would surely better prepare himself by returning.

From a selfish standpoint, I hope he returns because UCLA will be a far better basketball team with him running the PG position.

UTroy,

You know what about Bball? This team was one of the top shooting teams in the country and one of the tops in offensive efficiency this year. It did not reflect well for this team and was apparently lost on someone such as yourself.

They failed big time in defense and rebouding. This may have something to do with the fact that two of the best defensive players at UCLA in the last decade are now starting in the NBA (RW and LRAM). One of the best rebounders and best bigman in the last decade is now starting for the Timberwolves. How did BH have 3 kids from last years team start in the NBA this year if his system is soooo bad?

Defense and rebouding wins in a lot of ways and it also starts the offense.

Jrue,

Do what's best for you and your family. But while thinking about all the money you could make, don't forget how much fun it'd be to lead and make this your UCLA team.

Go Bruins!

-Rodney

We'd love to have you back Jrue!

Jrue,
Get to the NBA if you can. Don't waste anymore time here with coach's offense. You will not improve offensively at UCLA. Get the $$ and go!

guys, in all due honesty, jrue needs at least 2 more years. period.

Not that I think Jrue is all that great, but I'm in favor of any option that keeps Jerime Anderson from being the starting point guard next year!

I'm more ready for the NBA than Jrue and I'm 51 yrs old. He definitely needs more time.

Jrue is speaking from his heart right now after a loss. Wait until his wallet starts talking and then see what happens. Todays statement doesn't mean squat, though I believe Jrue would benefit from a year of playing pg.

Jrue,
Get an informed opinion from Pete Carroll before making a decision to go pro.Thanks for the hard work this season.

Maybe UCLA shot a high percentage because they played an easy schedule. Let me say it another way, UCLA racked up stat this year against a pathetic schedule (Another Problem I have with Ben is his out of conference scheduling). UCLA did not beat one good team all year (and by good I mean even a final 4 / elite 8 contender). The Pac 10 was horrific this year and you will see when they will be lucky to have 2 teams in the Sweet 16.

By the way, why was UCLA's defense so pathetic this year if Ben is such a great defensive coach?

At least he is now being exposed along as a fraud. No more Love, Luc, Russell, Aaron, and Jordan to fight through his prehistoric offensive schemes.

But then again he did get to 3 final 4's right? Do final 4 apperances impress you when they had national championship talent?

Forget about Jrue! I want to thank Josh Shipp and DC for their years of dedication to the Bruins. They put us back on the map and made us relevant again. Thank you!

b bruin,

What did you think about Ben having KLove spend the entire second half of the Memphis game setting screens at the top of the key rather than play inside?

I would also say that Ben's defense is always overrated. It does look great against Delaware, Stanford, and other turkeys (not this year).

I think great offense will always beat great defense in bball. I also think that great athletes can play defense win they need to. I guess that explains why UCLA's defense was embarrassed in 3 straight final 4's and UCLA's prehistoric offense comes to a grinding halt against talented teams in the final 4.

Just my opinion!

Jrue is a monster. This guy has a feel for point guard that is unreal. If he would stick around for at least another year, play during the off season with Baron, everybody would benefit.

I found it interesting during Howland's press conference, he omitted Jrue's name and mentioned Jerime and Malcolm coming back. Wonder if he knows something. PersonallY I would be surprised to see Dragovich come back, I bet he declares for the draft. Tall shooting guard who can rebound.

This years squad was not a group of great athletes, particularly inside, which resulted in poor defense. They were also unsersized on the inside, making rebounding difficult. Lack of lateral footspeed, lack of size, lack of rebounding.

Shipp plays hard and was the senior leader and scoring threat we needed, but nobody would claim that he's a great athlete or lockdown defender. Drago defense and rebounding not a strength obviously. I love Aboya to death, but he's undersized and an above average but not All PAC-10 caliber defender. That's 3 of the 5 starters, and the 6th man (Roll) is also not going to be mistaken for a super athlete anytime soon.

Love was a much better player than Aboya, Mbah a Moute >> Drago, and Westbrook as a soph >> Holiday. Why is this such a suprise, we did not have the personnel.

Underachieving Troy, you're a joke. Do you even watch basketball or do you just make random stupid comments based on highlights? UCLA's defense was bad because they lost their best defenders from last year to the draft (lrmm, rw and lrmr) Shipp and Collison have NEVER been good defenders. Ben's good, but he's not a miracle worker. Wait until Lee, Gordon and Anderson have another year under their belts and Ben will have another elite defensive team.

Go back to rooting for timmah

I'm hoping Jrue comes back. I think he can really a special player if he gets a year playing in his true position.

If he leaves for the NBA, I see him as a late 1st round pick, at best. Come back next year and lead this team and he'll be a lottery pick.

"Dear Jrue,

Please follow Darren and Josh..."

Yes, by not leaving early!

Oh, and Mutombo, I see mocks having him go around number 10. Hard to pass that up, especially considering if he had another year where he struggled shooting, I'd guess scouts would be much more concerned about that.

it seems that Jrue needs another year to boost his marketability, and with Darren moving on Jrue can take charge

How strange NCAA BB has become, along the lines of tennis or baseball...

Jrue is a good player... if you have followed any ucla games this year, you see him being the best passer on the team and he is always a calm like Derrick Rose (better shooter but lacks the swagger). He will be a great 3rd option in a championship team in the pros (think Tony Parker for spurs but different style)... I saw his best 2 mins of UCLA career when he took down Maynor against VCU he was unstoppable and still playing great ball on defense... a summer in the weight room to bulk up (so he don't miss those weak layups and not get push around on defense) he will be an All-American next year

Jrue has great instincts, and is a pure point guard. He sees the floor well, but was playing out of position all year. I'm surprised so many rip him.

As an SC alum, I hope he leaves.

Holliday is no where near ready for the NBA...

To "Anonymous" who commented 3/21 at 6:32pm,
Did you say Josh Shipp and Darren Collison have NEVER been GOOD defenders? ARE YOU CRAZY? Collison was All-Pac10-Defense and on Collegeinsider.com all defensive team in 2008. In 2007 he was top 25 in the nation in steals! I would call Shipp a SOLID defender.
There was no way either one could have looked good defending this year because UCLA had no center and no power forward(he was playing center) - no presence in the paint. Howland teams always look tired at the end of the season because they were worn out playing one on one. I have never liked Howland's style - even in winning. Boring offense(actually, I still don't have a clue what his offensive scheme is), boring defense. I would much rather have Mark Few of Gonzaga.
Ben, please at least study the Duke tapes. They play a pretty good zone with two not super athletic white kids in there.
And, oh, Jrue. Picking UCLA was a detriment to his NBA aspirations. If he had picked an athletic up and down style program like USC, I don't think we would even be having this discussion today. As it is, he has shown NBA caliber talent, but erratic decision making. If he turns pro this year, I don't see him starting in his rookie year. On the other hand, I don't see UCLA going anywhere next year even if he stays.

All the trolls come to play after a loss. Never out after the wins. Where were you after the VCU game??

Dook? Please what have they done lately except flame out big time in the tournament. They have been a big embarrassment including a first round exit to VCU in 07, had trouble last year as well.

Collison is a pretty good defender and Shipp just fair.
Just look at how good that Sanders kid covered up the defensive liabilities of VCU guards. UCLA had none of that since all of their guys now start in the NBA. I just cant imagine how UCLA was able to get 3 underclassmen out of the 2008 class to be starters in the NBA. That Howland he is such a crappy coach. Over the last 3 years 3 final fours and FIVE first round draft picks.

Sure it would be nice if he comes back, but he will not. Besides, 2nd half of the season, where was he?