SB Nation User Blog: bluestreet

Oregon Extends Ernie Kent's Contract

bluestreet — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 18:47:15 -0000

Must say I am surprised by this news:

Basketball coach Ernie Kent and Oregon have agreed to terms on a new contract that will run through the 2012-13 season.

The agreement, which took effect July 1, raises Kent's annual minimum guaranteed salary from $1 million to $1,060,000. It also will provide more than $347,000 in additional salary and benefits for his staff. It will take the place of Kent's previous contract, which ran through 2010.

"Ernie's acknowledgement of the role that his staff has played in the program's success reached the point that he was willing to deflect substantial personal gain to aid the continued growth of the program," Oregon athletic director Pat Kilkenny said in a statement.

"That speaks a lot not only for the commitment he has for his players and staff but also the university and this community."

The agreement also raises Kent's buyout clause from $1 million to $1.15 million.

Kent is 211-134 as head coach at Oregon. He has guided the Ducks to five NCAA tournament appearances, including two round-of-eight appearances, the 2002 Pacific-10 Conference regular-season championship, and two conference tournament titles.

"I am honored to have been the head basketball coach at the University of Oregon for the last 11 years," Kent said. "But our work here has just started. I want to build on the momentum and excitement that has been generated from our recent success ... and take this program to the next level."

Not that I believe Oregon is ever going to be a threat to UCLA basketball (with Howland in charge), they have really underachieved despite having some very decent talent on their roster (Hairston, Taylor, Leunen just to name from this past season) last few years.

"Who's Lute Olson?"

bluestreet — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 17:36:25 -0000

Tyler Honecutt, a key target for UCLA basketball wonders:

Sylmar High forward Tyler Honeycutt is so inundated with calls from college coaches these days that his high school coach has instructed him to let each one go to voicemail before deciding whether to return it.
Among the coaches calling most often lately are UCLA assistants Scott Garson and Scott Duncan.
Honeycutt said UCLA began showing serious interest about a month ago, calling twice a week and watching him closely at its elite camp earlier this month. If the Bruins offer a scholarship after the July evaluation period, the 6-foot-7 senior-to-be said he'd seriously consider them, though he stopped short of saying he'd accept on the spot.
"I don't want to rush into anything, but I'd definitely be interested," Honeycutt said. "I like the tradition. A lot of players from there have gone on to the NBA which is something I'm trying to do."
An under-the-radar player prior to joining the heralded Pump N Run club team this year, Honeycutt has emerged as one of the state's most coveted prospects as more scouts have gotten the chance to see his game. Arizona State, USC and Washington have each offered scholarships, while Kansas, Arizona and Gonzaga are also recruiting him.
The attention is a little overwhelming for Honeycutt, who said every time his phone rings it's a different area code. When legendary Arizona coach Lute Olson called last week, Honeycutt asked high school coach Bort Escoto afterward, "Who's Lute Olson?"

Here is the full post from the Press Enterprise blog.

That has to be one of the best comments I have ever heard from a Bruin recruit!

Go Bruins!!!

Bruins Lose A Recruit To ND

bluestreet — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 20:16:03 -0000

Bruins Lose A Recruit To ND

Marlon Pollard who committed to Karl Dorrell last year has jumped ship and gone to the Irish.

We Lost A Great Bruin: RIP Ray Bartlett

bluestreet — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:58:05 -0000

Apologies if this has already been posted here on Bruins Nation.

We lost a great Bruin last week:

The greatest moment of Ray Bartlett's life was an honor bestowed upon him by the family of baseball great Jackie Robinson, his childhood friend and college teammate. They asked him to represent Robinson in the 1999 Rose Parade as a grand marshal.

He was touched to be chosen to stand in for "my friend . . . while riding down the streets of my hometown," Bartlett, who grew up in Pasadena, later recalled. "That was so special and fantastic."

Bartlett, a longtime civic leader in Pasadena, died Sunday at St. Francis Medical Center in Lynwood following complications from outpatient surgery, said Bob Bartlett, his son. He was 88.

In 1938, Bartlett and Robinson led the football team at what is now Pasadena City College to a state championship. At UCLA, they were among only four black players on the football team in 1939 during an era when few universities included blacks on their gridiron rosters. At both schools, they also were on the basketball, track and field, and baseball teams.

The same year Robinson broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball by joining the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, Bartlett became only the second African American to join the Pasadena Police Department, The Times reported in 1996.

Together, the athletes had sailed to Hawaii in 1941 to play semi-professional football with the Honolulu Polar Bears. At season's end, Robinson returned to California but Bartlett stayed to work in construction. Days later, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor.

The next morning, Bartlett and other construction workers were brought to the harbor.

"We had to retrieve the bodies of dead American Navy men from the water," Bartlett said in a Pasadena City College biography. "I saw the USS Arizona burning in flames for days after the bombing."

A year would pass before he could return to the mainland and UCLA, where he had introduced Robinson to a fellow student, Rachel. She married Robinson, who died in 1972.

Thoughts and prayers with the Bartlett family.

Go Bruins.

UCLA Can Overtake Duke Tonight!

bluestreet — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 20:10:08 -0000

UCLA Can Overtake Duke Tonight!

"Duke's 12 picks are the most of any school this decade. UCLA has 10 picks and will add at least two more Thursday night. UCLA sophomore Russell Westbrook and freshman Kevin Love almost assuredly will be taken among the top 20 picks. Junior Luc Richard Mbah a Moute is not considered a first-round pick but could go in the second. Duke has one player eligible for the draft, DeMarcus Nelson, and he isn't expected to be drafted. "

NBA Draft: School With Most Picks Since 2000

Donvoan Edwards, JUCO OL Commits To UCLA?

bluestreet — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 16:37:21 -0000

Donvoan Edwards, JUCO OL Commits To UCLA?

According to BRO and BruinBlitz, Donovan Edwards committed to UCLA last night. This is a good get for the program because of all the depth issues at OL. Edwards should be available for August camp. Now there is conflicting info. from Jill Painter on the Daily News blog. Painter is saying Donovan doesn't have the grades?

Meet UCLA's Elise! She is SI.com's cheerleader of the week. Photo: Bruce Yeung/Yeung Photography

bluestreet — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 22:35:28 -0000

Meet UCLA's Elise! She is SI.com's cheerleader of the week. Photo: Bruce Yeung/Yeung Photography

UCLA will miss Luc Richard Mbah a Moute's rebounding, but he may miss college more

bluestreet — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 15:44:28 -0000

UCLA will miss Luc Richard Mbah a Moute's rebounding, but he may miss college more

Andy Katz's "fallout from Monday's decisions"

One NBA Player-Personnel Director on Luc: He "wants to stay in"

bluestreet — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 18:50:20 -0000

Just saw this on SI.com :

There is little chance Mbah a Moute will be a first-rounder -- but that doesn't mean he'll surely be playing for Ben Howland again next season. Mbah a Moute is reportedly close to graduating from UCLA, and measured out well enough at the predraft camp (with a 6-foot-plus wingspan, and the third-highest vertical of any player over 6-7) to bolster his stock as a potential lock-down defender in the pros. "I heard he wants to stay in," one NBA player-personnel director said of Mbah a Moute. "He played his game [at the predraft camp]. He doesn't mess up much, and he guards well."

Risk/Reward: Should he return, Mbah a Moute could pull off the incredible feat of going 4-for-4 in Final Four bids as a collegian. UCLA would be good enough to run away with the Pac-10 and roll into Detroit. But if you've been to three Final Fours already, how much of an incentive is there to return, especially if you might not have the interior size to finally break through and win a title? Still, Mbah a Moute would have a much better shot at being a high-second-rounder -- and thus earning a guaranteed deal -- in 2009 than right now.

Luc has to make up his decision on whether he is going to return or not by this Monday (6/16).

I don't think Luc is coming back.

Please Luc!

Please prove me wrong!!!

Go Bruins!!!

More Problems w SuC Football: Coach Arrested, Player Dismissed

bluestreet — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 16:17:11 -0000