UCLA got a bit of good news that it had been waiting for yesterday when it was announced that the NCAA has cleared freshman guard Kyle Anderson to play after determining that there was no evidence to indicate that any violations regarding improper benefits had been committed. The Bruins certainly aren’t out of the woods yet, as fellow freshman Shabazz Muhammad is still under investigation for receiving improper benefits and has yet to be cleared. But, given that Anderson is a top 10 national recruit and a playmaker of the highest order, the sons of Westwood stand on a little bit safer ground. But still, a couple questions remain, such as, “what now?” And, “what the hell was that whole Anderson investigation about?”
With Kyle Anderson Cleared To Play, Expect The Bruins To Be Very Good; With Shabazz Muhammad They Could Be Great (Damian Dovarganes, AP)
Starting with the first one, let’s take an absolute worst-case scenario for the Bruins regarding the Muhammad case and say that, for one reason or another, he never plays a second in a UCLA uniform. Where are the Bruins at with their current roster and just how good can they be? Part of the answer could be determined by the details of the continued Muhammad investigation. If the NCAA turns around tomorrow and says he’s ineligible for the season, at least UCLA can take a look at the hand they’ve been dealt and move forward. The far worse scenario is if the investigation drags on and UCLA players are looking over their shoulder wondering if and when their teammate can join them on the court. A good coach like Ben Howland and a veteran team with strong leadership could make the best of that situation, but there is much more potential for distraction, excuses and underachievement.
But, let’s put all that psychology aside for a second and just look at the team. Sans Muhammad, there’s still a ton of talent there. You’ve got the four big guys (the Wear twins, Joshua Smith and Tony Parker) in some order and combination at the four and five. We know Larry Drew II is plugged in at the point for the time being. Anderson will certainly start at one of the wing spots, then you’ve got some combination of Norman Powell, Jordan Adams and Tyler Lamb (once back from his knee injury) at the other wing spot and coming off the pine. And, of course Anderson will spend plenty of time not only as a secondary ball-handler to Drew, but his backup at the point. I’ll let you in on a secret: That’s a darn good team. Sure, there are still plenty of question marks there, questions we’ve all discussed at one point or another. Smith’s waistline? The Wear twins’ toughness? Drew’s maturity and leadership? Can this team guard anybody? But I’ll tell you, right now I’m looking around the national landscape and there ain’t a team out there without significant questions. Everybody still has to prove it on the court, but this UCLA team, even without Muhammad – one of the 2012 recruiting class’ top prospects and arguably the best wing in college basketball if and when he suits up – is one of the most talented squads in the country. Without Muhammad, UCLA is still maybe a half-notch below Arizona as the favorite in the Pac-12 and a team capable of making a run to the second weekend in the NCAA Tournament. With Muhammad, even if it is only for a half a season (which is likely the more realistic worst-case scenario), the Bruins are Final Four talented with their eye on national championship number 12.
The second question is: What exactly happened with that Anderson investigation? Kyle Anderson, Sr., when discussing yesterday’s announcement with USA Today, seemed annoyed, at best with the NCAA. The organization would not reveal what prompted the investigation, but it apparently centered around the family’s friendship with agent Thad Foucher. Reading between the lines, the elder Anderson is none too pleased that his family’s name had been dragged through the mud in some way. Apparently, he had plenty more on his mind that he didn’t reveal because UCLA coach Ben Howland didn’t want him “to go into depth about what the NCAA did because they still have to worry about Shabazz (Muhammad) being cleared.”
And this is where the NCAA is at right now. Deserved or not, programs have to worry about staying on the good side of the organization so that actions and comments used during one investigation are not held against that program in another one. And the idea that has been bandied about that this whole investigation into Anderson was prompted by the accusations of jilted and jealous coaches who accused UCLA of cheating in landing their recruiting class, goes even further to paint the organization in a bad light. The interest in making sure the rules (no matter how much of a mess they may currently be) are followed is understandable, and sure, I get that the NCAA enforcement department is understaffed and lacking great power, but the fact that numerous programs — UCLA this year, Connecticut last year with Ryan Boatright, Kentucky and Kansas two years back with Enes Kanter and Josh Selby, respectively and the whole Mississippi State deal with Renardo Sidney — have to wait with no answer and no timetable for a final answer is absurd. Sure, there are privacy rights involved in these investigations that wouldn’t necessarily come into play in similar investigations at the pro level, but the NCAA needs to do a better job of at least coming up with timetables for decisions. If you need documents and explanations from the players and their families, then set a deadline for those documents and explanations to be delivered, but simply letting these investigations go on without end while leaving the programs and, most importantly, the players hanging, does nobody any good.