The game of basketball has evolved so much in recent years that it has become outdated to pigeonhole a player into the traditional role of his position. Big men routinely step out to the three-point line, with few true centers left to anchor the paint. Point guards are certainly not made like they once were, with more of a desire to distribute than produce baskets — now, it’s the combo guard, an offensive-minded “tweener” who has become the trendy mold.
Steve Alford Was More Than Pleased With His UCLA Backcourt In Friday Night’s Opener. (UCLA Athletics)
At UCLA, head coach Steve Alford has three such combo guards on his roster, and the trio had some questions to answer on Friday night at Pauley Pavilion. Although a bit out of control to start, senior Norman Powell and sophomores Bryce Alford and Isaac Hamilton set the tone early with an attacking, uptempo bravado in the Bruins’ 113-78 win over Montana State. From the tip, all three took a head-down, get-to-the-rim mindset that didn’t look like it would offer up much ball movement. As a result, there were not too many moments in the half-court offense that stood out, and there weren’t any possessions that went deep into the shot clock. Two nights later, an 84-71 win over Coastal Carolina wasn’t quite as easy as the first game, but there was still a lot to like from the trio of guards. While the jury is still out and team depth remains a question mark, one thing is for certain: Don’t let these Bruins get out and run.
Powell knifes way to basket, FT line
Experience in the backcourt is always a good foundation for March success in college basketball, and Powell turned in a strong effort in his first outing as UCLA’s leading man. He scored a game-high 25 points and made 12 of his 15 free throws in the opener, but didn’t quite have the same touch two days later against Coastal Carolina in a 13-point effort. Like your favorite re-run on TV, though, the sight of Powell either spinning into the lane or darting to the rim on the break often led to contact and a finish against Montana State. There was little adversity past the midway point of the opening half once the defense created easy opportunities, so Powell said the few offensive sets that did unfold were hit-and-miss. Early in the season, he added, it will be the defensive end that must make up for any offensive shortcomings. “It took a little bit for us to get started,” Powell said. “But when we did get it going in transition, we kept with it and I feel like that was the point that opened up our offense … It’s going to take a little bit for us to actually jell with [set plays]. It’s the first game, sometimes we got a little stagnant and we weren’t getting in the right place. But that’s going to come.”
Bryce Alford picks his spots
After making just one start as a freshman last season, this was the 6’3”, 180-pounder’s first foray into a larger role. The backcourt was not gun-shy and nobody embodied that more than Alford, who later settled into an eye-opening sequence of flashy assists and long-range baskets that made you think the structure could work this season. After making 5-of-6 shots for 12 points in the first 20 minutes, Alford opened the second half with assists on seven of UCLA’s eight baskets. His shooting touch did not cool off there, however, as he drained back-to-back 3-pointers and generally controlled the action. His coach noted the final assist total and added that the majority of those went to wide-open shooters or players in position to score at the rim. “He’s the guy that’s got to lead and do a lot of things,” Steve Alford said after his son’s 18 points and 12 assists. “I just thought he was terrific. I thought he moved the ball, he made guys better and that’s what really good players can do.” It was a different mindset against Coastal Carolina on Sunday, as he scored all 17 of his points in the second half and added seven assists.
Among the beneficiaries was freshman forward Kevon Looney, who showed off both his 3-point touch and strength to finish with contact around the basket. Looney said that while he was accustomed to playing with scoring-minded guards prior to college, there was still a learning curve and chemistry to develop. “It makes it a lot easier for me,” Looney said. “I get a lot of open looks that I usually never got before in my life. It was a lot of open threes, a lot of drive-and-kicks and drop-offs. It’s just a great confidence boost.”
Hamilton settles in
There was no rust in the one-time UTEP signee who was forced to sit out the 2013-14 season after transferring. Isaac Hamilton was expected to split time handling the point guard responsibilities coming into the season, and Alford’s two fouls in a little more than three minutes thrust him into the role quickly against Montana State. Most of Hamilton’s damage was done early, with 11 of his 15 points coming in the first half. He made 6-of-8 shots, including 3-of-5 three-pointers, and added four rebounds and three steals. He was steady once more against Coastal Carolina with 16 points while connecting on 3-of-4 from beyond the arc. Steve Alford said he expects to eventually move Hamilton into a larger role as a facilitator and allow Bryce Alford to play off the ball more. But it may be a play-it-by-ear situation if one is thriving like the younger Alford was in the opener. There was one freshman moment in the first half when Hamilton lobbed an unnecessary 47-foot pass that sailed high and out of bounds, but he was mostly aggressive without forcing the issue. “I think Isaac did a great job,” the younger Alford said. “I got in early foul trouble and he had to run the show for a while. He’s more than capable. He’s a big-time player and he’s going to run the show just as much as I am, so he’s going to do well.”