| | By Andy Katz
ESPN.com
NEW YORK -- It didn't matter that the game was going on, that UCLA was in the midst of an eventual failed comeback bid, or that it might not be the most opportune time for a discussion.
|  | | With 24 points and seven rebounds, T.J. Cummings had one of the best freshman debuts in UCLA's illustrious history. |
Earl Watson had to tell UCLA coach Steve Lavin what he thought about freshman forward T.J. Cummings.
"I told coach I just love him, I just love this kid," Watson, UCLA's senior point guard, said after the Bruins lost to Kansas 99-98 Thursday night at the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic at Madison Square Garden. "He's learned a lot and that's the most amazing thing is that he's willing to listen."
It's obvious.
Cummings, the son of former NBA great Terry Cummings, had a debut that might be the best ever for a UCLA freshman -- especially since freshmen weren't eligible to play during the Bruins' glory years in the 1960s.
Cummings scored 24 points on 8-of-10 shooting and had seven rebounds in what UCLA spokesperson Bill Bennett said was the best output ever in a freshman's first game.
The stage couldn't have been any larger than Madison Square Garden. A year ago, this hallowed court served as the opening for Stanford's Casey Jacobson, whose sweet stroke from the perimeter propelled the Cardinal to a tournament title.
"This is, like, the best thing that I've ever experienced," Cummings
said. "When I first came in for the shootaround I almost lost my breath. I
had never been to Madison Square Garden before, where so many great things
have happened."
To calm himself, Cummings called his father two hours before tipoff. The pair prayed over the phone first, and then the elder Cummings gave him his son the peace to play by simply telling him to let the game come to him.
"You'd think he'd be nervous at the Garden," UCLA sophomore Jason
Kapono said, "but he wasn't."
Cummings didn't lead the Bruins to a win, but he was nearly their savior. With the Bruins facing a season filled with a thin, and inconsistent, front court, Cummings gave the Bruins newfound hope to believe they can compete with the top of the Pac-10 and, ultimately, the nation.
The Bruins lost Jerome Moiso off last year's team when he declared for the draft. Watson said he didn't know if they could replace Moiso's automatic scoring inside at the end of the season.
Cummings isn't as much of a lock, but he produces in different ways. He's not as true a post player or as dominant a defender as Moiso was last season, but he is more active around the basket. Cummings already has a quick release around the basket, a baby hook and a 12-foot jumper. He's aggressive enough to get to the free-throw line, where he converted eight of 10 free throws Thursday.
Meanwhile, the Bruins' hyped-up Dan Gadzuric was a no-show for most of the
game, scoring eight points on 3-of-10 shooting. With freshman Josiah Johnson
out for a month with a stress fracture, the Bruins have only small forward, Matt Barnes, as an option in the frontcourt rotation.
"To have T.J. step up for us was so important," Lavin said. "We lost by one point with Matt and Dan not playing well, and the odds are against that happening often."
The talk going into the game was of the improved play of Kansas' senior center Eric Chenowith. But he picked up four fouls and was neutralized by the game being played from end to end instead of in the halfcourt. When the game ended, even though Kansas won, the talk had turned to Cummings.
"The scouting report didn't say much about him," Kansas sophomore forward Andrew Gooden said. "He surprised us. I had never seen him before. I would put my hand in his face and I'm 6-10. He's 6-9 and he would just shoot over me. He was on fire."
Cummings hit big shot after big shot, cutting the Jayhawks' lead to
87-85 with a hook inside and then tying the game with a pair of free throws.
"He hit some big shots for them," Chenowith said. "I'd back him out and he'd still hit them."
Cummings helped Chenowith and Gooden pick up four fouls. Chenowith
eventually fouled out. Cummings finished with four fouls but still played
just as hungry as he started, rather than being timid about his foul situation.
"He brings a great work ethic and intensity level and passion you can see rubs off on his the teammates," Lavin said. "The fans picked up on it and he's got a tremendous career ahead of him. He'll stay hungry and humble."
Watson said he expected Cummings to score 12 to 15 and grab a few
boards. Cumming scored 24, but he won't be expected to duplicate that every night.
Kapono said the team can't rely on Cummings for two dozen. Instead, the
Bruins need a nice blend from the frontcourt if they want to stay in the top three in the Pac-10 and get back to the NCAA Tournament.
But one thing is certain of Cummings after one night: He should no longer be referred to as Terry's son. "All my life I had the expectations to make my own name and now that's starting," Cummings said. "This is where my career really starts for me and I'm really looking for it."
So are Watson, Lavin, the Bruins and, after Thursday night, all of college basketball.
Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com. | |
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