Marcus Simmons of the USC Trojans was the clear defensive player of the year in the Pac-10 in 2010-11, but Malcolm Lee of the UCLA Bruins wasn't too far behind. His length and athletic ability made it difficult on opposing wings to get off cleans looks at the basket
Allen Crabbe knows that firsthand. The Pac-10 freshman of the year had his struggles against Lee. He scored 17 points and shot five for eight in Pauley Pavilion, but most of that production came after Lee had fouled out. In their rematch in Berkeley, Lee did not foul out, and Crabbe never got going, shooting 3 for 11 and finishing with 8 points, but the Bears did prevail in overtime behind Jorge Gutierrez.
With Lee hiring an agent for the 2011 NBA Draft, thus rendering him unable to return to UCLA, Crabbe could become an additional thorn in the side of the Bruins in their future matchups. UCLA is dangerously thin in the frontcourt next season, and Tyler Lamb is the only true slasher returning next season. He might be defensively sound enough to give Crabbe problems, but can he make Crabbe work for it offensively? Or will UCLA have to rely on someone new like De'End Parker?
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