UCLA women’s title run goes through male scout teamers

SACRAMENTO – Lauren Betts walked out of the locker room the other day to see two of her team’s male practice players speaking with a reporter.

Usually the center of attention, Betts couldn’t resist having fun with this unexpected scene.

“You guys are getting interviewed right now?” the UCLA star cracked, sparking laughter all around. “Who do you think you are?”

Well, let’s see.

They’re defenders, screeners and rebounders, not to mention baggage carriers, analytics specialists and unofficial cheerleaders.

That’s only a partial list.

Primarily, they’re here to make the UCLA women’s basketball team better.

Whatever you call them, they’re just happy to be part of a journey that has taken the top-seeded Bruins deep into the NCAA Tournament. UCLA (34-1) will face third-seeded Duke (27-8) on Sunday afternoon at the Golden 1 Center in the Elite Eight, trying to advance to a second consecutive Final Four.

“They are a part of our basketball family, period,” coach Cori Close told the California Post, “and we are so grateful for their sacrifice.”

On some days, that involves showing up for one-on-one development sessions with the Bruins in the morning and then waiting for them to finish weightlifting and film study before the start of practice.

The guys do everything they can to make those practices difficult for their female counterparts.

“I’m not out there dunking,” said Jonny Garnett, a former four-year high school varsity player who also was briefly a linebacker on UCLA’s football team, “but we do try our best to make it as hard as we can so that when the games come around, the girls are ready.”

That means going under screens to make sure sharpshooter Gianna Kneepkens can’t get a shot off, using their superior quickness to beat defenders off the dribble and making life miserable in the backcourt.

Goading them on is Close, who understands that each of her player’s failures in practice could lead to success in the games that count.

“If we’re not pressuring hard enough,” said Grant Boydell, who is in his third season on the scout team, “she’ll be yelling, ‘Pressure, guys! Come on, we need you guys!’ ”

Male scout teams have been around for decades, but their impact continues to evolve. This is the first year that UCLA’s scout team has traveled all season, allowing it to tote bags in the Minneapolis cold while also partaking in some warmer moments.

Just like the players he prepped to win the Big Ten Tournament championship, Garnett climbed a ladder inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse to snip a strand of net as a keepsake.

“It’s been a life-changing experience,” Garnett said.

Like the 19 others on the scout team – all UCLA students –  Boydell wanted to find a way to stay around the game he loved after his playing days ended. Friends at the recreation center on campus told him about the scout team and he signed up, touting his talents from playing on the varsity team at Sonoma Valley High.

Before practices, coaches inform the eight to 12 scout teamers who show up each day which opponent they’re supposed to mimic. Going into UCLA’s Sweet 16 game against Minnesota, Boydell emulated Golden Gophers guard Tori McKinney.

How good of a job did he do? Well, McKinney missed four of seven shots and committed two turnovers during the Bruins’ 80-56 victory on Friday.

When the UCLA players scrimmage against the scout team, it’s a coin flip as to who wins.

“I feel like it’s pretty even overall,” said Garnett, who at 6-foot-4 is one of the few players who can match up with the 6-7 Betts. “But there will be days we step up.”

Betts attributed her ability to switch onto smaller guards as a function of playing against the scout team. Garnett is so athletic that he can touch the top of the rectangle on the backboard, well above the rim.

“If you saw who we go against every day in practice, it’s really nothing when you’re out there,” Betts said. “I mean, our scout guys, they do not take it easy on us and every time we go blitz in practice, I get my mind right, like I’ve got to keep them in front, and that’s something that I’ve worked really hard on.”

Point guard Kiki Rice said each of the three male players she normally faces in practice presents different challenges.

Jordan Lee is a quick and super fast defender who pressures like crazy. Cody Yamaki is stronger and more physical while remaining agile. Lucas Pichardo is taller, forcing her to find creative ways to get off shots.

“Sometimes I’ll be matched up against defenders who are pretty physical and big in a sense,” Rice said, “so me being able to get reps against that style of defense every day in practice helps.”

A statistics savant, Boydell also assists with the team’s analytics. His scouting reports detail what kind of shots opponents prefer and how they get them, whether it’s off pick-and-rolls, in transition or off-ball screens.

UCLA’s scout team holds the distinction of being undefeated in head-to-head competition this season, having beaten its counterparts from Rutgers and USC.

The only wins that really matter to them involve the women.

“The goal,” Boydell said, “is the national championship for sure.”

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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: nypost.com