In Reply to: Also, Cody Riley was an effective center at only 6'9''. * posted by FanSince65 on August 02, 2026 at 14:42:19
I just don't remember it that way.
Looking back at Riley's numbers from that Final Four season:
10.0 PPG
5.4 RPG
53.8% FG
Were those dominant numbers? Not really. But stats don't tell the whole story.
Don't get me wrong, I loved Cody Riley. He played his butt off during that Final Four run. I just think the narrative has gotten a little cloudy over time.
First, let's look at Riley as a player. If I'm not mistaken, he was a redshirt senior. He was mature, experienced, and strong as a bull. That's an important point because when we talk about 6'8" or 6'9" guys playing center, they're not all built the same. Riley had tremendous lower-body strength and was incredibly difficult to move off his spot.
Take Bilodeau, for example. Similar listed measurements, but a completely different type of player. He didn't have Riley's lower-body strength and was much easier for opposing centers to move around in the paint, especially on defense.
Now think back to that remarkable Final Four run. If I remember correctly, UCLA benefited early on from not having to face a string of dominant post players. When Riley did face bigger centers, his strength allowed him to compete and make life difficult for them. Against Michigan, though, I think it was Cronin's team defense and the way UCLA doubled Hunter Dickinson that really kept him from taking over. Alabama also played a small-ball style that played into UCLA's hands. When UCLA faced Gonzaga, Drew Timme still had a huge game, and some could argue it was part of our downfall.
So yes, Riley was a big part of that Final Four team, but I think there are two important points. First, he was a special kind of 6'8"/6'9" player because of his strength, toughness, and mobility. Second, I don't think playing undersized at center is the ideal setup unless the player has those kinds of physical gifts, and even then at the highest point of competition, it might be a disadvantage.
Bona is another good example. He wasn't a true 7-footer, but physically he could hold his own against just about any center because of his strength, explosiveness, and mobility. Aside from the foul trouble, he was pretty much the prototype for what Cronin wants defensively.
That's why, like Kris Johnson and a couple of other posters, I'm excited about Jovic. I think Jovic, in particular, has the physical tools and mobility to fit what Cronin wants to do.