UCLA star forward Reeves Nelson did not play on Tuesday night due to a suspension handed out by head coach Ben Howland. It had been rumored that both Nelson and the coaching staff were not happy with each other and his status going forward will not be known until Wednesday afternoon.
The LA Times has the update:
UCLA Coach Ben Howland said after his team's second consecutive loss to open the season that he had met with Nelson and his mother in person on Monday, with Nelson's father on speaker phone, for about 70 minutes to discuss the situation. Howland said he was also scheduled to meet alone with Nelson again Wednesday.
What would Howland need to hear from Nelson to reinstate him on the team?
"Just an understanding that he's got a lot of things that need to improve in terms of coachability, attitude, interacting with his teammates, representing the university the way we expect it to be represented," Howland said. "We'll have a long talk concerning a lot of different issues."
With the program currently in shambles and desperately seeking a chance to get back on track, one has to believe that the head coach and his talented junior forward will be able to work out their differences. For a team picked to win the Pac-12 in 2011-2012, it would be a huge blow to the Bruins if Reeves is not reinstated to the team this year.
For more on Nelson and UCLA, check out Bruins Nation.