Bibby Prefers Freshmen Not Be Eligible

His starting lineup has recently featured two freshmen--point guard Brandon Granville and forward Sam Clancy--but that hasn’t changed Coach Henry Bibby’s view of young players.

When Bibby arrived at UCLA as a high school All-American in 1968, freshmen were not eligible for the varsity.

“I like that rule,” he said. “It probably made my career because I was not fundamentally sound basketball-wise and academically to play basketball my freshman year.”

Bibby became the Bruins’ starting point guard in his sophomore season and helped the team to three NCAA championships, earning consensus All-American honors in 1972. He played nine seasons in the NBA, winning a championship with the New York Knicks in his rookie season and reaching the finals with the Philadelphia 76ers in 1977 and 1980.

Not until he got into coaching did Bibby see the changes that had come to the college game. Not only were freshmen eligible but all of the players had become, well, assertive.

“A lot of times they expect more than fair treatment,” he said. “They expect you to give them playing time.”

A big change from 1968.

“I dared not question Coach [John] Wooden . . . about my playing time or my role on the team,” Bibby said. “I was kind of scared of Coach Wooden. You just looked at him and said, ‘OK, coach, you’re right.’ ”