WATCH: Adem Bona on Blocking Shots, Impacting UCLA's Post Play

The McDonald's All-American has started every game for the Bruins so far in his freshman campaign.

UCLA men's basketball big man Adem Bona spoke to reporters ahead of Tuesday morning's practice session at the Mo Ostin Basketball Center. Bona talked about Washington guard Cole Bajema's suspension, playing without losing his cool, limiting his fouls, the impact of his shot-blocking tendencies, his role in the post and his relationship with Washington State forward Mouhamed Gueye. 

You took a low blow at one point – what did you think when they suspended the guy afterwards but didn't punish him as much during the game?

Um, I really didn't know he got suspended. I found out, like, days later, my teammate told me. And I think it was in the game and probably the refs didn't have a view or have a vision of what happened. So we can't change the refs' calls, so it is what it is.

How do you keep playing after that without losing your cool?

I knew there was so much at stake if I react, probably. And I would love to continue playing the game, I wouldn't want to be on the bench if anything happens. I knew there was so much at stake, so I just stayed out there and just continued playing.

What's gone into limiting your fouls?

I mean, I would say I definitely felt it I would say, like, halftime Washington State game, when I realized I had no fouls, I was like 'Wow! That's good!' So I kinda felt it, and it gives me more playing time, it gives the coach more confidence in putting me in the game and letting me play, so I feel like that's good progress. Yeah.

Can you see a transformation from teams when they know you're going to alter a shot?

Yeah, there was a couple possessions, they got somebody inside and he was going for a layup and kind of threw the ball out. So I'm like, 'Yeah, you're scared!' He knows I'm there, you know? Um, I feel like that makes me part of the game, you know? Makes teams change their shots, makes them think twice before coming in. So it's a huge advantage for us and so we have those defensive advantages, so I think that's a good thing.

How much more comfortable do you feel catching the ball in the post and converting on offense?

I feel like my confidence has grown a lot from practices and from repetition. Obviously your confidence is gonna grow if you keep doing something over and over again, just get better from there, you know? So.

Has the chemistry with the guards improved as far as where you want the ball and where you position yourself?

Yeah, I think the chemistry is there. I think we're working on it sometimes, it's like during the game, it just comes real fast and then I always (inaudible). So I feel like the chemistry is there, but just the timing's a little bit slow, so I think we'll get it there.

Is there extra motivation playing against Mouhamed?

Yeah, yeah. We've been friends for years now, he was my teammate in high school, really good friend of mine. I told him 'It's not gonna happen again, that's what happened in Pullman.' And I was like 'It ain't gonna happen again.' And I was (inaudible).

Are you pretty familiar with what he does when he gets the ball in the post?

Yeah, I think I'm pretty familiar with what he does. I've played with him for two years, so I know about him for years before then, so I know what's coming.

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