Following UCLA’s practice session last Thursday, there was one player still out on the court getting in additional work. While everyone else had left for the day, Amanda Muse was still working alongside Bruins’ assistant coach Tony Newman.
And it wasn’t just her offense that Muse was working on, but her defense as well. Things like that stick out to UCLA head coach Cori Close. In fact, it’s become a common occurrence for Muse over the past couple of seasons. When the cameras are off and lights are dimmed, she can be found working on her craft.
”She trusts that the work done in the dark will eventually come out in the light, and be revealed in the light,” Close said after practice. “She’s out here working on ball screen defense. Who stays after practice and works on ball screen defense? She’s willing to do whatever it takes to earn the trust in the areas that are going to lead her to where she wants to go.”
The journey hasn’t always been easy for Muse. After playing sparingly as a freshman two years ago, she opted to redshirt last season. This year, she’s been part of a deep and talented frontcourt rotation for the Bruins. Lauren Betts and Gabriela Jaquez are the starters, while Angela Dugalic and Sienna Betts anchor the second unit.
But Muse has begun to see consistent minutes while making an impact when she’s on the court. Those countless post-practice sessions have finally begun to pay off. In today’s college basketball landscape where wanting instant gratification is the norm, Muse has stuck it out.
”It has not been easy, and she has struggled at times to go, ‘is this ever going to pay off,’” Close said. “I’m really proud of her. The word grit gets thrown around a lot, but the definition of it is passion and perseverance over a long period of time, even when you’re not rewarded right away. And she is showing so much grit, and it will pay off.”
Muse’s minutes are up this season to 11.3, as per Sports Reference, compared to the 7.7 she averaged as a freshman. But when she isn’t in games, she’s constantly going up against her teammates in practice, keeping them fresh while acknowledging her own place on the team.
“Just taking it day by day and being very process-oriented,” Muse told The IX Basketball. “It’s definitely not been easy, but just trying to know that I am one of the best of the best. I am going up against the best of the best in every one of my teammates every day. So that’s just such a cool opportunity to continue to get better. That’s how I can stay ready and be ready, competing every day in practice against my teammates.”
Whether it’s due to injury or other circumstances, when players are sidelined, it often gives them an opportunity to see the game in a different light. They’re able to see and pick up things that might not be so readily apparent when they’re on the court.
Muse had that opportunity last season when she made the choice to redshirt what would have been her sophomore year. And she wasn’t alone on the bench. Charlisse Leger-Walker, who has been such an integral piece for UCLA this year, was also sidelined as she recovered from an ACL injury.
Getting to sit alongisde a leader like Leger-Walker helped Muse pick things up and see how she could be effective within the Bruins’ rotation.
”Me and Charlisse redshirted together, so every game we watched together. We would talk through what was happening, and I just felt like I learned so much from her and from watching the game from a more neutral standpoint because I wasn’t playing,” Muse said. “I definitely learned so much about my team, my teammates and how to be effective out there.”
And as far as how Muse can be effective on the court, her defensive ability is where she’s been able to have the most impact. This UCLA team has no shortage of scoring options. Muse has good footwork and skill in the post, but her role isn’t to go out and score as many points as she can.
When she comes into the game with the second unit, she’s out there to protect the rim and alter shots in the paint. She only has eight total blocked shots on the season, but her mere presence in the paint has been enough to alter plenty of other shots. Her season-high of two blocks was back on Jan. 18 in a blowout win against Maryland.
Muse also has the foot speed and ability to switch on the perimeter. Her versatility only adds to UCLA’s wealth of talent.
“I think we really try and have a lot of communication. Just knowing when we are switching the screens and that sort of thing,” Muse said. “I’ve been really focused on having my head on the ball and just sliding, which is really difficult, but we’re getting better at it.”
Prior to arriving at UCLA , Muse was a McDonald’s All-American and one of the nation’s top recruits. She chose the Bruins over other strong programs such as Stanford, Notre Dame, Washington, Oregon State and Duke.
It can be a bit of a rude awakening for a highly-touted player to come to college and essentially be at the bottom of the pecking order. But for UCLA teammate Gabriela Jaquez, who arrived only one year prior, she’s seen nothing but 100 percent buy-in and commitment from Muse no matter what the situation may be.
”I’ve just seen Amanda grow in so many ways. On the court especially, and that’s what you can see. But we also have seen her grow off the court. She really does put in the work. She sometimes will have multiple workouts before practice and after practice,” Jaquez said following UCLA’s practice. “She really put her head down since last year and took that redshirt year to grow a lot, be on the scout team and just really grow her game.”
”Then just now this year, really attacking all the reps and talking a lot,” Jaquez continued. “I’m just super proud of her.”
Muse has appeared in 24 games this year compared to the 19 she played in two seasons ago. Her stats are modest at 1.6 points and 1.8 rebounds, but one thing the team can count on is that she’s going to give it her all with energy and effort whenever she’s in the game.
”I take pride in being a hustle player and just doing the little plays and doing things that may not show up the stat sheet,” Muse said. “I just try to be a teammate that elevates others and that makes my team better when I’m on the floor.”