UCLA's Parker: Looney's mask helps team chemistry because 'he's not as ugly'

Kevon Looney brings a lot to the table for UCLA.

A terrific athlete, versatile defender and hyperactive rebounder, Looney may be the team's most important player, as well as their best NBA prospect.

But Looney is contributing in another way since suffering a facial fracture in the Pac-12 tournament. Looney has juggled a few different protective masks, which appear to have hampered his aggression on offense, serving to decrease his draft stock a little bit.

Now that he's found one that works for him, teammates are crediting the mask for the team's unlikely run to the Sweet Sixteen.

"Kevon's got a mask so he's not as ugly, so it helps the team chemistry," Tony Parker said Thursday.

It sounds as if the team's been giving Looney quite the hard time about his new look, something that isn't shaking the freshman forward.

"Man, I don't listen to them about my mask," he said. "(Parker's) got so many jokes about my mask, I try to just tune it out."

Looney's been able to tune out any discomfort with the mask when it comes to producing off the scoreboard so far in the NCAA tournament. After struggling a great deal in the final two Pac-12 tournament games, Looney bounced back last weekend, grabbing 22 rebounds while dishing three assists and grabbing three steals.

Averaging 11.6 points and 9.2 rebounds on the year, Looney is firmly on the radar as an NBA lottery pick. He'll have a great chance to prove his mettle further against Gonzaga on Friday.