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Bruins are very defensive

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Times Staff Writer

There is the impression that UCLA was a better defensive team last season and some evidence to back up the premise -- USC shot nearly 47% against the Bruins, Washington State 52%, and Arizona 64% in the second half of a game, all in the last month.

“But we won those games,” point guard Darren Collison noted.

And the sixth-ranked Bruins (23-3 overall, 11-2 in Pacific 10 Conference play) will try to do it again today at 12:30 against another good offense when they play Oregon (15-11, 6-8) at Pauley Pavilion.

The Ducks scored 75 points against UCLA last month in Eugene when the Bruins had trouble containing Malik Hairston and Tajuan Porter off the dribble.

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But UCLA guard Russell Westbrook reminds everyone who simply looks at that total to consider a point perhaps forgotten: Forward Luc Richard Mbah a Moute and center Lorenzo Mata-Real sat out that game because of concussions.

“Luc is a really good defender,” Westbrook said. “I’d say what was good is that we won with Luc out because everything good we do starts with defense.”

Indeed, Coach Ben Howland touts Westbrook and Mbah a Moute as his best defenders. Westbrook has embraced the role of defensive stopper, showing the fortitude of former All-American Arron Afflalo but with longer arms and quicker feet.

“Russell Westbrook came just in the nick of time,” Collison said. “From the start this year he’s been guarding the best offensive player, and that fills in for Arron’s shoes. Luc can guard anybody.

“Kevin Love has done a good job knowing when to block shots and when not to block shots and he’s a good defensive rebounder. I’ve got to do what I do, which is pressuring the point guard. Coach says our defensive intensity starts with me and I understand that.”

It is instructive to focus on Mbah a Moute at the defensive end, Howland said.

In Thursday’s 84-49 victory over Oregon State, at least four times Mbah a Moute stepped in front of a driving opponent who had scooted around Collison only to find the crouching Cameroonian in his path.

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“Luc’s very multifaceted,” Howland said, “the kind of player who can guard anyone in the college game from the center to the guards.”

Howland says the Bruins are as good defensively as any of his previous UCLA teams.

“Look at how many turnovers we cause, how many steals we have,” Howland said. “We’re No. 1 in the conference in steals. Some of the things we do in our schemes may cause us to have a higher field-goal percentage shot against us, but we create more havoc with turnovers forced.

“I’m not sure there isn’t a better way to rank defenses. For example, USC shot 46% against us, but when you have 22 turnovers, when you include that, every turnover means fewer shots, then it all comes together.”

Howland said he had no plans to speak to the crowd before today’s game. At Eugene last month, Oregon fans used vulgar taunts and signs to heckle Love and his father, Stan, who was a star Oregon player. The UCLA athletic department sent e-mails to students in the fan group, “The Den,” saying in part, “Please make sure that you and other Bruin fans continue to enjoy the game with class and refrain from making personal comments about opposing student-athletes.”

-- TODAY

vs. Oregon, 12:30 p.m., Ch. 7

Radio -- 570.

Site -- Pauley Pavilion.

Records -- UCLA 23-3, 11-2 in Pacific 10 Conference play; Oregon 15-11, 6-8.

Update -- The Ducks are second in the conference in scoring and three-point shooting and when they play four guards they can be a challenge to defend. But they are also streaky and prone to careless stretches and are last in the conference in turnover margin.

--

diane.pucin@latimes.com

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