Hollins Needs to Win Job Again

The job of starting center on the Bruins, which has belonged to Ryan Hollins for the last seven games, is up for grabs.

Whichever big man grabs the most rebounds in practice this week, and sets the most effective screens, will be in the post for UCLA when it plays host to the Oregon State Beavers on Thursday night at Pauley Pavilion.

So says Coach Ben Howland, trying to re-energize his club after the Bruins lost to USC on Sunday night, 71-68. The defeat, following a loss to the Washington Huskies, has saddled the Bruins, 20-6 overall and tied for the Pacific 10 Conference lead at 10-4, with two consecutive losses for the first time this season and caused them to drop four spots in the Associated Press rankings, from 15th to 19th.

In searching for the causes for the twin defeats, there are many areas to focus on. The team has committed 34 turnovers in the last two games. Against Washington, Bruin guards Jordan Farmar and Arron Afflalo struggled, going a combined four for 23 from the field. UCLA’s defense deserted it on an alarming number of occasions against USC, the Trojans getting past Bruin defenders time after time.

“Of their first 17 points,” Howland said, “six of the baskets were layups, and five of those were off turnovers.”

But the most glaring number against USC was the zero in the scoring column next to Hollins’ name. The senior center took only three shots -- two, according to Howland -- from the field and failed to make it to the free-throw line. Howland also questioned Hollins’ efficiency in setting screens.

“The playing time is going to be based solely on practice,” Howland said.

He listed four players -- Hollins, Alfred Aboya, Ryan Wright and Michael Fey -- as competitors for the starting role.

That was before practice Tuesday. That list may have been cut to three during practice when Aboya, who had been suffering from a strained groin, strained his left hip. He is doubtful for Thursday.

Said Hollins of the news his starting role may be in jeopardy: “I’m not too worried about that. I’m not looking at it from an individual standpoint. I’m going to put in the effort in practice. You lead by example.”

Hollins may retain the job by default. Wright, a freshman, has been brought along slowly, and Howland seems to have nearly given up on Fey since the senior’s return from an ankle injury. Over the last 10 games, Fey has played a total of four minutes.

*

Farmar and Afflalo, both sophomore guards, have been named to the All-District 15 first team by the National Assn. of Basketball Coaches. Farmar was named to the second team as a freshman.