With Pauley a no-go, Bruins take to shorter court in student center

Above the court where the UCLA men’s basketball team has been practicing hangs a banner with an impressive list of NCAA championships. For a program like UCLA it doesn’t feel out of place.

Except it lists volleyball championships.

Two and a half months after a broken water main flooded Pauley Pavilion, the team has yet to practice on its home court. Instead, the Bruins have used the court on the top floor of the Student Activities Center, where a recreation-league-style scorer’s table controls the scoreboard and the listed capacity is 1,009.

Coach Steve Alford said he hopes the team will be back at its regular facilities some time next week, and officials said UCLA’s Oct. 31 exhibition game against Azusa Pacific will be held at Pauley Pavilion as scheduled.

The repairs have required the Bruins to be flexible. For example, the current practice courts are shorter than regulation. It’s a change, but not necessarily a bad one. The transition game is that much quicker.

“It actually makes us have to get back on defense faster,” senior guard Norman Powell said.

Pauley Pavilion was renovated two years ago for about $136 million, but Alford said these unplanned renovations have modernized it even more.

The media room now doubles as a weight room. The former weight room is the nutrition room. The training room underwent some changes too.

“So we really turned a negative to a positive,” Alford said.

Getting to the points

The departure of five key contributors to graduation or the NBA means UCLA loses 55.5 points per game, more than two thirds of the team’s scoring last season.

Powell, who averaged 11.4 points, is the scoring leader among returning players.

In the spring, after Jordan Adams, Kyle Anderson and Zach LaVine declared for the NBA draft, Powell was chatting with Alford in his office. Powell said the coach told him he needed to become a leader and to play more minutes.

“He just said, ‘It’s your time,’” Powell said. “I was like, ‘I’m ready coach. You don’t have to worry about anything.’”

Point guards Bryce Alford, who averaged eight points last year, and Isaac Hamilton, who sat out after transferring, also need to contribute to the offense.

In a reverse from last season, the frontcourt has depth. Tony Parker has experience. Freshman Kevon Looney should start right away at forward, and Thomas Welsh, a 7-foot freshman, will get playing time. Alford said Wanaah Bail and Noah Allen have improved and should work into the rotation.

It’s at guard where the Bruins are thin.

“That’s why I think so much is going to be on Isaac and Bryce and Norman,” Coach Alford said.

More to the point

Bryce Alford, the coach’s son, and Hamilton can play the point. And there’s an unconventional candidate to handle the ball as well.

Looney, who is 6 feet 9, can push the ball up the court. Looney was a good rebounder in high school, and Alford said he will have the freedom to take off after a defensive board.

“I did that my whole life,” Looney said. “I feel comfortable doing it still.”

zach.helfand@latimes.com