Hatcher Replaces Gaines in UCLA Lineup

The starting lineup that UCLA Coach Walt Hazzard announced shortly after the end of the summer will get its first change for reasons other than injury in Thursday night’s game against Washington State at Pauley Pavilion. Montel Hatcher will replace Corey Gaines at guard.

Gaines has started since early December, when Dave Immel suffered a hamstring pull.

Hatcher, potentially the best outside shooter among the Bruins, played only five minutes Thursday in the loss at Oregon State, then shot 5 for 9 in Saturday’s comeback victory over Oregon.

Hazzard originally wanted to hold Hatcher’s firepower in reserve. Now, the coach says he’s more concerned about UCLA’s starts, citing the one at Corvallis, when a shutout seemed a possibility, and the one against the Ducks, who jumped off to a 22-4 lead.

“We’ve gotten off to very poor starts in our two conference games,” Hazzard said. “At Oregon State, we scored four points in the first eight minutes. Saturday (laughing), I don’t even need to say any more. . . . I was looking for an exit. I was trying to get out of there without anyone seeing me leave.”

Bruin Notes

Freshman forward Craig Jackson, who had 12 points and 11 rebounds Saturday, continues to gain ground. Gary Maloncon and Reggie Miller will continue to start, but Coach Walt Hazzard talked more about Jackson, who isn’t moving up formally, than about Montel Hatcher, who is. Hazzard said: “Craig helps us most under the boards, at both ends, because every time the ball goes up, he goes after it. When he loses, he doesn’t want to talk to anyone. He didn’t say a thing to anyone all the way home after that St. John’s game. The rest of the team had their Walkmans on, but he didn’t want to talk to anyone. He didn’t want to do anything. He was angry. And I like that.” . . . Add flexibility: Hazzard, whose sole reliance on man-to-man defense was criticized by CBS’ Billy Packer, and others, says UCLA actually played a 2-3 zone defense against Oregon. “For the last 10 seconds of the second overtime, when we were ahead.”