Programs Passing in the Night : UCLA, USC Heading in Different Directions Before Today’s Game

Some people may not believe it, but the UCLA and USC basketball teams have something in common. They’re consistent.

The Bruins, who have won 13 of their last 14 games, are moving toward the regular-season Pacific 10 championship.

The Trojans, who have lost four straight conference games, are rolling downhill. They hit bottom Thursday night in losing to Arizona State and now share last place with the Sun Devils in the Pacific 10.

Before these teams pass each other in the night, they will pause for a game today at noon at the Sports Arena. The game will be televised by Channel 4.

It has been said over the years that won-loss records are meaningless when the cross-town rivals square off.

But the facts indicate that the Bruins will dispose of the Trojans as if they were flicking lint off a coat.

UCLA, 16-5 overall and 10-3 in the conference, shares first place with Oregon State. USC is 8-14 and 3-10 and struggling.

The difference between the teams is obvious--talent. USC Coach George Raveling says the Bruins are the most talented team in the conference and his colleagues concur.

As for the Trojans, they don’t have a legitimate point guard, are the worst shooting team in the conference and, although they hustle, aren’t necessarily quick.

Moreover, in the opinion of most coaches, USC has only one player, forward Derrick Dowell, who could play regularly for UCLA.

Against this backdrop, one might assume that the Bruins might be overconfident, or, at least, show some compassion for their rival.

Forget it.

UCLA, identified as the basketball school in this city, has lost four of the last five games to USC.

Walt Hazzard has reminded his team of that the past week and the UCLA coach also is smarting because he has a 1-3 record against the Trojans.

You’d have to go back to before John Wooden to find a time when a UCLA basketball coach was on the downside of the record against USC.

Hazzard wants to set the record straight today, but he’s wary of the reeling Trojans.

“They’ll be flying high,” he said. “It’ll be a real high-wire act against us. George Raveling will have his team very well prepared.”

This will be Raveling’s first exposure to the cross-town series, and he says that UCLA has been playing a trick on the rest of the conference.

“In all the years I’ve been around this conference, I’ve never seen a more misunderstood team than UCLA,” Raveling said.

He was referring to the criticism that UCLA lacks an inside game, while routinely destroying teams with its outside shooting.

“I’ve championed their cause all throughout the season when other people have questioned their validity as a contender.” Raveling said. “The thing that amazes me is that people have been critical of their lack of an inside game when their strength is their perimeter shooting.

“That’s not to say their inside people can’t score. It’s a basic fundamental that you play to your strength.

“The other thing that is impressive about UCLA is that they’ve found a variety of ways to win. They’ve won under all kinds of circumstances and to me that’s a sign of a great team.”

Raveling said that UCLA has lulled opponents by making them believe that forward Reggie Miller is the only serious scoring threat.

Miller, with seemingly unlimited shooting range, is, of course, the team’s leading scorer, averaging 20.4 points.

But there have been games when Miller has taken 10 or fewer shots and people wonder why.

“UCLA has used Reggie to mesmerize the defense,” Raveling said. “I see this team differently than others. I think one of the great secrets of UCLA’s success is Reggie Miller’s willingness to accept being a decoy.

“Coaches say when Miller gets the ball you better get on him. Coaches don’t go into the game saying we’re going to have to stop (Montel) Hatcher or (Charles) Rochelin. So Reggie isn’t shooting as much as he was, but his team is sitting in first place.”

As for his own team, Raveling is puzzled. He said the Trojans lacked enthusiasm and spirit in a 69-62 loss to Arizona State and he isn’t sure how to remedy it.

“Why? I don’t know why,” he said. “That’s when I feel helpless. I don’t know if I’m equipped to get inside their heads. Our problem is mainly mental.”

Raveling says he doesn’t yell at his team, or throw furniture, but talks to them quietly and calmly, almost as if he were a patient parent.

“The last thing they need is the additional pressures of Raveling jumping all over their case,” the USC coach said. “I try to encourage them. Between now and tip-off time I’ve got to get them back in the right frame of mind and get that fight back into them. That’s what they pay me for.”

Raveling: USC’s resident coach and psychologist.

Notes

USC is slumping at a time when it faces the toughest portion of its schedule. After today’s game with UCLA, the Trojans will play Arizona Tuesday night at the Sports Arena before Thursday and Saturday games at Oregon and Oregon State, respectively, and then finishing the regular season with a rematch against UCLA Feb. 26 at Pauley Pavilion.

UCLA guard Montel Hatcher played only 14 minutes in an 81-65 win over Arizona Thursday night. He has a soft brace on his right knee to protect a tendinitis condition. . . . UCLA forward Reggie Miller took an elbow to his left shoulder in the game and had an ice pack on it in the dressing room. However, both are expected to play today. Miller, commenting on his shooting range to the San Francisco Chronicle: “I’d leave people open at 28 feet. But I guess I wouldn’t leave me open at 28 feet.” . . . Raveling said he has toyed with the idea of assigning Marcus Cotton, an all-Pac-10 linebacker, to Miller at the outset of today’s game. “Marcus could wear a helmet,” Raveling said. “There’s no rule against it.”

UCLA Coach Walt Hazzard says that USC’s Derrick Dowell is the best forward in the Pac-10. Wait a minute. What about his own Reggie Miller? “I’m not counting Reggie,” Hazzard said. “He’s the player in the conference.”