Tar Heels Should Give Bruins Some Answers

UCLA returns to the scene of its worst disaster today, eager to find out where it stands in college basketball, circa 1988.

When last seen in this part of the country, the Bruins were laid out by North Carolina in the opening game of the 1985-86 season, 107-70.

It was the most lopsided loss in their history.

“We got bombed out,” said Pooh Richardson, who made his UCLA debut in that game, chalking up 8 points and 5 assists in 19 minutes.

Nothing that devastating is expected today when UCLA, unbeaten in 4 games, meets eighth-ranked North Carolina (8-1) before a sellout crowd and a national network television audience at the 21,444-seat Smith Center.

UCLA won’t lose by 37?

“I don’t think so,” Richardson said sternly.

But where exactly do the Bruins stand after victories over Texas Tech, Miami, Brigham Young and Boston University?

Coach Jim Harrick should know by the end of next week.

After today’s game, UCLA will return home to play California Wednesday and Stanford Friday in Pacific 10 Conference games at Pauley Pavilion.

“In terms of telling us what kind of team we’ve got, I think our next three games are vitally important,’ Harrick said.

Today’s game alone should tell the Bruins quite a bit.

North Carolina has made its fast start without its best player, Olympian J. R. Reid, who has been out since Oct. 29 with a stress fracture in his left foot but is expected to make his debut today, limited though it may be.

The Tar Heels have already beaten the Pac-10 co-favorites, Stanford and Arizona, and also have already avenged their only loss, beating Missouri in a tournament at Charlotte, N.C., after having lost to the Tigers in the Big Apple NIT.

Including Reid, a 6-foot 9-inch All-American forward who averaged 18 points and 8.9 rebounds a game as a sophomore last season, the Tar Heels have all five starters back from a team that was 27-7, beat UCLA at Pauley Pavilion, won the Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season championship and bombed Loyola Marymount in the National Collegiate Athletic Assn. tournament, 123-97, ending the Lions’ 25-game winning streak.

The Tar Heels, for the eighth straight season, were ranked among the top 10 in both wire service polls and advanced to the round of 16 in the NCAA tournament before losing to Arizona, 70-52, in the West Regional final.

This season, they have won 6 straight since the 91-81 loss to Missouri, and all five starters are scoring in double figures, led by 6-4 guard Kevin Madden, who is averaging 18.4 points a game on 59.5% shooting.

“I know the test is formidable, but I think our kids are excited about it,” Harrick said.

How excited were they last time they were here?

“I always thought that we would get better,” Richardson said.

UCLA didn’t improve much that season, winning only 15 of 29 games, but the Reggie Miller-led Bruins were 25-7 the next season and won the Pac-10 championship. Last season, they slipped again, winning only 16 of 30.

This season, they seem to be on the rise again.

Today’s game should tell them how far they’ve climbed.

Bruin Notes

UCLA is ranked 20th this week by the Associated Press. . . . When UCLA lost to North Carolina, 107-70, in 1985, Coach Walt Hazzard accused Tar Heel Coach Dean Smith of running up the score, adding: “I guess that’s a little payback for the difficulties he had over the years with Coach (John) Wooden.” Under Wooden, UCLA played North Carolina once, beating the Tar Heels, 78-55, at the Sports Arena in 1968 in the championship game of the NCAA tournament.

UCLA beat North Carolina, 89-84, in 1986 and lost to the Tar Heels, 80-73, last season in games at Pauley Pavilion. . . . J.R. Reid was cleared by doctors to play 5 or 6 minutes in each half, according to North Carolina’s trainer, Marc Davis. . . . Kevin Walker, who sprained his right ankle in UCLA’s 85-74 victory over Boston Dec. 7, practiced all week and is expected to play.

Scott Williams, North Carolina’s 6-10 center from Wilson High in Hacienda Heights, is averaging 13.1 points and 8.1 rebounds a game. . . . In 27 seasons under Smith, North Carolina has won or shared 15 Atlantic Coast Conference championships. Its .817 winning average in the last 20 years is the best in college basketball, ahead of UCLA’s .806, according to the Tar Heel media guide.

Gerald Madkins has returned to practice for UCLA, but Coach Jim Harrick said this week that there was no chance the sophomore guard would play this season. Madkins broke his pelvis last summer in a moped accident. . . . North Carolina will play at San Diego State Dec. 29 and at Pepperdine Jan. 3. . . . The Tar Heels beat Stanford, 87-76, and Arizona, 79-72.