Bruins Can Chalk It Up to the Point : Richardson Gets Credit for Putting UCLA on the Right Track

UCLA’s forwards, Trevor Wilson and Don MacLean, are together averaging almost 40 points and 18 rebounds a game.

Obviously, they have played major roles for the Bruins, who will take a 6-1 record into a nonconference game against UC Irvine (2-7) tonight at the Bren Center in Irvine.

But, lest there be any doubt as to the identity of the key player in the Bruins’ resurgence this season, Coach Jim Harrick attempted Tuesday to set the record straight.

“The success of our team can be attributed primarily to Pooh Richardson,” Harrick said. “I told Wilson and MacLean, ‘You guys ought to put him on your shoulders and carry him around because he’s taken a spoon and fed you.’ ”

The senior point guard from Philadelphia served up a 74-70 defeat of Stanford last Friday night, contributing 16 points, 10 assists and a steadying influence to the Bruins’ most significant victory of the Harrick era, now more than a month old.

Richardson’s presence has weighed heavily on the mind of Irvine Coach Bill Mulligan, whose struggling Anteaters are trying to right themselves after the worst start in their history.

“The key to stopping UCLA is to contain Richardson,” Mulligan said. “Obviously, that’s no easy thing to do.”

Mulligan said the Anteaters will attempt to do it with a more conservative defense than the one that has already given up more than 100 points 4 times this season.

Mulligan said his team is feeling better about itself after taking Virginia into overtime last week before losing, 99-89, at Charlottesville, Va., in the last game of a 3-game trip that also included a 100-85 loss to Nevada Las Vegas.