Notes on a Scorecard - Feb. 2, 1994

After California handed UCLA its first defeat Sunday, someone from the USA Today/CNN college basketball poll called George Raveling. . . .

“Want to change your vote?” the USC coach was asked. . . .

“No,” Raveling said. “I still think UCLA is No. 1. “. . . .

Not enough voters agreed with Raveling, and Thursday night his Trojans will play a team that is tied for second with North Carolina behind Duke in the USA Today/CNN poll and is fourth in the Associated Press poll. . . .

USC will be a prohibitive underdog as it attempts to become the first Pacific 10 Conference team to defeat UCLA three consecutive times at Pauley Pavilion. Notre Dame, which will play the Bruins Saturday at South Bend, Ind., won four in a row at Westwood from the 1976-77 through 1979-80 seasons. . . .

“UCLA has five future NBA draft choices,” Raveling said. “What frightens me is that any one of their starters is capable of scoring 20 points and playing inside and outside. Even (center George) Zidek is dangerous outside. They’re playing with tremendous confidence compared to the last couple of years and they have a togetherness that might not have been there before.”. . . .

Raveling says he is happy his cross-town rival is contending for the No. 1 spot. . . .

“I mean that sincerely,” he said. “There’s a subconscious perception in this country that the Pac-10 is strong when UCLA is playing well and weak when they aren’t playing well.”. . . .

In the improved conference, the Trojans have lost five in a row after winning their first three. . . .

The four highly touted freshmen--Stais Boseman, Avondre Jones, Jaha Wilson and Claude Green--are combining for an average of only 12 points, seven rebounds and one assist in Pac-10 competition. . . .

“Actually, this is an exciting time for us,” Raveling said. “We have the opportunity to turn a negative into a positive. That’s always exciting.”. . . .

He acknowledges that it is the responsibility of the coach to help keep spirits up. . . .

“Every player has an invisible sign around his neck,” Raveling said. “It says, ‘I’m important and I need some love.’ ”. . . .

*

Couldn’t the Clippers have cut a less productive player than Mark Aguirre or waited until next season to activate John Williams?. . . .

Another former Laker has been voted into the Hall of Fame--the Pro Football Hall of Fame, that is. Bud Grant averaged 2.6 points for the Minneapolis Lakers in the 1949-50 and 1950-51 seasons. . . .

A friend who flies first class says he sees a lot of businessmen reading Pat Riley’s book. . . .

The Dallas Cowboys won more games (15) this season than the Dallas Mavericks have won (14) in the last season and a half. . . .

Jimmy Johnson, who appeared on David Letterman’s show Monday, has become a celebrity. . . . Don’t get excited before Super Bowl XXIX when you read how relaxed the Buffalo Bills are. . . .

The fabled quarterback class of ’83 that included Jim Kelly, John Elway, Dan Marino, Tony Eason, Todd Blackledge and Ken O’Brien has yet to win a Super Bowl. Of course, they were all drafted by AFC teams. . . .

Vancouver left wing Martin Gelinas, who scored twice in the Canucks’ 3-1 victory over the Kings Monday night, was drafted in the first round by L.A. in 1988 but traded to the Edmonton Oilers in the Wayne Gretzky deal. . . .

Look-alikes: Tonya Harding’s ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly, and New York Ranger Coach Mike Keenan. . . .

Grant Fuhr might be traded to the Detroit Red Wings, who probably need improved goaltending to win the Stanley Cup. . . . Glad to see that the International Hockey League is expanding to Chicago, which, I’m sure, has been dying for a minor league franchise. . . .

Pete Arbogast, who calls USC football and basketball games for KNX, has quit as Dodger Stadium public address announcer to devote more time to his broadcasting career. . . . UCLA had 176 student-athletes, including 30 football players, with grade-point averages of at least 3.0 during the fall quarter. . . .

Eric Karros, Torey Lovullo, Shane Mack, Todd Zeile and Tim Leary will be among those participating in a doubleheader Sunday afternoon at Jackie Robinson Stadium. There will be a UCLA alumni intra-squad game followed by the pro alumni vs. the Bruin varsity. . . .

Tommy Hawkins, the Dodgers’ vice president in charge of communications, reportedly is among four finalists to succeed Bill White as National League president. . . .

Only two more weeks until pitchers and catchers report.