Harrick Still Has His Supporters

Though an air of uncertainty, anger and growing ugliness still surrounded the UCLA basketball program, reality hit home for the players and fans Thursday night when the team played for the first time in eight seasons without Jim Harrick as its coach.

The results of the annual intrasquad game, played before 5,010 at Pauley Pavilion, were predictably off-kilter, ending yet another off-kilter day of charges, denials and a dedication.

Though forward J.R. Henderson said the team considered “doing something crazy” during the game to pay tribute to Harrick, the only obvious signs of support were written on the tape and jerseys of Kris Johnson, Bob Myers and Brandon Loyd.

“I’m going to keep doing it all year, every game, every practice,” Johnson said. “He’s not going to be forgotten.”

Twenty-four hours after the Bruin players dedicated the season to their former coach, the player introductions were hardly rousing, and the announcement of interim Coach Steve Lavin was met with silence.

From there, it took three tosses to get the opening tip right, and a missed layup and a foul finished off the first 30 seconds of the game. Assistant Michael Holton coached the blue and assistant Jim Saia coached the white, while a very vocal Lavin sat at press row.

The white team, keyed by a 10-0 run late in the game, beat the blue, 99-88, with a combined 85 points from Charles O’Bannon, Myers, Henderson and Johnson.

Toby Bailey scored a game-high 35 for the blue.

Lavin said he was pleased with the spirit of his team Thursday night, especially focusing on staying away from the frustrated looks and gestures.

“I was just glad to see the resiliency and the love for each other,” Lavin said. “Getting back to basketball was probably the best therapy we could have after what we’ve gone through the last 48 hours.”

The basketball wasn’t the main issue, of course.

On Wednesday night, the Bruins made an unexpected visit to Harrick’s apartment, where they watched a tape of their 1995 national title-winning game, and laughed and cried with Harrick and his family.

“I think it was probably the first time he’s smiled and laughed this week,” O’Bannon said, adding that many of the players did their favorite impressions of their former coach. “We sat around, watched old videos of our championship run, and talked about things in the past.

“We just had a good time, and I thought it was good for him. It’s been a troubling time for him and his family--especially Mrs. Harrick, she’s had a tough time.”

Myers said the team asked Harrick if they could dedicate the season to him.

“He kind of reflected for a second,” Myers said, “but it was a definite yes. He said he didn’t have a problem with that.”

Watching the tape was tough, Myers said, with Harrick and his family still in pain over the firing.

“It was tough, really sad,” Myers said. “It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.”

Earlier Thursday, the lawyer for Harrick, fired Wednesday for a dispute over a false expense report and misleading statements, excoriated school officials for what he called a stream of leaks that falsely defame Harrick’s character.

“I just think UCLA is leaking all over the place and they better cut it out,” said attorney Rob Tanenbaum. “They’re just further exacerbating the situation by trying to create a defamatory impression of Jim Harrick.”

Through a spokesman, Athletic Director Peter T. Dalis denied any knowledge of leaks coming from his department.

Harrick turned in an expense report (for more than $1,000) for a recruiting meal at which five current Bruin players--Cameron Dollar, O’Bannon, Jelani McCoy, Johnson and Myers--attended along with three potential recruits--Jason and Jarron Collins and Earl Watson. NCAA rules state that there can only be as many current players at such a dinner as there are recruits.

When questioned about the report, which did not mention Dollar or O’Bannon, Harrick lied to UCLA officials repeatedly. After hearing about the lies, Chancellor Charles E. Young decided to fire Harrick. Tanenbaum has said Harrick lied to protect Dollar and O’Bannon.

Dollar and O’Bannon have been declared ineligible by UCLA, pending a ruling by the NCAA, but apparently have already made restitution for the meal and will miss no games.

At the Pacific 10 Conference media luncheon Thursday, Harrick drew sympathy from his peers.

“I feel badly for basketball, I feel bad for Jim,” said Arizona State’s Bill Frieder. “So many times in our business, you work so hard and you spend a lot of time each year with these kids . . . and you go out tarnished or under some turmoil.”

Lute Olson of Arizona said he couldn’t believe that the announced rationale for the firing was all there was.

“You think, ‘Well, is there going to be more to the story?’ ” Olson said. “It certainly seems like there has to be more to it than has come out so far.”