Event Is Upstaged by Bruins

Kent Atherton was optimistic--but not unrealistic.

The chairman of the John R. Wooden Classic, Atherton realized his event faced tough competition for the Southland sports fan’s dollar Saturday. That was reflected in the announced attendance of 8,463 for the doubleheader at the Pond.

“Obviously, attendance was off,” Atherton said. “The number was a little under half of where it should be. It’s too bad more people weren’t here because we had two great games.”

A sellout crowd of 18,307 attended the inaugural Wooden Classic and 15,330 showed up last season. Atherton cited many reasons for the sparse crowd, but the Kansas-UCLA game was likely the main culprit.

Also Saturday, the top-ranked Jayhawks played the No. 17 Bruins at Pauley Pavilion. In effect, that game went head to head with the Wooden Classic.

“UCLA-Kansas was probably the biggest reason, especially with them playing right up the road,” Atherton said. “That wasn’t too good for us, and there were also some good college football games on [TV].

“A lot of [Wooden Classic] people thought the number we had was good, but it was under the number I was hoping for. I was hoping for 10,000 or more.”

Which begs the question: Is this the start of a negative trend or simply a one-year aberration?

The answer might depend on if UCLA can be persuaded to rejoin the field. The Bruins appear to be lukewarm, at best, toward hitching on for a while.

“A lot of people think ‘Wooden Classic,’ and they automatically think UCLA is in it,” Atherton said. “Some people were surprised they weren’t in it this year. We hope to have them back in this event and we will always have a special place for UCLA here.”

Chances are, though, UCLA might not become a regular member. If not, the Wooden Classic will just have to do the best it can, Atherton said.

“All we can do,” he said, “is continue to stick to our objective of bringing in the four best teams and coaches, and continue to go from there.”

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Arizona junior guard Miles Simon, a Times All-Orange County selection while at Mater Dei High, sat with Mater Dei Principal Pat Murphy during the Wildcats’ 69-61 victory over Utah in the first game.

Simon, who averaged 13.2 points last season, is academically ineligible for the fall semester. Coach Lute Olson said the Wildcats are growing up in the absence of their team leader.

“Miles is such a strong leader that it is hard for anyone else to emerge as a leader,” Olson said. “Without Miles, other people are getting a chance to assume that role and that will help us later.”

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LSU’s Adam Walton, son of former UCLA All-American Bill Walton who was a television analyst for the tournament, has been sidelined the last two games because of a stress fracture in his right fibula.

Tiger Coach Dale Brown managed to sneak Walton into the game in the final minute of an overtime loss to Louisville. Walton had two fouls and a rebound.

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Freshman forward Lester Earl, rated as one of the top freshmen in the country by Sports Illustrated and LSU’s second-leading scorer, did not start because he missed a team meeting.

“He was waiting in the wrong room,” Brown said. “Attention to detail. It’s so important in this game. That’s a phrase I stole from Coach Wooden. I stole everything from Coach Wooden. Everything but the national championships.”