High Praise From Iowa State

Not in the style of play but in the level of skill among the Bruin players, Iowa State Coach Tim Floyd said UCLA reminds him of No. 1 Kansas--which handed the Cyclones three of their eight losses this season (and beat UCLA at Pauley Pavilion).

“I see UCLA as a team that’s comparable to Kansas in terms of talent,” Floyd said Tuesday as he studied Bruin game tapes in preparation for Thursday’s Iowa State-UCLA matchup in the Midwest Regional semifinals in San Antonio.

“I wasn’t sure there was an other team in the country I could put there. I don’t know that Steve [Lavin, UCLA’s coach] would say they have the same depth as Kansas, but I’m not sure Steve would trade his players one-through-six for Kansas’ players.

“I had a chance to watch them in person against Xavier and I use the word dominant. I do feel like they can be dominant. They’re a team that can score in a lot of different ways--every guy they put on the floor can make shots.”

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Lavin, who has always been close to point guard Cameron Dollar, said that if Dollar wants to be a coach after his playing career is over, there’s one place that would be a perfect fit.

“I think down the road, he’d be a tremendous assistant coach for UCLA,” Lavin said, “because he’s a product of our program, he’s had great success here, he stands for all the right things and believes in the right things.”

Or else? “He’ll come back here with another team and beat my butt,” Lavin said.

Responded Dollar, who has said that he very much wants to be a coach some day: “I’m glad, thankful, but I really haven’t given any thought to it.”