Lavin Leans Toward Senior Leadership

With center Jelani McCoy expected to start for the first time this season Saturday against Oregon, Coach Steve Lavin is leaning toward using freshman guard Earl Watson as the sixth man and keeping Kris Johnson’s offense in the starting lineup.

“It’s not an emotional kind of decision--it’s what’s best for the basketball team,” Lavin said Wednesday, denying that either players’ feelings would affect the decision.

Lavin pointed out that Johnson is a senior, and that UCLA traditionally emphasizes senior leadership.

TONIGHT vs. Oregon State

* 7:30

* Fox Sports West 2

Site--Pauley Pavilion.

Radio--AM 1150.

Records--10th-ranked Bruins 10-2, Beavers 9-4.

Update--Oregon State bolted to a fast start, but opened conference play by being swept at home by Stanford (by 20 points) and California (by 14). The Beavers’ leading rebounders are sophomore guards Corey Benjamin and Ron Grady. Benjamin is the Pac-10’s second-leading scorer at 19.7 a game.