Lavin Isn’t Rushing to Start McCoy

Though he had said he would probably move center Jelani McCoy back into the starting lineup for tonight’s game against Oregon, Coach Steve Lavin said Friday he plans no change, at least for now.

That means he doesn’t have to choose between removing either Kris Johnson, the team’s hottest shooter, or Earl Watson, probably its biggest surprise, until next week’s games at California and Stanford, when McCoy’s size almost certainly will be needed in the lineup.

“We’re winning, we’re playing well, all these positive things are happening, so we don’t feel the sense of urgency or rush to do this,” Lavin said after practice.

McCoy, who was suspended for the first nine games, said he was ready to return to the starting lineup but that he wasn’t going to start worrying about his status.

“I don’t want to dwell or harp on this,” said McCoy, a welt under his right eye after getting hit with an elbow in the victory over Oregon State on Thursday. “I don’t want this to cause any tension on the team.”