Maturity May Make Difference for Bruins

The Bruins, feeling good about more than their first 3-0 start in five years, say they are playing with more maturity than last season, an important improvement if it holds up.

“Last year, we had five freshmen and six sophomores,” forward Rico Hines said. “There were a lot of things we didn’t know, even as the sophomore class. Coming in this year, it’s been a major change. Each guy. I could go down the list.

“You can tell just from the practices, the attitude everyone has. The cockiness. That strut when you’re walking around campus, like ‘I know what it’s all about now.’ ”

Said Coach Steve Lavin: “It is definitely a more mature team. I see it more in practice [than games]. The guys are able to sustain a higher level of intensity. I see it more with the [1998] freshman class, to have a year under their belts and less anxiety.”