Forfeits Are Not Likely

Although UCLA used a player who may be declared ineligible, the Bruins are in no danger of having to forfeit any games JaRon Rush played because the Pacific 10 believes the school did not know of possible infractions, the conference commissioner said.

The win-loss record could change if it comes to light that UCLA was aware of potential problems with Rush’s status and did nothing to look into the issue. But Tom Hansen said every indication his office has is that the Bruins, specifically Athletic Director Pete Dalis, handled the situation according to rules.

“They have to have known there was a problem and continued to play him,” Hansen said. “And we have no evidence of that happening.”

Rush, a sophomore forward, played in 28 of 31 games last season, starting 22. He appeared in the first three games this season, all off the bench, before being suspended last Friday while the school investigates his connection with agent Jerome Stanley and whether he broke NCAA rules through his relationship with former summer league coach Myron Piggie.

Rush sat out Saturday’s game against Gonzaga and has already been ruled out for at least four more. Because of the complex nature of the case, Rush’s suspension could carry into mid-January, after the start of conference play.

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Saturday’s loss to Gonzaga was the 100th game for Steve Lavin as coach. “One hundred games and I’ve aged 100 years,” he said of the often-tumultuous three-plus seasons. Asked how many would have figured at the start that he would last this long, Lavin said: “At that point it was 100-to-1. That was the only hundred on my mind at that point. Hundred-to-one at Hollywood Park.” . . . Bruin players, though giving credit to Gonzaga, are saying that Rush’s suspension the day before had an impact. “I think it kind of did,” swingman Rico Hines said. “We didn’t know what was going on until late Friday. It was just sinking in Saturday. It was like, ‘Dang, he really isn’t here.’ ”