Bruins’ Victory Is Matter of Attitude

UCLA’s 85-67 victory over Oregon State at Pauley Pavilion on Sunday brought equal parts stability and confusion, a contradiction no greater than the No. 13-ranked Bruins themselves.

The Bruins played much better than they did in a Jan. 7 loss at Corvallis, Ore., united in the quest for revenge against the Beavers. They shot 66.7% from the floor in the second half--and 56.7% overall--while committing only 11 turnovers.

But they played without JaRon Rush, disciplined by Coach Steve Lavin for not having a serious enough attitude at practice the day before--which came one day after a portion of the Bruins’ informal workout consisted of an impromptu game of dodge ball.

The Bruins also played the first 5:08 without Dan Gadzuric for the same reason--a fact that Lavin apparently announced to everyone except Gadzuric.

That left the Bruins with their 15th opening lineup in 22 games, with Brandon Loyd a starter for the first time after having played 22 minutes the previous month.

Matters were further complicated because sore feet limited Jerome Moiso to a reserve role and 14 minutes in all.

That meant the lineup for a game that UCLA (17-5, 8-3 in the Pacific 10) came into with considerable anticipation--because of the last time it played Oregon State (5-6, 11-9) and the critical comments from some Beavers that followed--had Travis Reed, Matt Barnes and Loyd along with two regulars, Earl Watson and Baron Davis.

Rush spent the game on the bench in uniform, often inches away from Lavin as the coach took his usual crouched stance down the sideline.

Rush said later he felt bad, admitting his lackadaisical attitude Saturday was “inexcusable on my part” and that he deserved not to play.

But he also said he was confused at the messages.

Lavin routinely trades jokes with players during practice . . . and then one day throws Rush out of practice before it even starts because a player isn’t stretching with the proper focus?

The Bruins practically have a playground session Friday, without Lavin in attendance. . . . and then get the immediate hard line Saturday?

Asked if it was tough to deal with the flip-flop, Rush said: “It is. But it’s fine. It’s just got to be something I’ve got to deal with. It’s frustrating, but there’s nothing you can do about it. It’s their program.”

Added Ray Young, who had 12 points in the victory: “As the season goes on, you just have to kind of get to know his system and what he expects. Us being freshmen, it’s tough. But as time goes on, the freshmen are fitting in.”

Or finding things out the hard way.

Lavin said he told Rush about the discipline Saturday, after Rush returned to Pauley Pavilion to get in some shooting. Referring to Rush’s approach the day before, Lavin said that “there’ll never be a country club membership, where you’re renewed as a starter every game or every year.”

And Gadzuric, whose penalty was far less severe?

“Dan practiced better than JaRon, but I would say it was not up to his ability level,” Lavin said.

Lavin said he told Gadzuric Sunday he would not start.

Gadzuric said he was never told any such thing, that the reserve role was another attempt to reduce his minutes and rest his troublesome knees.

“It’s not a discipline,” Gadzuric said. “I’m very disciplined.”

Even as Oregon State shot 52.3%, marking the third consecutive game a UCLA opponent had made at least half its attempts, the Bruins were in control for almost the entire second half.

A 14-3 run at the outset of the second half, capped by Davis’ three-point basket with 16:19 remaining, provided a 47-30 advantage.

That was part of a stretch in which Davis scored 10 consecutive points. He finished with a team-leading 20 points.

The closest Oregon State got was 65-55 with seven minutes left after a three-point play by Jason Heide, who had a game-high 21 points.

Then the Beavers threw a bad pass, Gadzuric stole the ball from Heide and Young took a charge on Josh Steinthal.

“We climbed back in it, did some decent things, then gave up some turnovers,” Oregon State Coach Eddie Payne said.

And when the Bruins turned that into a 7-0 run, victory was assured.