Rush’s Judgment: One-Game Suspension

UCLA Coach Steve Lavin gave homesick freshman JaRon Rush a dose of tough love Thursday when he suspended him for Saturday’s Pacific 10 Conference showdown with No. 6 Arizona at Pauley Pavilion.

Rush, who missed two practices and a game when he remained home in Kansas City, Mo., after Christmas break, is expected to play against Arizona State on Monday.

“I [always] knew that I was going to come back, it was just a matter of time,” said Rush, who went through a limited practice Thursday because of a lower-back injury. “I really missed my family. . . . It was hard to get back on the plane.”

Lavin, who met with Rush for more than three hours Wednesday, said he decided not to punish him more than the one game because of the circumstances involved.

Rush is not the first freshman to be homesick.

“We just told him that he’s normal and that he’s a human being and not a machine,” said Lavin, whose 10th-ranked team will begin Pac-10 play with an 8-2 record.

“We all know that he’s going through a tough time. But he’s someone who wants to be part of the team and with that in mind, it is a lot different than compared to someone breaking team rules.”

Rush’s teammates said they are happy to have him back and that his absence has been somewhat overblown.

“I talked to the team and they showed me much love,” said Rush, who has started seven of the nine games he has played and is third on the team in scoring (11.1) and rebounds (4.8).

Fellow Kansas City native Earl Watson, who went through a similar case of homesickness last season as a freshman, said he never doubted Rush would return.

“There was no debate,” said Watson, Rush’s roommate. “He kept in touch the entire time and just wanted to know what was going on with the team.”

Rush’s suspension further weakens a lineup already hit hard by injuries. Senior guard Brandon Loyd did not practice because of flu symptoms and is doubtful for the Arizona game, and sophomore forward Billy Knight is expected to redshirt this season because of a nagging groin injury.

UCLA might also be without freshman forward Matt Barnes, still sidelined because of an ankle and knee injury, and freshman center Dan Gadzuric is still bothered by tendinitis in both knees.

“Obviously the Arizona game is the biggest game of the year for our program, and we would love to have [Rush] suit up,” Lavin said. “But he has to be accountable for his actions. . . . And his actions will have a ripple effect on the rest of the team in the long run.”

Rush said that he tried to return to Los Angeles on Monday but was late and missed his flight. After that, he said that he got caught up enjoying the time he spent with his family and friends.

“I’m just going to have to get over [being homesick],” Rush said. “It’s a learning experience that makes you grow up. The next three months will be hard, but I’m going to have to go through it.

“[Missing the Arizona game] is going to be difficult. But I have to take the consequences for my actions.”

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Freshman center Jerome Moiso, the Bruins’ leading scorer and rebounder, will play against Arizona, but he has been slowed by flu. The same with freshman guard Ray Young. . . . Rush’s younger brother Kareem, a highly sought-after Kansas City high school senior, has not officially decided on which college he will attend, but according to Jeanette Jacobs, the two brothers’ grandmother, Kareem still plans to join his brother at UCLA next season.