Rush and Watson Expected to Play

JaRon Rush, knocked out Sunday against Washington, and Earl Watson, merely knocked out of the game, are both expected to be ready for UCLA’s two-game Arizona trip that will close the regular season, though neither made it through practice Tuesday.

Rush, a starting forward, left practice early because of flu. That was good news for the Bruins considering one alternative--continued problems from being briefly unconscious in the final minute against the Huskies after hitting his head on the shoulder of a Washington player while coming down from a rebound attempt.

There seem to be no lingering problems with that. Rush was feeling better almost immediately after the game, but Watson had swelling and soreness in his bruised left knee Sunday--three days after Dan Gadzuric was lost for the season because of a knee injury and as Baron Davis continues to work back to a full strength from a knee injury.

“Your heart stops,” Coach Steve Lavin said. “You’re concerned about their health and you’re concerned about your depth. But all season long, they’ve bounced back up.”

They appear likely to this time too. Watson took part in some of the drills Tuesday before the knee started to give him problems, but said he will “definitely” play on the trip.

“I’m all right,” he said. “I’m just taking it slow. I don’t want to re-injure the knee.”

Coming up: Thursday at Arizona State, Saturday at Arizona.