Loss Will Hurt Even More Today

The Bruins, their dreams of becoming a third-seeded team in the tournament trashed in the 87-70 defeat at Arizona, appear destined to be shipped out of the West when the pairings are announced today, probably as a No. 4 or 5.

That standing would mean they will have to be at the same site as a top-seeded team, allowing at least for some logical guesswork. The Bruins probably will be in the same city as Duke, Michigan State or Connecticut.

Connecticut ‘could end up in Indianapolis, where UCLA suffered a first-round debacle against Princeton in 1996.

The other possibilities are Milwaukee, Charlotte, Orlando, Boston, New Orleans, Seattle and Denver. The last two are almost definitely out because Stanford is expected to be in the West and the pairings committee tries to avoid putting high-seeded teams from the same conference in the same region. Also, it is a rule that teams from the same conference can’t meet before a regional final.

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Baron Davis was named to the All-Pacific 10 Conference team Saturday, the same day as his choice for player of the year, Arizona’s Jason Terry, won as expected. Davis was the only UCLA representative on the 10-member team selected by coaches, though Earl Watson was named honorable mention.

Two Bruins were on the all-freshman squad, JaRon Rush and Dan Gadzuric.