For Openers, the Bruins Are Far From the Fittest

The members of the Fairfield basketball team who will take the court tonight at Pauley Pavilion? They’re the pylons.

Iona, which comes to Westwood on Saturday? The incline.

Morgan State, a visitor next week? Nautilus.

UCLA, unable to get in proper shape so far, hopes to use these early games to do so, aided, it hopes, by early opponents who shouldn’t pose formidable hurdles. Which is a good thing, because the Bruins might not yet be able to jump over anything too big.

“It’s probably the poorest conditioned team we’ve had since I’ve been the coach,” said Steve Lavin, beginning his fourth season.

Several players have been forced to rest because of injuries. Everyone has needed to slow down to learn a new wrinkle in the offense, one that is supposed to mean better execution, instead of the usual self-execution, in half-court sets. None of which takes into consideration how they might already be worn out by the continuous questions of how to replace Baron Davis and how to protect Dan Gadzuric and Jerome Moiso from injury and from themselves.

The end result is a team that begins the season only because the schedule says to, with an opening-night starting lineup that gets picked largely by attrition because only five players have been practice regulars. So, Earl Watson will open at point guard, Billy Knight and Jason Kapono on the wings, Rico Hines at power forward and Moiso at center.

On the other hand, the Bruins will get an early look at their small lineup. Hines is 6 feet 4 and 220 pounds and in reality a swingman. Moiso might be 6-10, but he’s supposed to be the No. 1 power forward and has a game usually better suited for small forward.

Gadzuric will eventually be worked into the opening lineup at center. JaRon Rush, Ryan Bailey and Ray Young have also sat out chunks of practice and are trying to get in proper shape. Hello, Fairfield.

“Even as a staff, we’ve talked about having some patience,” Lavin said. “Obviously we have great expectations, for this team and this season. But it’s not going to happen overnight when we haven’t had the chance to practice yet with the full team together.”

Rush is questionable for tonight. His right elbow, strained weeks ago, continues to be a problem and the Bruins have no desire to risk a long-term injury for one of their best inside players. He is day to day.

Gadzuric played 16 minutes last week in the second and final exhibition game, an encouraging early sign for the Bruins as they pick their spots to use him in games and practices. His knees remain a problem, a constant for the entire season, but the concerns are tendinitis in the right knee and a hyper-extended left knee, the latter apparently unrelated to last season’s surgery.

Young’s thumb injury continues to improve, but he probably will not play tonight. He hasn’t gone through a full-contact practice yet, so Saturday, after a few workouts without restrictions, is more likely.

Bailey, who played 15 minutes last week after spending time in a walking boot because of a foot injury, is still hampered. As recently as Sunday, he hadn’t gone through a full practice, though he still is expected to play tonight. If not, Kapono, a freshman, will serve as backup point guard in his college debut.

Watson, the starter there, should play, but not at 100%. Soreness from a hard fall in the final minute against the California All-Stars remains, but it’s considered a great recovery since he won’t sit out any games. Plus, what kind of team leader would he be for this group if he felt good?