Lavin Answers the Critics

If Coach Steve Lavin is concerned about his job security, he isn’t showing it. With the Bruins stumbling to a 2-3 start that includes sloppy losses to Cal State Northridge and Georgia Tech, the critics are howling, but the cries represent little more than an annual ritual to Lavin.

“For the UCLA basketball coach to be on the hot seat is not exactly an original theme,” Lavin said. “In the 10 years I’ve been at UCLA [five as an assistant to Jim Harrick], whenever we lose one or two games the media and fans begin to debate whether the coach should be fired.”

Bill Walton, who played on two of the Bruins’ 11 NCAA championship teams, said last week “a successful season at UCLA is an undefeated season.” Lavin said his annual goals include national and conference championships but said “some years those goals are more realistic than others.” Lavin pointed out that he is one of four coaches, along with Gene Keady of Purdue, Tom Izzo of Michigan State and Mike Krzyzewski of Duke, to lead his team to three Sweet 16 appearances in the past four seasons.

Lavin also said he has received “incredible support” from Chancellor Albert Carnesale and Athletic Director Peter Dalis, in part because all four seniors are on track to graduate in June. Dick Vitale criticized Lavin last week for “rationalizing” the loss to Northridge.

“You can’t live in a vacuum,” he said. “Other programs in the country struggle. That’s not rationalizing or justifying, just putting college basketball in context.”

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Point guard Earl Watson will remain in the starting lineup, Lavin said. After he committed eight turnovers in Saturday’s 72-67 loss to Georgia Tech, Watson wondered aloud whether he might be hurting the team by playing with a torn tendon in his right pinky. . . . Freshman forward T.J. Cummings could replace Matt Barnes in the starting lineup this week, Lavin said. Cummings had seven rebounds in 16 minutes Saturday.