Watson Sees an Opportunity

UCLA senior guard Earl Watson insists there is no crisis of confidence among the Bruins, no wondering whether a 2-3 start that includes sloppy losses to Cal State Northridge and Georgia Tech heralds the start of an ugly season.

“Our confidence is already back,” Watson said. “We took care of that in practice this week. Whatever happened has been flushed.”

That may be, but tonight’s game is not so much a must-win game as as a must-win-big game. Watson said it is “way too early” to call the game against Hawaii a must-win, but the Bruins do not need a game similar to the six-point victory over UC Santa Barbara that felt like a moral defeat.

“This is a test,” Watson said, “to see if we can maintain our focus and execute for 40 minutes. It’s a chance for us to come out and dominate.”

*

For the first time, freshman forward T.J. Cummings will play a college game in front of his father, former NBA all-star Terry Cummings. The younger Cummings, who moves into the starting lineup tonight ahead of Matt Barnes, will be hard-pressed to match his father’s last performance at Pauley Pavilion.

On Dec. 19, 1981, in the Bruins’ 87-75 victory over DePaul, Cummings had 20 points and 12 rebounds for the Blue Demons. Kenny Fields led the Bruins with 24 points.

TONIGHT

vs. Hawaii, 5:30

Fox Sports Net

* Site--Pauley Pavilion.

* Radio--KXTA (1150).

* Records--UCLA 2-3, Hawaii 1-2.

* Update--Hawaii plays its first road game in nine months. The Rainbow Warriors are projected to finish in the bottom half of the Western Athletic Conference. Six-foot-10 forward Troy Ostler averages 18.0 points and 6-6 swingman Predrag Savovic averages 14.7.

* Tickets--(310) 825-2946.