Hines’ Sprained Big Toe Becomes a Pain in the Neck

The sprained big toe that Rico Hines originally thought would cost him a few days of practice and maybe one game has the starting shooting guard about to sit out his fourth consecutive game.

Hines said the injury is improving, but he was still in a walking boot Friday and was not expected to play today against California at Pauley Pavilion. The new goal for the Bruins is to have him ready Wednesday for USC.

Even if he is, he has done little more in the way of conditioning the last two weeks than ride a stationary bike.

“I thought it was going to be a couple days and then I would come back,” he said. “Actually, I didn’t think I would miss any games. It’s one of those things. I definitely didn’t expect it.”

Hines suffered the injury in the early moments of a victory over Arizona State on Jan. 22.

Matt Barnes replaced him in the opening lineup for one game, at Oregon State, essentially giving the Bruins a center and three forwards along with guard Earl Watson.

Billy Knight, a shooting guard, took over for the next two games and probably will start again today.

TODAY

vs. California

noon, Channel 7

* Site--Pauley Pavilion.

* Radio--KXTA (1150).

* Records--Bruins 12-7, 3-5; Bears 12-8, 3-5.

* Update--The teams are tied for sixth place in the Pacific 10 conference as UCLA reaches the halfway point of the Pac-10 schedule, and the winner today will move into a fifth-place tie if Arizona State loses at home to Oregon. Cal has had better success on the road than at Haas Pavilion, the renovated Harmon Gym, where it is 1-4 in conference games. The Bears not only are 2-1 on the road in league play, but also have a nonconference victory over Gonzaga, albeit just down the road at Oakland.

* Tickets--(310) UCLA-WIN.