OK, Now Bruins Really Must Start Playing Hard

Coach Steve Lavin was asked Friday about UCLA’s inability to play with the proper focus and intensity and said, “For us to make any progress, the first step is to say that’s unacceptable.”

The first step?

On the eve of the 24th game of the season, against No. 4 Arizona today, the Bruins found themselves dealing with issues that might have been better resolved in November, instead of saved just long enough to become part of the pep talk before tipoff of the first round of the National Invitation Tournament.

So it is that they are 13-10 and in seventh place in the Pacific 10 Conference, needing to go 5-2 the rest of the way to reach the 18 wins that they hope will get them a spot in the NCAA tournament. So it is that they have officially started playing under pressure.

“Definitely,” freshman forward Jason Kapono said. “We’re faced with a tough battle, just in the sense that there are so few games left and we’re struggling to find wins.”

Actually, they’re suddenly struggling simply to play hard. The energy that carried the Bruins to a near-upset at Syracuse on Sunday had faded into a malaise within minutes of Thursday’s game at Arizona State, a stunning development considering the postseason implications of the outcome in Tempe. Not so stunning is that intensity has been a season-long issue.

That’s why when Earl Watson was asked what areas the Bruins need to correct, the first thing he said was:

“Playing as hard as each player can play.”

TODAY

at No. 4 Arizona, 12:30 PST

Channel 7

* Site--McKale Center, Tucson.

* Radio--KXTA (1150).

* Records--Bruins 13-10, 4-7; Wildcats 22-4, 11-1.

* Update--Arizona plays four of its last six games at home, including the March 9 showdown with Stanford that could determine the Pacific 10 championship and the No. 1 seed in the West Regional. The Cardinal, meanwhile, is on the road for three of its last five.