Barnes Back on His Feet in No Time

Matt Barnes walked gingerly, but walk he did Friday, without crutches or even a noticeable limp.

That’s great news for Coach Steve Lavin, who a day earlier had thought Barnes might be sidelined for as long as a month with an injury to his left ankle.

The senior forward stepped on center Dan Gadzuric’s foot at practice Thursday and fell in a heap.

“He laid there screaming,” guard Rico Hines said. “It was a mess.”

X-rays were negative, however, and after icing the ankle most of the night, Barnes said he might be ready to return Thursday in the Pacific 10 opener at Washington.

“I’m very relieved,” he said. “I broke my ankle in the seventh grade and this felt just like that. But it’s already getting better.”

Lavin said freshman Dijon Thompson will probably start in Barnes’ place today against UC Irvine. Thompson will play point guard and Jason Kapono will move to forward.

The playing time of forwards T.J. Cummings and Andre Patterson will increase as well.

Barnes played a major role in the Bruins’ 65-60 victory over Irvine last season, scoring 16 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.

He made a shot with 47 seconds left, extending UCLA’s lead to three points, then made three free throws in the last 35 seconds.

The game was a struggle for the Bruins, who trailed by four at halftime and shot a season-low 10.5% from three-point range.

Irvine might have pulled off an upset had star Jerry Green not had an off game, scoring only eight points on three-of-11 shooting.

Green is averaging 23.8 points and stopping him again will be key. Hines will be assigned to shadow the 6-foot-4 senior, with the rest of the Bruins playing zone defense.

“We have to constantly be aware of where he is at all times,” Lavin said. “It will take a collective effort to slow him.”

Michael Fey, a 6-11, 245-pound freshman center from Capital High in Olympia, Wash., should receive his SAT score any day and could join the team next week.

He attended Harbor College this fall. Lavin is unsure whether he will ask Fey to redshirt or have him play this season. The conditions of Gadzuric and Barnes--both of whom have had ankle problems--will play a role.

Fey’s national letter of intent, signed in November 2000, was voided because he did not meet NCAA initial eligibility requirements. UCLA does not admit partial qualifiers.

Lavin said Fey would not play next week at Washington or Washington State, in games that would amount to homecoming for him, because he has not practiced.

TODAY

vs. UC Irvine

1 p.m., Fox Sports Net 2

Site--Pauley Pavilion

Radio--KXTA (1150, 850), KPLS (830).

Records--UCLA 4-2, UC Irvine 5-3.

Update--Irvine lost to San Diego on Tuesday after two consecutive victories. Green, the Big West player of the year, is the Anteaters’ primary threat, but 7-foot center Adam Parada averages 11.5 points and scored 14 on seven-of-eight shooting against UCLA last season. Forward Stanislav Zuzak, a 6-10 sophomore from the Czech Republic, has made 11 of 17 three-point shots. UCLA played its best game of the season in a 79-57 victory over Alabama a week ago in the Wooden Classic. Jason Kapono is averaging 21.5 points and is shooting 54.1% from three-point range and 92.6% from the free-throw line.