No Room on the Court for Patterson

By staying anchored to the bench against Washington, Andre Patterson was initiated into Club DNP.

It marked the first time the freshman forward did not play--listed as DNP in the box score. Patterson averaged 12 minutes during the first seven games, but center Dan Gadzuric’s career performance in the victory over the Huskies caused a ripple effect that kept him on the sideline.

“After the game I spent most of the time talking to the team about Andre,” Coach Steve Lavin said. “I said that [seniors] Matt Barnes and Billy Knight had plenty of DNPs when they were freshmen and that everyone should remember how tough it was to sit an entire game for the first time.”

Gadzuric played a season-high 35 minutes, scoring 23 points and taking 13 rebounds. Barnes, the starting power forward, played 29 minutes, scoring 12 points, and reserve post player T.J. Cummings spelled both of them for 16 minutes, scoring 10.

“It’s a dilemma,” Lavin said. “When Barnes and Gadzuric play to their capability, that means less time for Andre.”

Patterson, the L.A. City player of the year at Washington High, nearly transferred to a prep school during the summer because he was worried about playing time. He is glad he stayed but isn’t shy about saying he is ready to contribute.

Lavin plans to use Barnes at small forward at times to get Patterson in the game at power forward and increase the minutes of Cummings, a sophomore who is much improved.

But Gadzuric, who averaged only 19 minutes before Thursday, will continue to stay on the floor most of the time.

“Dan really turned up his game near the end of last season, and the big reason was that I left him in the game even when he made some mistakes,” Lavin said. “He needs to play through rough moments and gain confidence.”

*

Dept. of quirky statistics: Rico Hines scored seven times his season average when he made a layup against Washington.

The fifth-year senior had only two points in the previous seven games, an average of 0.29 per game. The basket hiked his average to 0.5.

Hines, who plays 20 minutes a game, is not a liability, however. UCLA (6-2) is 4-0 since he was elevated to the starting lineup when freshman Cedric Bozeman injured a knee.

TODAY

No. 19 UCLA at Washington State

Noon, Fox Sports Net

Site--Friel Court, Pullman.

Radio--KXTA (1150).

Records--UCLA 6-2, 1-0; Washington State 4-4, 0-0.

Update--UCLA has won 17 in a row against the Cougars and Coach Steve Lavin is 10-0 against them. The Bruins opened Pacific 10 Conference play Thursday by defeating Washington at Seattle for the first time in five years. Washington State, which has not played since losing to Gonzaga last Saturday, employs a three-guard lineup that can strike from the perimeter. Marcus Moore--who attended Redondo Union and Compton Dominguez High--and Jerry McNair each average 14 points and Mike Bush averages 10.