Questionable Court Decisions Lead to Lavin’s Vociferous Tirade

With the way he was screaming at his players during the USC game, normally upbeat Bruin Coach Steve Lavin looked as if he might blow a gasket.

“We haven’t seen him do that to that extent,” forward Matt Barnes said. “The emotions were going. He’s not the type of person to get up in your face and cuss you out.”

Lavin was particularly incensed at the end of the first half when he had hoped his players would work the clock for one good shot. Instead, guard Ray Young rushed a three-pointer that he missed. Lavin blasted him at the next timeout.

“If it’s the end of the half and it’s a layup or a dunk, you’re not going to get mad at a kid for taking a shot,” Lavin said. “But I just didn’t want that one.”

UCLA had ended the first halves of its three previous games with made baskets--Billy Knight made a three-pointer against Purdue and a finger roll against Washington; and Ryan Bailey passed to T.J. Cummings for a layup.

Young was unrepentant about taking the shot, even though he has made only 12 of 51 from three-point range. Turning down an open look, he said, can ruin a player’s confidence.

“Sometimes, you’ve got to take shots you shouldn’t take, just to get your feel back,” he said. “I just have to get my confidence back.”

TODAY

vs. Villanova, 1 p.m.

Channel 2

* Site--Pauley Pavilion.

* Radio--KXTA (1150).

* Records--UCLA 8-4, Villanova 10-3.

* Update--The Bruins, coming off an 80-75 victory over USC, have to guard against an emotional letdown. They nearly squandered a 19-point lead against the Trojans, making only two shots in the final 11:26. The press, full court or otherwise, has become a staple for UCLA. And the Bruins will use it plenty today. Villanova has trouble getting the ball upcourt in those situations and had 29 turnovers in an early season loss at Duke. The Wildcats are coming off a home loss to Providence in which they had 24 turnovers.

* Tickets--(310) 825-2946.