Two New Starters Possible

Whether they want to or not, the Bruins will give Arizona State a different look at tipoff tonight.

Forward Matt Barnes has been bumped from the starting lineup for a game because he was late to practice Monday. And starting center Dan Gadzuric, who suffered back spasms in Saturday’s victory over Villanova, sat out of practice this week and is questionable for tonight’s game.

“I went up for a rebound and kind of over-rotated when I came down,” said Gadzuric, who played a season-low nine minutes against the Wildcats. “I still feel a little soreness in my back.”

Coach Steve Lavin has not said how he will reshuffle the starting lineup with Barnes on the bench and Gadzuric possibly out. The Bruins have used five different starting lineups in 13 games, which might sound like a lot but is off the pace of the last two seasons. They changed lineups a dozen times last season and 22 times in 1998-99.

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Forward Jason Kapono was named Pacific 10 Conference player of the week for his performance in the USC and Villanova games, in which he averaged 24 points and 8.5 rebounds.

Kapono contributed 20 points and nine rebounds in an 80-75 victory over the Trojans, then had a career-high 28 points and eight rebounds in a 93-65 victory over the Wildcats.

TODAY

at Arizona State,

5:30 PST, Fox Sports Net

* Site--Wells Fargo Arena, Tempe, Ariz.

* Radio--KXTA (1150).

* Records--UCLA 9-4, 3-0 in Pacific 10 Conference; Arizona State 8-7, 0-4.

* Update--Aiming for their sixth consecutive victory and eighth in nine games, the Bruins are riding high. They have been extremely effective in using the press--full-court or otherwise--and plan to do the same tonight. During its winning streak, UCLA has shot 51.1% from the floor while limiting opponents to 41.9% shooting. The Bruins’ margin of victory in the streak is 15.6 points, and they have won three of the games by at least 18 points. After starting the season 7-2, Arizona State has lost five of six--including all four Pac-10 games.