There’s Still Time to Work Out Kinks

Can hobbled Bruin center Dan Gadzuric regain some measure of effectiveness?

Can T.J. Cummings resume the lights-out shooting and tenacious rebounding he displayed last week at the Maui Invitational, making Gadzuric’s absence irrelevant?

Can freshman Cedric Bozeman begin to resemble a point guard?

Answers to these and other burning questions should be forthcoming over four games that precede UCLA’s Pacific 10 Conference opener at Washington on Dec. 20.

The Bruins play home games against Pepperdine tonight and UC Riverside on Dec. 5, face Alabama in the John Wooden Classic on Dec. 8 and play host to UC Irvine on Dec. 15.

Slowed because of a sprained left ankle and lingering back soreness, Gadzuric had only 11 points and five rebounds in 41 Maui minutes. Cummings stepped in and shot 74%, averaging 16.3 points and 5.3 rebounds.

Gadzuric practiced the last two days and is expected to start tonight.

Bozeman is experiencing what Coach Steve Lavin calls “a natural freshman learning curve,” but the lack of a decisive ball distributor was a major factor in the Bruins’ 58 turnovers in Maui.

Then there is shoring up the defense.

“Defense was the concern going into the season and it still is coming back from Hawaii,” Lavin said. “Our biggest weakness is containing dribble penetration, not allowing a team to penetrate so deep in the paint.”

TONIGHT

vs. Pepperdine, 7:30

Fox Sports Net

Site--Pauley Pavilion.

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

Records--UCLA 2-1, Pepperdine 1-1.

Update--UCLA sandwiched victories against Houston and South Carolina around an 18-point loss to Ball State at the Maui Invitational last week. Pepperdine, under new Coach Paul Westphal, had five players score in double figures in a double-overtime loss to UC Irvine last week. UCLA has won its last 12 meetings with the Waves, but barely escaped two years ago, 68-66, when a Pepperdine basket at the buzzer was disallowed.