UCLA Sinks Lower Against Michigan

UCLA’s leading scorer wore street clothes.

The second-leading scorer was guarded so closely he appeared to wear a Michigan jersey.

And a season-high Pauley Pavilion crowd of 10,001 wore frowns.

Yes, losing is beginning to wear on the Bruins, who sounded weary with frustration after an 81-76 loss to the Wolverines on Saturday.

“We get so intimidated,” forward Andre Patterson said. “Once again, a slow start did us in. We practice hard then don’t have any swagger in the games.”

A halftime deficit of seven points grew to 16 with 12 minutes to play and resulted in the Bruins’ third loss in a row, dropping them to 2-5. Pacific 10 Conference games haven’t started and already the prospect of UCLA making the NCAA tournament is remote.

The Bruins have not had a worse start since 1945-46, a pre-John Wooden edition that opened with a loss to an opponent called the Carroll Shamrocks.

This season’s squad probably will be finished before St. Patrick’s Day rolls around March 17. The Pac-10 tournament concludes March 15.

“I never thought that in my senior year I’d be in such a bad rhythm and the team would be likewise,” forward Jason Kapono said.

Blanketed by Michigan defenders who realized Bruin scoring options were limited because leading scorer Dijon Thompson was out because of a sore knee, Kapono scored five points on two-for-10 shooting. He missed all five of his three-point shots and scored only on a loose-ball layup in the first half and a post move with five minutes left.

He was fouled on the latter basket and made the free throw to cut Michigan’s lead to 69-63. On the next two UCLA possessions, however, Kapono hurried a long three-point attempt and Cedric Bozeman shot an airball from behind the arc.

UCLA pulled within four with 24.5 seconds left on three-pointers by Ryan Walcott and T.J. Cummings, but Michigan made enough free throws to maintain the cushion.

Daniel Horton, a freshman, made seven of 10 three-point shots and led Michigan with 24 points.

Forwards Bernard Robinson Jr. and LaVell Blanchard both scored 18 points and set the tone early, both making three-pointers as the Wolverines seized an 11-2 lead. UCLA’s ball movement improved and with Bozeman making two three-pointers the Bruins pulled within 30-29 with five minutes left in the half.

The rally was short-lived, however.

“We fought back well by playing better defense and showing patience with the ball,” Coach Steve Lavin said. “Then we got away from what got us close.

“We take too many perimeter shots. Even our post players are stepping off the block too much and doing it.”

T.J. Cummings was the worst offender. The junior forward led UCLA with 19 points, making seven of 16 shots, but he forced several attempts and had only five rebounds because he spent so much time outside.

“Everybody wants to shoot and I need to start yelling at players,” said Walcott, a point guard. “I’m too nice. I blame myself for not getting my teammates good shots. We can turn this around, but it’s going to take some real determination.”

Michigan (5-6) could give the Bruins inspiration, having won five in a row since losing its first six.

“We made a vow to start the season 0-0 after the first six games and these kids have won five in a row now,” Wolverine Coach Tommy Amaker said. “They competed hard against a storied program like UCLA in a place where not very many people come here and win.”

Amaker must not have checked UCLA’s schedule. Including two exhibition losses, the Bruins are 2-5 at home. They are 0-3 on national television, 0-1 on the road and 0-1 on a neutral court, so there isn’t much optimism that opening Pac-10 play at Washington on Thursday will change their fortunes.

Maybe they can find solace in the history books. The last time the Bruins started 2-5, in 1984-85, they bounced back to go 12-6 in the Pac-10, finished 21-12 and won the NIT championship.

Improvement will have to be swift to duplicate that kind of finish. Bozeman, the point guard, said it starts with teamwork.

“We need to get everybody involved and get to the point where we are unselfish,” he said. “We need to share the ball.”

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False Starts

A look at the three seasons that UCLA has started 2-5 since 1948-49, John Wooden’s first season as Bruin coach:

Season: 2002-03

Coach: STEVE LAVIN

Losses to: San Diego; at No. 4 Duke; Northern Arizona; at No. 18 Kansas; Michigan

Comment: The Bruins are on pace for their fewest victories since 1945-46, when they were 8-16. Among the losses that season was one to a team called 20th Century Fox. This season’s UCLA team also appears to be fading to black.

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Season: 1984-85

Coach: WALT HAZZARD

Losses to: Santa Clara; at No. 2 DePaul; at Memphis State; at BYU; at No. 8 St. John’s

Comment: The Jukes of Hazzard, led by sophomore Reggie Miller, finished 21-12 -- including a magical run to the ... NIT (“We’re No. 65!”) championship. The NIT championship banner hung around Pauley Pavilion for a few years before it was finally determined how silly it looked alongside the row of NCAA championship banners and was removed.

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Season: 1961-62

Coach: JOHN WOODEN

Losses to: at BYU (twice); Colorado State; at Creighton; at Houston

Comment: Though still a few years removed from being recognized as the Wizard of Westwood, Wooden nonetheless worked his magic in an 18-11 season. The Bruins overcame their worst start in 16 seasons to win the conference championship and make their first NCAA Final Four appearance under Wooden before losing to eventual champion Cincinnati on a last-second shot. Eventually, anything less than an NCAA championship would be unacceptable at UCLA.