Bruins Made Impression on Wright

Villanova Coach Jay Wright vividly remembers UCLA beating his team last season, but it wasn’t the Bruins’ 93-65 nonconference victory over the Wildcats at Pauley Pavilion.

Wright was the coach at Hofstra, which lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament to UCLA, 61-48.

“One of the great lessons I learned from that game is that UCLA is a bunch of tough kids,” he said. “We had some tough New York City kids and I thought we played very physical in that game. I was very impressed with UCLA’s toughness defensively and their will. We led much of the way and that group stuck together and put us away.”

Hofstra, which came in with an 18-game winning streak, did not make a field goal in the last nine minutes and was outscored in the second half by 17 points.

Wright, of course, has watched video of Villanova’s one-sided loss last season to the Bruins in which the Wildcats had 26 turnovers.

UCLA forward Jason Kapono scored a career-high 28 points and Matt Barnes had a brilliant all-around game with 15 points, seven rebounds, five assists and six steals. Center Dan Gadzuric played only nine minutes because of back spasms and T.J. Cummings came off the bench to score 13 points.

“I’d like to think we are taking care of the basketball a little better,” Wright said. “Our team is playing consistently, just not good enough to beat these top-20 teams. I’m not disappointed in our progression.”

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TODAY

at Villanova, 10 a.m. PST, Channel 2

Site--The Pavilion, Philadelphia.

Radio--KXTA (1150).

Records--No. 15 UCLA 16-6, Villanova 12-8.

Update--UCLA could be ripe for a letdown. The Bruins are coming off an emotional victory over USC and could look past the Wildcats, whom they beat by 28 points last season. Furthermore, UCLA defeated the only other Big East Conference team on this season’s schedule, Georgetown, rather easily. Wright considers versatile senior Brooks Sales “our most valuable player.” The 6-foot-10 Sales, who can play in the post or on the perimeter, averages 10.2 points and 8.9 rebounds. Guard Gary Buchanan averages 19.2 points and forward Ricky Wright averages 14.5. Villanova lost its last two games.

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Steve Henson