Kapono’s Production Has Become Half-Good

Nobody’s complaining, but Jason Kapono is a vastly different player in the first half of games than he is in the second.

Nobody’s worried, but Kapono, who might be the nation’s best shooter, is in a two-game scoring slump.

Nobody’s concerned as long as UCLA is winning and the junior is plugging more holes than a golf course groundskeeper, moving from point guard to small forward to shooting guard, then back to the point.

Kapono is averaging only 4.5 points in first halves of the last eight games, all of which he started at point guard because of Cedric Bozeman’s knee injury. He isn’t ineffective, though, busying himself by distributing the ball and establishing an offensive flow.

It all changes in the second half, when he is averaging 13.6 points over the eight games. Several times he has made key shots in the late moments to preserve leads.

For the season, Kapono is averaging 19.3 points and is shooting 49.7%, including 48.7% from three-point range. Both were well over 50% before the last two games, when he had consecutive four-for-12 performances.

“I’ve been out of my rhythm, and the way to get back in it is to keep shooting,” he said. “Don’t shy away. I’ve been doing it the same way for three [seasons]. You just fight through it.”

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Paul Graham is enthusiastic and energetic, but in two seasons as Washington State coach, he has been unable to halt a remarkable streak--the Cougars have never defeated UCLA in Los Angeles, losing 45 in a row in a series dating to 1950.

For the 50-year-old Graham, that’s basically a lifetime.

“This is a tough part of the schedule, coming down here and playing UCLA and USC back to back,” he said. “At least we are through with the Southern California schools early.”

Washington State traditionally recruits players from the Southland, which Graham has discovered can be problematic during this trip.

“It’s like coming home,” he said. “There’s grandmother, and Aunt Suzie and Uncle Joe to visit, and all the guys want to do well. But I have to keep reminding them it’s a business trip, not a pleasure cruise.”

Four Cougar starters are from Southern California. Point guard Marcus Moore grew up in Inglewood. Guard Mike Bush is from Riverside, forward Milton Riley is from Gardena and guard Jerry McNair is from Torrance.

“All my friends were at the game [Friday night],” Moore said Saturday. “I’m going to see them all. In fact, I’m going home right now.”

Graham is concerned the Cougars might play for the crowd.

“Like with Marcus, I’ve got to keep him focused so he doesn’t try to do too much,” he said. “Same with Bush.”

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Bush, a senior guard averaging 14 points, is finally a full-time basketball player. He was a receiver on the Cougar football team, which completed its season Dec. 31 with a victory in the Sun Bowl.

But Bush, who scored 10 points against USC, sat out practice Saturday because of flu and took fluids intravenously.

“Mike’s a tough kid,” Graham said. “For him to have done what he’s done--one week he practiced twice a day, football in the morning and basketball at night. His body is saying, ‘Hey look, I need a rest.’

“If he can walk, he’ll play. He’s a tough kid and likes the challenge of playing against good players.”

TODAY

vs. Washington State

1 p.m., Fox Sports Net

Site--Pauley Pavilion

Radio--KXTA-AM 1150; KPLS-AM 830

Records--UCLA 10-2, 3-0; Washington State 4-7, 0-3

Update--The Bruins have won eight in a row, including a 79-74 victory at Washington State on Dec. 22. The Cougars led by eight at halftime but UCLA shot 68% in the second half, when center Dan Gadzuric scored 17 of his 20 points. Three Washington State starters fouled out in the final two minutes. The Cougars lost to USC, 78-63, Friday, and the Bruins defeated Washington, 74-62.