Does UCLA Still Have Ability to Rise, Shine?

Where can three Ws take you, other than to a Web site?

In UCLA’s case, perhaps to the lower reaches of the national basketball rankings. The Bruins, on the heels of two victories over lesser lights, seek that third W against luminous No. 9 Kentucky today at the Arrowhead Pond in the Wooden Classic.

Defeating the Wildcats (3-0) would be an upset of major proportions, make no mistake. Kentucky has won 29 of its last 30 -- losing only to Marquette in last season’s Elite Eight -- and has a basketball pedigree as regal as anything Bruin.

Meanwhile, this is the first time since 1989 that UCLA opened a season unranked. Coming off a 10-19 debacle will do that. The Bruins began last season No. 14 but slid out of sight after opening with losses to San Diego and Duke.

Coach Ben Howland, at this early stage of his tenure, has displayed the ability to beat teams he should beat, a constant problem for his predecessor, Steve Lavin. Now comes the first chance for Howland to do what Lavin did best -- get the Bruins to raise their game to otherworldly heights when everyone is watching.

The players, well-versed in handling center stage, klieg lights and Billy Packer, can’t wait.

“I’m very much looking forward to Kentucky,” junior forward Dijon Thompson said. “It’s one of those games that gets everybody excited.”

For all the Bruin slip-ups the last two seasons, the consecutive sixth-place finishes in the Pacific 10 Conference and 31-31 overall record, Thompson and fellow junior Cedric Bozeman also were part of several memorable victories.

Victims two years ago were No. 1 Kansas, No. 9 Arizona and No. 20 Georgetown at Pauley Pavilion, No. 10 Stanford on the road and No. 5 Cincinnati in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

Even amid last season’s rubble, UCLA beat No. 18 California at home and No. 1 Arizona in the Pac-10 tournament.

There is, of course, a lot to live up to for an incoming UCLA coach. John Wooden, in fact, slipped Howland a joking reminder at a news conference Friday after the four coaches with teams playing today agreed that a run of 10 national titles in 12 years will never happen again.

“It happened at UCLA, and it can happen again,” Wooden said, turning to Howland and smiling. “We the alumni, we expect it, you know.”

But forget the Wooden legacy for a moment. In some ways, Lavin set a rather high bar by frequently beating the best. Whether he left enough talent to give Howland a prayer this early is another question.

The new coach is looking forward to the challenge nonetheless.

“It’s exciting to play on a national stage with high-profile programs, and it’s especially nice to play at the Pond with a lot of UCLA alums and fans from Orange County there to support the team,” he said. “To have it named after our coach, the greatest coach in history, also makes it special from my standpoint.”

Kentucky, with four starters back and five players averaging in double figures, has an edge in every area except height.

“This is our first opportunity to play against a team where we’re overmatched, they are bigger than us at every position,” Wildcat Coach Tubby Smith said. “We’ll see how the players respond.”

Chuck Hayes and Erik Daniels will give away several inches to Bruin 7-footers Michael Fey and Ryan Hollins, but the Wildcats’ experience and superior quickness more than make up for it.

If need be, Kentucky can bring 7-foot freshmen Lukasz Obrzut and Shagari Alleyne off the bench, although neither is expected to play more than a few minutes.

Guard Gerald Fitch, coming off one of the best three-point shooting seasons in Kentucky history, is nearly at 40% in his career and is averaging 24 points this season. Bozeman will guard him, making for the game’s most interesting matchup.

Kentucky has been susceptible to screens, surrendering seven three-point baskets to Marshall’s Ronny Dawn on Monday. That is good news for Bruin Brian Morrison, who was freed by screens several times en route to a career-high 28 points against UC Riverside.

“We’re trying to use finesse and it’s hard to do,” Smith said. “Sometimes you have to use some sheer force.”

UCLA, again without forwards Trevor Ariza and T.J. Cummings, will employ any means possible to stay with Kentucky. Victory? Lavin certainly wouldn’t have dismissed the possibility. Neither will Howland.

“We’re a little short-handed right now, but we’re going to try to give it a great effort,” he said. “For us to play Kentucky, having watched them on film now, will be a real test.”

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Times staff writer Robyn Norwood contributed to this report.

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Wooden Classic

Schedule for the 10th annual event at the Arrowhead Pond:

UCLA vs. Kentucky

Today, 10:30 a.m., Channel 2

Stanford vs. Kansas

Today, 1 p.m., Channel 9