Ceremony Gives Bruins an Audience

Today will be the day that the Nell and John Wooden Court is dedicated at Pauley Pavilion, drawing some 60 former UCLA players to the campus to celebrate Wooden and his 27 teams and 10 NCAA championships between 1948 and 1975.

It also is a day for the current team and coach to try to impress all those who came before them, a point stressed by Coach Ben Howland to his players in the two days since a 61-60 loss to UC Santa Barbara.

“I hope our players play like we practiced the last two days,” Howland said Friday. “It’s a special fraternity they’re a part of and I’m a part of. There is a great sense of pride that all the former players have. It’s important for our players to understand it’s their responsibility to carry that forward.”

With that in mind, Howland stressed the need for his players to be tougher mentally and physically. Howland said they lost too many loose balls and were outrebounded too easily (by 25-20) in Wednesday’s loss to UCSB, the Bruins’ first in 19 games against the Gauchos.

“I tried to express to the team how much I hate to lose,” Howland said. “As soon as you get used to losing, you are a loser. It’s how you respond that’s important. We were mad in practice Thursday. We competed. I don’t want that sick hollow feeling in my gut. We’re supposed to win. That’s what we’re here for.”

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T.J. Cummings, who had a team-best 14 points against UCSB in his first game after regaining his academic eligibility, will start against Michigan State today, Howland said. Brian Morrison, who started the season’s first five games, will move to a reserve role today.

“I thought T.J. didn’t rebound that well and had some defensive lapses,” Howland said of Cummings’ game Tuesday. “But he shows he cares. He lets the game come to him. I think he’s going to have a very good senior season.”

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Ryan Walcott, who suffered back spasms and did not play against UCSB, had another flare-up during Friday’s practice and Howland said he was “highly doubtful” to play today.

TODAY

vs. Michigan State, 3:30, Fox Sports Net

Site -- Pauley Pavilion.

Radio -- XTRA 690/1150.

Records -- UCLA 3-2, Michigan State 4-4.

Update -- The dedication ceremony will start at 3 p.m. This is the first game between the Bruins and Spartans since UCLA’s 98-61 victory Dec. 28, 1960. The Spartans ended a three-game losing streak with a 73-60 victory Tuesday against South Florida. Their losses were to Kentucky, Oklahoma and Duke. Four Spartans average double-figure scoring, led by 6-11 sophomore Paul Davis at 14.0.