Wobbly Michigan Poses Next Big Ten Challenge

Next week, the Pacific 10 Conference awaits.

But first, UCLA plays its second consecutive game against a Big Ten Conference team when it plays Michigan today in Crisler Arena.

UCLA beat a team that is probably better than its battered record when it defeated Michigan State last week.

But Michigan might not be as good as its 7-1 record, after struggling to hold on to big leads in victories over Central Michigan and Delaware State the last two games, prompting Coach Tommy Amaker to say he is worried about his team.

UCLA has its own concerns, with a lineup at less than full strength again, this time because guard Brian Morrison is out two to three weeks because of a hamstring injury.

“We’ve just got to pick up the slack,” Coach Ben Howland said. “Right now my mind-set is to play both Jon Crispin and Janou Rubin, and hopefully we’ll have Ryan Walcott back for some minutes.”

Walcott has been sidelined the last two games because of back spasms.

Michigan is a perimeter-oriented team led by point guard Daniel Horton, the Big Ten freshman of the year last season, as well as wings Bernard Robinson Jr. and Lester Abram.

Horton made seven three-point baskets in a 24-point performance against UCLA last season, but he has struggled this season and did not score for the first 36 minutes of Michigan’s 55-50 victory over Delaware State on Monday before scoring six of the final 10 points.

Michigan led by 19 points before fending off a Delaware State comeback, and led Central Michigan, 28-2, last Saturday, before winning by 10 points.

The Wolverines have had to adjust to playing without forward Chris Hunter, who has been out the last three games because of a knee injury.

But with a victory over North Carolina State and their only loss to a solid Vanderbilt team, the Wolverines look like an NCAA tournament team to Howland.

That would be something of a landmark for Michigan in the wake of the scandal involving loans to former Michigan player Chris Webber and others by the late Ed Martin. The Wolverines self-imposed a postseason ban last season, but the NCAA added a second year before withdrawing the penalty before the season.

“The reprieve they received allowing them to play in the postseason is very big for their kids,” Howland said. “I think it’s the right thing. They shouldn’t be punished for things that happened when Chris Webber was there.”

TODAY

at Michigan, 2 p.m. PST, Channel 2

Site -- Crisler Arena; Ann Arbor, Mich.

Radio -- XTRA 690/1150

Records -- UCLA 4-2, Michigan 7-1.

Update -- The Bruins recovered from an upset loss to UC Santa Barbara by defeating Michigan State, 64-58, last Saturday, the day of the dedication of Nell and John Wooden Court. Michigan, which defeated UCLA, 81-76, in Pauley Pavilion last season, is off to its best start since 1993-94. UCLA leads the series, 7-2, a record that includes four NCAA tournament games, among them the 1965 title game.