Bruins Can Prove They’re Really Pretenders

The two-platoon system didn’t work in a loss to Arizona State on Thursday, so for motivation today the Bruins might visit the realm of fantasy.

“We didn’t play well until we were down by 20,” forward Jason Kapono said. “Maybe we can make up a game where we act like we are down 20 so we come out and play with that kind of fury and intensity.”

Kapono was kidding. Actually he believes that the prospect of facing No. 2 Arizona in front of a capacity crowd will be incentive enough for UCLA to bring its best effort.

“If we can’t get up for this game, for the No. 2 team in the country, we need to go to the hospital to see if our blood is flowing and our minds are right,” he said.

UCLA defeated Arizona at Pauley Pavilion the previous two seasons by a total of three points.

“They’ve been the best games of the Pac-10 season,” Kapono said. “We seem to split every year because we match up so well. It brings the best out of both teams.

“Hopefully that will be the case [today]. But, obviously, we are being counted out.”

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Kapono had therapy for a right thigh contusion, but practiced Friday. In fact, he was on the court an hour before any of his teammates, shooting three-pointers.

He said he hopes to take over the game the way he did at Washington State two weeks ago when he scored a career-high 44 points.

“I need to do that,” he said. “The [Arizona] game plan will be to shut me down and cut down on my catches. I’ve got to find openings if they are there.”

Kapono is averaging 17.7 points but has made more than half his shots in only two of 12 games.

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Coach Steve Lavin would not say whether he plans to use the same hockey-style five-for-five substitution pattern he employed in the first half against Arizona State. He also did not rule out a lineup change.

The players expect to use more of the man-to-man full-court press that enabled UCLA to cut a 21-point deficit to six late in Thursday’s game.

“[Lavin] is trying to find some way to spark us,” Kapono said. “He’s tried a lot of things.”

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TODAY

vs. No. 2 Arizona, 3 p.m.

Fox Sports Net

Site -- Pauley Pavilion.

Radio -- XTRA (690, 1150).

Records -- UCLA 4-8 overall, 2-2 in Pacific 10; Arizona 12-1, 5-0.

Update -- It’s just UCLA’s luck that Wildcat senior forward Luke Walton is finally sound after battling ankle problems all season. Walton, perhaps the nation’s best passer, had 13 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists in a comeback victory over USC on Thursday. UCLA has defeated Arizona at Pauley Pavilion four of the last six years, but the Bruins are 2-6 at home this season, equaling their most losses in a season at Pauley.