Jab at Guerrero Is OK With Lavin

Oregon students gave Bruin Coach Steve Lavin a large placard that read “Goodbye Lavin” before the game Saturday in Eugene. Afterward, more students signed it.

Rather than being offended, Lavin played along the way he has at every stop, shaking hands with the students and showing off the placard while the team waited at the Eugene Airport for the flight home.

During pregame player introductions, one student held up a sign that read, “It’s Guerrero’s fault,” a reference to UCLA Athletic Director Dan Guerrero, who is expected to fire Lavin at the end of the season.

Lavin saw the sign, grinned and gave the student the A-OK sign.

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Forward Dijon Thompson aggravated a sprained ankle that has bothered him for weeks early in the 31-point loss. He returned and hurt it again in the second half, finishing with four points in 19 minutes.

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Maybe UCLA should add this one to the playbook.

Guard Jon Crispin believed he was being removed midway through the second half and started to take a seat on the bench. As the ball was being inbounded at the other end of the floor, he realized he was supposed to be in the game, stepped onto the floor and took a long pass for a layup.

-- Steve Henson