They’re Down but Not Out of It

Better eight than never.

Eighth is enough.

For UCLA and USC, the season has been reduced to bad jokes.

The Pacific 10 Conference schedule ends tonight with both local teams trying to squeeze into the eight-team conference tournament.

The Bruins and Trojans are tied with Washington for seventh with 5-12 records, so there isn’t room for all three.

UCLA, winding up its worst season since 1941-42, plays host to Washington. The Bruins win, they’re in. They lose, they’re out. It’s that simple. The only factor beyond their control is gaining a seeding higher than No. 8, which can happen depending on the results of other games.

USC, loser of its last seven, plays host to last-place Washington State. The Trojans win, they’re in. In fact, they can gain the No. 7 seeding if they and UCLA both win. A Washington victory coupled with a USC victory puts USC at No. 8.

The Trojans are eliminated if they lose and UCLA wins, but because they hold the edge in a tiebreaker with the Bruins, they sneak in if both local teams lose.

“I’d love to get in the tournament any way possible,” Trojan guard Errick Craven said. “I’ve lost track of the standings. But we’re just bad.”

Realistically, all the “what ifs” in the world buy the Bruins and Trojans only five more days. Unless they dramatically improve their level of play, a first-round loss to Arizona, California or Stanford on Thursday is inevitable.

“We’ll see,” UCLA forward Jason Kapono said. “I still think making a run is possible. We’re playing better.”

UCLA has won four of its last eight, which qualifies as resurgence after nine consecutive losses. But the Bruins have not won three in a row all season and haven’t won two straight since early January.

“We’re not in a position to go in with a swagger or false sense of bravado,” Coach Steve Lavin said. “We have to play hard for 40 minutes and give ourselves a chance to win.”

Qualifying for the tournament would give Lavin another week of employment. A loss tonight is all but certain to trigger his firing Sunday or Monday.

Lavin’s comments in recent weeks have made it clear he is ready to leave and is at peace with the decision Athletic Director Dan Guerrero apparently made months ago.

Criticism appears to roll off Lavin’s back, despite a late-season barrage of venomous e-mails from Bruin followers. He is prepared to pack up, sell his beachfront home, head back to his roots near San Francisco and get on with his life.

“They are entitled to be discouraged and frustrated,” he said of fans. “They want excellence and they should expect nothing less.”

Lavin could gain an invitation to the NCAA tournament -- as a television commentator. Offers could roll in the day he’s fired.

The only suspense appears to be whether he will attend the team banquet Monday if the Bruins lose tonight. He has indicated he would like to do so.

Administrators indicated that should UCLA qualify for the Pac-10 tournament, Lavin will coach the team next week.

Fired Bruin football coach Bob Toledo was banned from leading the team in the Las Vegas Bowl, but basketball is different. The team conceivably could advance from the No. 8 seeding in the conference tournament all the way to the NCAA championship.

“We are hoping to do something special,” Lavin said. “At this stage we just want the opportunity.”

At USC, sentiments are similarly guarded.

Making a run in the tournament “is a longshot, but it’s a shot,” Craven said.

The only sure winners are the bean counters. Neither local team will lose money by not making the tournament because gate receipts will be split evenly among the 10 conference teams.

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Times staff writer Paul Gutierrez contributed to this report.