Homecoming Rouses Boston College Trio

Boston College’s top three scorers reside in the Southland, so Coach Al Skinner welcomed an invitation to play UCLA today in one of the two Wooden Classic games at the Arrowhead Pond.

Skinner figured Eagle standouts Craig Smith, Jared Dudley and Sean Marshall would be similarly excited about a high-profile homecoming, but they played it cool. At least in front of their coach.

“They didn’t show a lot of emotion when I told them we were coming back when I was around, but I think they talked about it after,” Skinner said. “It’s a great opportunity for them and they’re excited. Hopefully, just not too excited.”

Boston College is making its first appearance in the 11-year-old event that also features No. 21 Arizona and No. 15 Mississippi State, who play in the first game scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m. Mississippi State is playing in its first Wooden Classic, the Bruins are making their eighth appearance and Arizona its third.

Skinner acknowledged that facing UCLA would be especially meaningful for Smith, a junior forward and team captain who played at Fairfax High and was not recruited by the former UCLA coaching staff.

“Craig may feel a little bit more,” Skinner said. “He’s from Los Angeles and he went to Fairfax High. We all, growing up as athletes and players, have these ideal schools that we’d like to play at.

“But when it comes down to the reality it just doesn’t occur ... so Craig might have a little more motivation. But that was a different coach and a different time.”

Although UCLA Coach Ben Howland wasn’t the one who passed on Smith, he will have to deal with the burly 250-pound player.

Smith and 7-foot center Nate Doornekamp could create problems for Bruin post players Michael Fey and Ryan Hollins. Freshman guards Jordan Farmar and Arron Afflalo face challenging assignments against the Eagles’ experienced backcourt of Marshall and point guard Louis Hinnant.

“We’re a very young team now,” said Howland, who lost to Kentucky, 52-50, in last season’s Wooden Classic.

“We only have two seniors who play significant minutes. We’re just learning. You can see how much we have to grow as a team.”

Boston College, however, expects to be pushed.

“We play in a national league and these guys have all been in big games,” Skinner said. “But because it’s home, it’s here in Southern California, this game might be a little more than just another game against a good basketball team.”

Arizona practiced in Tucson on Friday, deciding not to travel until Saturday because players had missed too much school after playing at Virginia and in the Preseason NIT semifinals and finals in New York, Coach Lute Olson said.

Via speakerphone, Olson expressed his concerns about Mississippi State All-American forward Lawrence Roberts, who considered attending Arizona.

“The first problem is trying to match up with a player the caliber of a Lawrence Roberts,” Olson said. “They’re not a one-man ballclub, but first and foremost it’s the matchup with Roberts we’re concerned with.”

Roberts was chosen the Southeastern Conference player of the year in his first season with the Bulldogs after transferring from Baylor when the NCAA waived transfer regulations in the summer of 2003 after the death of Patrick Dennehy.

“It’s not very often you can pick up a player of his caliber in the second week of August,” Mississippi State Coach Rick Stansbury said. “Lawrence wanted to go somewhere where he could win a championship. He wanted to play in a great league. It was us and Arizona and we had an advantage, his grandparents were from Gulfport [Miss.]. I don’t think it could have turned out better for him or for us.”

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NO. 15 MISSISSIPPI STATE

vs.

NO. 21 ARIZONA

Site -- Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim.

Records -- Mississippi State 6-1, Arizona 4-2.

Update -- Arizona, which had victories in its two previous Wooden Classic appearances, has spent a lot of time on the road. The Wildcats reached the final of the Preseason NIT in New York and suffered a blowout loss at Virginia. Guard Salim Stoudamire averages a team-high 16.7 points. Lawrence Roberts, Mississippi State’s All-American forward, averages 16.2 points

Tickets -- (213) 480-3232.