Cummings Has Seen Bruins’ Ups, Downs

Senior Day is usually a time for reflection, a chance for fans to consider the accomplishments and struggles of players who spent four years in the program.

There is only one Bruin who fits the description: Forward T.J. Cummings.

The other seniors, Jon Crispin and John Hoffart, are transfers and seldom-used reserves. Cummings, though, helped the Bruins to two Sweet 16s, took as many lumps as anyone during last season’s decline, and rebounded from academic problems to turn in a credible senior year.

Cummings has four double-doubles this season, and it’s no coincidence UCLA won all four games. He is shooting 57% and has been the team’s most consistent producer, scoring fewer than 10 points only three times. He averages 6.5 rebounds and has 27 assists, a modest number but still the best of his career.

“He’s had some really bright spots for us,” Coach Ben Howland said. “We need for him to rebound and defend the way he can and let the shots come to him. When he does that, he’s a very effective player.”

Crispin will start at guard and Howland plans to get Hoffart into the game.

“It’s the last game for three seniors in Pauley Pavilion, and that really makes the day special,” Howland said. “We’d like them to leave with a good feeling. It will be a real task. Notre Dame is a good team.”

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An MRI exam of Brian Morrison’s ankle did not show a bone bruise, but the Bruin guard is still not sound enough to play.

Morrison, a transfer from North Carolina with good three-point shooting range, has missed 14 games because of injury. A pulled hamstring kept him out of nine games in December and January, and the sprained ankle has kept him out five more.

“He has not been healthy since Dec. 21,” Howland said. “It’s unbelievable.”

Morrison will test the ankle at practice next week and hopes to play at Oregon State on Thursday.

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Bruin point guard Cedric Bozeman played against his Notre Dame counterpart, Chris Thomas, in the 2001 McDonald’s All-American game. Thomas has had a more illustrious college career, and he averages 19.1 points and 4.9 assists this season.

Thomas began his stint in South Bend, Ind., posting the first triple-double in Notre Dame history. He has started all 91 games in his career and is the school’s all-time assist leader with 606, eclipsing the mark of 586 set by David Rivers.

After last season Thomas declared for the NBA draft, but after working out with nine teams he pulled his name back because there was no guarantee he would be a first-round pick.

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TODAY

vs. Notre Dame, 1 p.m., Ch. 2

Site -- Pauley Pavilion.

Radio -- XTRA 1150/690.

Records -- UCLA 11-13; Notre Dame 13-11.

Update -- Notre Dame has shot poorly in its last two games, losses to Connecticut and Providence, making only 30.5% from the field. Before those losses, however, the Fighting Irish defeated ranked Connecticut and Seton Hall and also beat defending national champion Syracuse on the road. A nonconference series between UCLA and Notre Dame that spanned 30 years ended in 1995-96 with an 83-58 Bruin victory. The teams met twice each season from 1971-72 to 1982-83. UCLA leads the series, 26-18.

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Rivalry Revisited

Today’s Notre Dame-UCLA game at Pauley Pavilion will be the first meeting between the schools in eight seasons. With the teams coming in with bookend records -- Notre Dame is 13-11 and UCLA is 11-13 -- the resumption of this once-revered rivalry may barely raise a Digger Phelps eyebrow. The way it was:

* For starters: The first game between the schools was Dec. 20, 1952, in East Lansing, Mich., with the seventh-ranked Irish defeating the No. 12 Bruins, 68-60.

* No respect for No. 1: UCLA has an NCAA-record 10 victories over No. 1-ranked teams, with two of those coming against Notre Dame. The Irish have nine victories over No. 1 teams, with two coming against the Bruins.

* Summit meetings: In 1974, the schools played twice as the Nos. 1 and 2 teams. On Jan. 19 at South Bend, Ind., No. 2 Notre Dame defeated No. 1 UCLA, 71-70, ending the Bruins’ NCAA-record winning streak at 88. A week later at Pauley Pavilion, No. 2 UCLA defeated top-ranked Notre Dame, 94-75.

* Almost perfect: The Irish handed the Bruins their only loss of the 1970-71 season, 89-82, at South Bend on Jan. 23.

* Going the revenge rout(e): The next season, UCLA defeated Notre Dame, 114-56, at Pauley Pavilion. The 58-point margin of victory is the Bruins’ sixth largest.

* Close encounters: Sixteen games have been decided by four points or fewer. UCLA is 7-9 in those games.

* Pulling rank: There have been 13 games in which both teams were ranked in the top 25, with Notre Dame holding an 8-5 advantage.

* Let the record speak for itself: Flamboyant-coach-turned-ESPN-com-

mentator Phelps had a 14-18 record against UCLA at Notre Dame.

* How now: UCLA Coach Ben Howland was 3-6 against Notre Dame as coach at Pittsburgh.

* It takes two: The schools played home-and-home series 12 consecutive seasons (1971-72 through 1982-83).

* The edge: The Bruins lead the series, 26-18, and hold a 15-6 advantage at Pauley Pavilion.

* Final fact: The schools have never met in the NCAA tournament or NIT.

Research: Steve Galluzzo