It Has Been Only a Line of Discredit

UCLA’s poor free-throw shooting has gone from the substandard to the ridiculous.

After making three of 11 in the 77-66 victory over Oregon State on Friday, the Bruins are 93 for 160 this season, a dismal 58.1%.

Forward Trevor Ariza is at 40.9%.

Point guard Cedric Bozeman is at 42.9%

Center Ryan Hollins is at 52.2%.

Considering those three players have taken half the team’s foul shots, this is a serious problem. In the last two home games, the Bruins made only 19 of 45.

Coach Ben Howland has taken to issuing a standard apology for the poor shooting when he begins postgame comments, even after victories.

On Saturday, the Bruins got to work, spending half an hour doing nothing but shooting from the line on two courts. One group made 75 of 100; the other made 74.

“We’re hoping it will pay off in the game,” Howland said. “We’ve got to get better.”

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Bozeman, who sat out several minutes against Oregon State because of an abdominal strain that he described as a hip pointer, is expected to play today.

Bozeman had six assists and no turnovers against Oregon State, giving him 44 assists to 31 turnovers on the season. Howland appears to have gained enough confidence in Ryan Walcott to give him minutes backing up Bozeman.

The outstanding play of guard Janou Rubin in the second half against Oregon State has vaulted him to the top of the list of reserves. Rubin scored 13 points, making five of nine shots including three of three three-point attempts, but Howland was even more impressed with his defensive intensity.

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Much is made of Oregon’s interior size, but Howland’s primary worry is the Ducks’ three-point shooting.

They made 14 of 23 three-point attempts against USC on Friday and are shooting 45.4% this season.

Guard James Davis made seven of 10 from beyond the arc against the Trojans, prompting Howland to say, “He might be the best shooter in the country.”

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TODAY

vs. Oregon, 2 p.m., Fox Sports Net

Site -- Pauley Pavilion.

Radio -- XTRA (1150/690).

Records -- Oregon 6-2 overall, 1-0 in Pacific 10; UCLA 5-3, 1-0.

Update -- Six-foot-11 forward Ian Crosswhite has given the Ducks an inside scoring option to complement wings Luke Jackson, Andre Joseph and Davis. Crosswhite is averaging 15.5 points and had 22 in the 92-74 victory over USC on Friday. Jackson, a senior slasher, is the team leader. Freshman Aaron Brooks, a point guard former UCLA coach Steve Lavin pursued unsuccessfully, has replaced Luke Ridnour, who left for the NBA after leading Oregon to the Pac-10 tournament championship last season. The Ducks have a five-game winning streak over UCLA, including three last season. Oregon eliminated the Bruins from the Pac-10 tournament in Lavin’s last game as coach.