Coaches Practice the Same Patience

The two men responsible for the screeching sound heard around the Pacific 10 Conference face off tonight.

Ben Howland of UCLA and Dick Bennett of Washington State, newcomers to the conference coaching ranks, have put the brakes on fastbreaks. They preach offensive patience and preventing opponents from scoring in transition.

Howland brought a steel-tough Pittsburgh approach to UCLA and, although occasionally plodding offensively, the Bruins are noticeably better at rebounding, setting screens and on defense.

Bennett brought a cerebral, underdog sensibility from Wisconsin, which he took to the Final Four in 2000, and it appears a good fit at Washington State, for years a Pac-10 punching bag.

The Cougars upset California on Sunday at Haas Pavilion, perhaps the most inhospitable venue for visitors in the conference. It was Washington State’s second victory in its last 54 Pac-10 road games.

Just as impressive is the way Bennett convinced a Cougar team accustomed to a run-and-gun style to slow the pace. To be sure, there have been yawners -- Washington State lost to Fresno State, 46-29 -- but the 73-51 win over Cal proved Bennett’s style can work in the Pac-10.

The victory over Cal was No. 450 for Bennett, 62, whom Howland calls “not a good coach, a great coach.”

But it wasn’t Bennett’s first memorable victory over the Golden Bears. His Wisconsin Green Bay team defeated a Cal team led by Jason Kidd and Lamond Murray in the 1994 NCAA tournament.

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Bruin center Michael Fey made his first return to his home state of Washington last season and played only four minutes against Washington State and eight against Washington.

Now he is a starter and is looking forward to playing tonight in front of relatives who live in Spokane and Saturday before friends and relatives driving to Seattle from his hometown of Olympia.

“I was going through everything last year for the first time,” he said. “This year I am making more of an impact. Everyone will at least see me out there battling.”

TONIGHT

at Washington State, 7

Site -- Spokane Arena.

Radio -- XTRA 1150/690.

Records -- UCLA 6-3 overall, 2-0 in Pacific 10; Washington State 7-5, 1-1.

Update -- The Bruins have won 21 in a row against the Cougars, last losing in 1993. The game is being played in Spokane to attract a larger crowd than Washington State can draw in Pullman with school out of sessionCougar senior point guard Marcus Moore averages 14.1 points but has made only 18.8% of his three-point attempts.