Guards Attempt to Get a Grip

As problems go, it could be worse. At least the Bruins have had a double-digit lead to protect late in a game.

There is a worse consequence than almost losing two of their last three games because of butterfingered ballhandling down the stretch.

Yet it is a problem that must be addressed.

UCLA squandered all of an 11-point lead with 2 minutes 19 seconds remaining before defeating Washington in overtime Saturday, and blew most of a 22-point second-half advantage before holding off Oregon a week earlier.

In both instances, the opponent used a full-court press that tempered the Bruins’ aggressiveness, and the result was a flurry of turnovers.

“I’ll take the blame for that,” junior guard Dijon Thompson said. “It takes leadership in those situations.”

Thompson said he and junior point guard Cedric Bozeman must take care of the ball and remain poised enough for the Bruins to get a good shot even after they whittle the shot clock to under 15 seconds before running a play.

Bozeman and Thompson lead the Bruins with 37 and 31 turnovers, but they also handle the ball more than their teammates. A bigger issue against Washington was that Bozeman fouled out with six minutes left in regulation.

Reserve point guard Ryan Walcott had three turnovers, missed all four of his shots and committed three fouls. To his credit, Walcott distributed the ball well enough during overtime for UCLA to win.

“Ryan will be fine,” Bozeman said. “We’ve got to keep pumping up his confidence.”

As for himself, Bozeman knows he must avoid fouling out.

The fifth foul “was a bad judgment mistake,” he said. “When I get a third or fourth foul, I have to back off on defense because any incidental contact is a foul. I have to be smart.”

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Thompson marveled at how close UCLA is to being 10-1. The only Bruin loss by more than a basket was at Michigan. The others were to Kentucky by two points and UC Santa Barbara by one.

“We could have beaten Kentucky, and we definitely should have beaten Santa Barbara,” he said. “I have thought about that a lot. But we are 4-0 in the Pac-10, and that’s all that matters right now.”

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In a column that lightheartedly asked a number of legendary retired coaches whether they would consider coming out of retirement, 93-year-old John Wooden told Rick Reilly of Sports Illustrated that he is game.

“If I could just sort of be an assistant, I’d love that,” Wooden said. “You know, just someone to help with practice, do a little teaching. Of course, with my knees, I couldn’t demonstrate the footwork anymore. But if I could just be a helper, I think I’d really love it.”

Ben Howland, in his first season as Bruin coach, said that Wooden could return under one condition.

“Coach Wooden can be the head coach, and I will be his assistant,” Howland said. “All he has to say is he wants to come back. John Wooden is not an assistant coach. He’s a head coach.”

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A program devoted to the Dec. 20 dedication of Nell and John Wooden Court at Pauley Pavilion will be aired on Fox Sports Net 2 tonight at 11.

TONIGHT

vs. Arizona State, 7:30

Site -- Pauley Pavilion.

Radio -- XTRA 1150/690

Records -- Arizona State 6-6, 0-3; UCLA 8-3, 4-0.

Update -- The Sun Devils are a team in transition despite the return of center Ike Diogu, who has scored in double figures in 44 consecutive games and averages 23.4 points and 9.1 rebounds. Arizona State lost six seniors, including four starters, from its NCAA tournament team. UCLA has not opened a Pac-10 campaign with five victories since 1995-96, and has lost to Arizona State at Pauley Pavilion the last two years.