It’s Certainly Not a Position of Strength

Take a cue from the governor. That seems to be Ben Howland’s recurring message to his players.

It has nothing to do with politics, everything to do with pecs.

He wants his Bruins to resemble Arnold Schwarzenegger, build their muscles and flex them on the court.

Howland openly admires strong opponents, saying after recent losses to Stanford and USC that their players “are men,” who “obviously have spent time in the weight room.”

The implication, of course, is that the Bruins are weak. And they’d best be back brawny. Or they might find themselves at the end of the bench.

“Improving our physical strength is very important,” Howland said. “It is something that is lacking and we just have to continue to emphasize it.”

Every Bruin besides 7-foot, 257-pound center Michael Fey and 6-8, 255-pound forward Josiah Johnson needs to put on weight, and those two must tone their bodies. Only freshman forward Trevor Ariza, a spindly 6-7, 190 pounds, has a legitimate excuse: He is unable to lift weights now because he suffered a collapsed lung Nov. 28.

The lack of strength has proved especially costly late in the last four games, all losses. UCLA has been pushed around around the basket.

Although their desire has been questioned, the Bruin players believe it is a case of a willing spirit giving way to weak flesh.

“We know we have to get stronger,” said center Ryan Hollins, 7 feet and only 225 pounds. “Coach tells us all the time. We’re working at it, but it takes time. It’s a long process.”

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Howland wasn’t the only one to blast the Bruins for a lack of passion during the first half of the loss to USC on Wednesday. Senior forward T.J. Cummings lashed out as well.

“I’m getting sick of us not being ready,” he said. “It’s happening over and over. We have to get back our sense of urgency.”

Cummings was held scoreless in the first half, as were fellow starters Ariza, Dijon Thompson and Cedric Bozeman.

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Conjecture about UCLA’s gaining an NCAA tournament bid has been stifled by the four losses that followed five consecutive victories to begin Pac-10 play.

At the halfway point of the conference schedule, UCLA (9-7, 5-4) is fourth.

It will take at least 17 victories to make the tournament, meaning the Bruins probably must win five games the second time through the conference, knock off nonconference foes St. John’s and Notre Dame, then win one or two games in the Pac-10 tournament.