UCLA Is Up for a Fast Pace

It was like a group of novice winemakers going to Napa Valley and showing the locals the right way to make Cabernet Sauvignon.

Washington State came into Pauley Pavilion last February and put on a deliberate display of shot-clock management in a 55-48 victory over UCLA.

The significance of that Cougar triumph? It was the first time Washington State had defeated the Bruins in 23 games and the first time ever in Los Angeles, ending a streak of 46 consecutive road losses. Thirty-eight of those losses came in Pauley.

“I remember we got beat,” UCLA forward Dijon Thompson recalled earlier this week. “That’s all I remember. That’s enough to remember.”

Among the returning Bruins, only senior guard Brian Morrison said he considered the defeat to the historically downtrodden Cougars as a personal affront -- and he didn’t even play, having been sidelined because of a sprained ankle.

“It’s definitely something on our minds, that loss last year,” Morrison said.

With four freshmen receiving significant playing time, the Bruins are a dramatically different team than the one that lost to the Cougars last season. But even the newcomers realize the danger that lurks as UCLA (7-3 overall, 1-1 Pacific 10 Conference) plays host to Washington State (6-5, 1-1) tonight in a battle of teams vying for respect.

“They like to run the shot clock and they play good defense,” freshman guard Jordan Farmar said of the Cougars, one of the lowest-scoring teams in the nation. “It’s going to be a tough one.”

In 21 of the 40 games Washington State has played under second-year Coach Dick Bennett, the Cougars have held their opponents to 55 or fewer points. Of course, Washington State often finds itself under that threshold as well, having scored 29 points in a blowout loss to Oklahoma State and 37 points in a one-point victory over Idaho.

“Hopefully, we can come out aggressive and speed the game up,” UCLA freshman forward Josh Shipp said. “We have to set the tone, we can’t let them slow it down. If we push it, they’re going to have to run with us.”

The Bruins figured their 70-62 victory over Oregon on Sunday would give them something to build on until senior guard Janou Rubin underwent an MRI exam the next day that revealed a defect in his left thigh bone and bone chips in his left knee.

The loss of the reserve for the season could have far-reaching implications for Coach Ben Howland, who had vowed to play his freshmen fewer minutes and substitute freely to keep defenders fresh.

Howland said Thompson would have to abandon his post down low for at least 10 minutes a game to help out at small forward, and forwards Ryan Hollins, Matt McKinney and Josiah Johnson are expected to be counted on more heavily.

“There’s no question it’s an advantage for us when [Thompson is] at the 4,” Howland said, “because it makes us a better team offensively having four quote-unquote guards out there at the same time.”

Rubin had played 16 minutes against Oregon, allowing Farmar more rest than usual. Farmar responded with tenacious defense on guard Aaron Brooks during a season-low 27 minutes and said he never felt winded as the Bruins held the Ducks to their lowest point total of the season.

UCLA freshman guard Arron Afflalo said playing solid defense on a consistent basis was a function of having the right mind-set.

“If we can do it once, we can do it twice, we can do it every game,” Afflalo said. “But it has to be a focus, it has to be something we do throughout practice; we have to make it a habit.”

Sort of like beating Washington State.

*

TONIGHT

vs. Washington State, 7:30

Site -- Pauley Pavilion.

Radio -- XTRA (1150, 690).

Records -- Bruins 7-3 overall, 1-1 in Pacific 10 Conference; Cougars 6-5, 1-1.

Update -- UCLA is 6-0 at home but 3-3 in its last six games after reeling off four consecutive victories over lesser programs to start the season. Washington State opened conference play with an impressive 60-51 victory over Stanford that ended a 17-game losing streak against the Cardinal before losing to California, 59-47. Senior guard Thomas Kelati (12.7 ppg.) is the only Cougar to average in double figures, but senior center Jeff Varem came up big against Stanford, scoring 18 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Varem also scored 17 points against Cal. UCLA forward Matt McKinney attributed his mysterious loss of stamina to involuntary muscular disorder and said he was drinking electrolytes and taking caffeine pills to combat fatigue.