Two Losses in a Row Test Bruins’ Resolve

In its last two games, UCLA has committed 43 turnovers, made a couple of wing players look like future NBA stars, allowed Stanford to extend its Pauley Pavilion winning streak to eight games and caused Bruin fans to worry that this season will turn out like last year.

The Bruins, 10-5 overall and 4-3 in the Pacific 10 Conference, are on a two-game losing streak as they prepare to host struggling California (8-8, 1-5) today at Pauley Pavilion.

It wasn’t reassuring when senior Dijon Thompson, who had become the Pac-10’s second-leading scorer and rebounder, used an even tone and said, “I came out flat,” after his dreadful six-point, six-turnover performance in Thursday’s 75-64 loss to the Cardinal.

But it was reassuring to have Thompson also say that the Cal game was very important. “We’ve got to challenge ourselves,” he said, “test our pride and manhood.”

It wasn’t reassuring to watch freshman point guard Jordan Farmar throw a blind, over-his-back pass to nowhere while running one of the few fastbreaks the Bruins managed against patient Stanford.

But it was reassuring to hear Farmar explain why Stanford was so impressive. “They play as a team,” Farmar said.

It didn’t even seem consoling that 7-foot center Michael Fey had his first double-double (17 points, 11 rebounds) because the last time Fey led the Bruins in scoring they lost to Oregon State. But maybe it was. UCLA Coach Ben Howland wants to see his hard-working junior rewarded. He contends it is never a bad thing if his post man is scoring and rebounding more than anyone else.

And a day after perhaps the most disappointing loss of the season, Howland had a simple explanation for Stanford’s competence.

“They executed,” he said. “We played defense 23 minutes and 28 seconds, so we only played offense 16 minutes 32 seconds.”

There was an uneasiness outside Pauley after the loss because last year UCLA started the season 9-3 (and 5-0 in the Pac-10), then finished 2-14 (and 7-11 in the Pac-10). The downward stretch had begun with losses to Arizona and Stanford. Now UCLA, after a four-game winning streak, has lost consecutively to Arizona and Stanford.

“It will be important to respond,” Howland said. “How do you handle adversity -- and we’re in the middle of an adverse situation -- first home loss, two losses in a row? We’ve gotta bounce back, and a big part of that is how you approach it mentally as a team.”

While Howland wasn’t thrilled that Stanford shot 56% from the field in the second half or that for the second game in a row a wing player (this time Dan Grunfeld with 25 points on 13 shots, last Saturday Salim Stoudamire with 32 points, 24 in the second half) seemed unguardable by the Bruins, it was the turnovers that most upset him.

“Too many were unforced,” Howland said of the 20 against Stanford, “and were careless and against a team that doesn’t press.”

What the Bruins do have now that they didn’t have a year ago are four resilient freshmen who aren’t used to losing. Farmar’s Taft High team lost three games a year ago. Arron Afflalo’s Centennial team lost three games. Josh Shipp’s Fairfax team lost five. Lorenzo Mata’s South Gate team lost eight.

“These guys are used to winning,” Howland said. “Losses really bother them. It bothers them because they are competitors.”

After the last bad loss, to Oregon State, the Bruins had a four-game winning streak. Next up are three games (Cal, at USC, at Washington State) where the Bruins may be favored. There’s the challenge.

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TODAY

vs. California, 12:45 p.m., Channel 2

Site -- Pauley Pavilion.

Radio -- XTRA (1150/690).

Records -- UCLA 10-5 overall, 4-3 in Pacific 10 Conference; Cal 8-8, 1-4.

Update -- Cal has lost four games in a row and five of its last six. Leading scorer Richard Midgley, who averages a team-leading 15.1 points a game, missed the loss to USC with a sprained shoulder that has been bothering him for nearly a month; his availability today will be a game-time decision. Coach Ben Braun’s Bears started out the season with bad news when Leon Powe, Pac-10 rookie of the year in 2003-04, was lost for the season while needing reconstructive knee surgery, and things haven’t improved. UCLA split with Cal a year ago, winning at Pauley, 66-49, and losing at Berkeley, 76-62.

Tickets -- (310) 825-2946.