Banged-up players could use a breather

Whenever UCLA center Kevin Love is awarded a free throw he makes a slow, circular walk toward midcourt and back to the foul line.

“To catch his breath,” says sophomore guard Russell Westbrook. “That’s why he walks to half court.”

Westbrook and Love are road roommates and Westbrook understands why Love is often the last man upcourt.

“It’s hard for the big guys, especially Kevin, running up and down, rebounding, getting a lot of minutes, banging bodies, running back and forth,” Westbrook said.

Coach Ben Howland is hoping that in the next two weeks, as the eighth-ranked Bruins play against Western Illinois, Michigan and UC Davis -- teams with a combined 11-18 record -- injured players such as Darren Collison, Michael Roll and especially Love can get into prime physical shape.

Only two Bruins, Westbrook and senior Lorenzo Mata-Real, chose to attend Monday’s weekly media session, so Love couldn’t be asked about his physical conditioning.

Howland said the 6-foot-10 freshman weighs about 262 pounds and suggested Love’s ideal playing weight might be 257 to 260. “It’s not so much weight,” Howland said, “as being able to play long stretches, four- to five-minute bursts. We’re fortunate to have Lorenzo under center.”

While Howland didn’t specifically mention Love he did say that freshmen sometimes have a hard time maintaining a healthy diet. “Josh [Shipp] was horrible his first couple of years,” Howland said. “He never got up and went to breakfast. Arron [Afflalo] didn’t become committed to his diet until last spring. Bottom line is, you have to be disciplined.

“Kevin was one of the best players in the country playing against high school kids last year. All-Americans always have everybody out to go after you and make a name for themselves.”

Howland mentioned Westbrook and juniors Alfred Aboya and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute as the players who he thinks are in the best shape.

If Love is looking for other clues about what Howland expects from his centers, he could listen to his coach rave about two screens Mata-Real set Saturday against Idaho State.

“We had three wide-open threes in the first half,” Howland said, “two off Lorenzo screens on the low guy in the zone. Michael Roll and Darren got open, wide open, on those screens and those are little things that if you don’t see it you don’t appreciate it.”

Mata-Real said it had taken him a long time to understand both the mental and physical aspects of setting a screen. “I’m still learning about it,” he said. “It’s about being tough and taking the hit to spring somebody. Coach says Alfred is probably the best guy at doing it. When I get somebody open it definitely puts a smile on my face. Especially having coach say, ‘Good job, Lorenzo. Good screen.’ ”

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Westbrook continues to lead the Pacific 10 Conference in assists with 5.8 a game, almost one per game better than Washington State’s Taylor Rochestie. Since Westbrook’s natural position is shooting guard, he does not expect to see his name at No. 1 in handing off the ball.

“Kind of. Sort of. Not really,” was Westbrook’s answer to that question. “The last time I led in anything it might have been in scoring. I love it. Getting into the paint, getting my teammates involved, making it easy. I keep passing the ball, they keep scoring and we’re winning.”

Westbrook was pressed into point guard duties when Collison missed the first six games because of a sprained left knee. Walk-on Mustafa Abdul-Hamid, who had been practicing against Collison at point guard, is out because of a stress reaction so Westbrook is still practicing more minutes at point guard, even though he’s the starting shooting guard.

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After UCLA plays at Michigan on Saturday, Howland said he would give the team three days off from practice for Christmas.

TONIGHT

vs. Western Illinois, 7:30

Radio -- 1150.

Site -- Pauley Pavilion.

Records -- UCLA 9-1, Western Illinois 3-6.

Update -- Senior guard David Jackson made the first start of his Leathernecks career in 2004 when Western Illinois lost to UCLA, 75-60, at Pauley Pavilion. He scored 12 points then and is averaging 11.6 points a game now. Jerryck Owens-Murrey, a 6-foot-6 senior from El Cerrito, Calif., is averaging 13.0 points and 4.5 rebounds since becoming a starter the last two games.

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diane.pucin@latimes.com