Traditional mirror images

Indiana’s basketball team is in the same place as UCLA was two years ago.

Then the Bruins had a mix of Steve Lavin leftovers and Ben Howland newcomers, and fans were just happy that Lavin was gone and weren’t distraught when UCLA lost to Texas Tech in the first round of the NCAA tournament because it really was just good to get back.

When the second-seeded Bruins (27-5) play the seventh-seeded Hoosiers (21-10) today in the second round of the West Regional, it will be a meeting between two programs of grand history, high expectations and a newfound appreciation of how tough it is to be really good.

Both UCLA Coach Ben Howland and Indiana Coach Kelvin Sampson understand how difficult it can be to embrace the traditions of two programs that have combined to win 16 national championships (11 for UCLA) and who have been led by larger-than-life coaches -- John Wooden and Bob Knight.

Howland must explain to recruits that it is the championship banners that matter inside creaky Pauley Pavilion and Sampson must explain that not having names on jerseys is a matter of team pride. Sampson, though, really doesn’t have a speech concerning the striped warm up pants that probably should have gone away with bell-bottoms and chin-length side burns.

“I kind of like those pants,” UCLA center Lorenzo Mata said. “Maybe we can do them in blue and gold.”

Mata also said he was recovered from an upset stomach that caused him to vomit during UCLA’s 70-42 win over Weber State on Thursday night.

UCLA’s other wounded starter, Darren Collison, said his sprained left ankle felt fine after Friday’s practice.

Collison said when UCLA plays tradition-rich teams such as Kentucky and Indiana, he sees a bump in national interest but as a sophomore in 2007 he says he does not think about Knight or how Indiana had an undefeated season in 1975-76.

“With all respect,” Collison said, “all we think about is this is another game we need to advance in the NCAA tournament.”

Said Indiana center D.J. White: “Traditions at schools always mean something. It shows what past players have done for the school on a national level.” His teammate A.J. Ratliff added, “The tradition I want is to go to the national championship like UCLA did last year.”

The Hoosiers last went to the national title game in 2002, the second season under former coach Mike Davis. In the same way that Lavin was hastily named to replace Jim Harrick after Harrick was fired, so was Davis given the Indiana job after Knight was fired for his defiant behavior. Knight coaches at Texas Tech and Davis was hired after last season by Alabama Birmingham. Lavin works for ESPN.

Lavin and Davis each had initial success with leftover players and each began to lose favor because of some terrible losses and also for failing to land local recruits.

UCLA and Indiana now have hard-nosed winners who consider homegrown players to belong to them and who deal delicately with all the high expectations and traditions that might be beloved but outdated.

“I remember recruiting over the years,” Howland said, “going to Indiana and being so impressed with the love of the game from everyone in that state. They have arenas in towns where there are 7,000 people and the arenas hold 10,000 people and they sell out. The tradition is just a great thing.”

Said Sampson: “Tradition is important. I think the future is more important. It’s like progress. A lot of people want progress but seldom do they want change. UCLA and Indiana are traditional powers, but if you’re not keeping up with the new facilities and styles, you’re getting passed.

“That said, I grew up worshipping God but looking up to John Wooden. I still have his Pyramid of Success on my desk. When you drive from Bloomington to the airport in Indianapolis on Highway 37 you pass Martinsville and every time I do that I think about Coach Wooden.”

Martinsville was Wooden’s home, a place that has meaning to Howland too. Another place that has meaning to both coaches is the Sweet 16. For UCLA, again it is the expected destination. For Indiana, it used to be and will be again. In another year or two.

diane.pucin@latimes.com