Monday, January 11, 1999
Young talent leaps beyond definition
MHOOPS: Inconsistent play, last-minute wins blur merit of solid
team
By Brent Boyd
Daily Bruin Staff
EUGENE, Ore. — Freshman forward JaRon Rush asked a question
Saturday night that everyone in Westwood is no doubt wondering.
"Are we for real or are we for fake?" he said after the Bruins’
65-63 victory over Oregon in Eugene.
It was a question that was supposed to be answered over winter
break, but only became more debatable.
With eight games – including the first four of the conference
schedule – it was expected that the Bruins (11-3, 3-1 Pac-10) would
have defined their place in the national and conference pecking
order.
But the only sure thing that came out of the last month was that
these Bruins definitely can’t be defined.
It’s hard to figure out a squad who loses to perennial Pac-10
also-ran Oregon State one day, then beats a strong Oregon squad at
McArthur Court – a place where UCLA had lost four of the last five
– two days later.
The sporadic road trip came only three days after an equally
up-and-down homestand.
UCLA opened the conference season by dominating arch-rival and
then-No. 6 Arizona prior to barely holding on to beat Arizona State
in overtime.
Over winter break the Bruins showed off both of their
outstanding traits – youth and talent.
"With a young team it’s all part of the growing process," head
coach Steve Lavin said after the loss to OSU. "It wasn’t expected,
but it’s a great lesson."
A lesson, apparently, that only took two days to learn. Or have
they really learned it?
Regardless, winter break was full of ups and downs for the
Bruins. A recap of the six games prior to the Oregon trip is as
follows:
Jan. 4 – UCLA 88, Arizona State 85 (OT)
Rush had a tremendous homecoming in the Bruins’ overtime
victory.
Suspended for the previous game due to a missed game and
practices because of homesickness, the forward responded by scoring
19 points and gathering eight rebounds.
Trying to avoid a let-down after its victory over Arizona, the
Bruins never led by more than four and battled back from a
74-71deficit with under a minute remaining to force the deciding
overtime period.
A free throw by freshman center Jerome Moiso and a basket by
sophomore guard Earl Watson in the final minute of overtime gave
the Bruins an 88-85 win.
Jan. 2 – UCLA 82, Arizona 75
UCLA jump-started its conference season by defeating the
arch-rival Wildcats in its best outing of the year and handed
Arizona its only loss thus far.
Due to disciplinary measures, UCLA started the game with no
freshmen on the floor – the first time all season. The surprise
move paid off, as the Bruins jumped out to leads of 13-4 and and
21-11 and never looked back.
The Bruins had their largest lead at 59-37 with just under 13
minutes remaining and held off a brief comeback attempt for the
win.
The contest helped earn sophomore guard Baron Davis the Pac-10
player of the week award, with 20 points and six assists. Moiso
scored 21 points.
Dec. 29 – UCLA 92, Loyola Marymount 67
The outcome of the contest was never in serious doubt as the
Bruins cruised by the Lions.
UCLA took control from the outset against an overmatched LMU
squad. They jumped out to a 42-27 halftime lead, and although the
Lions cut the deficit to 11 with 15 minutes remaining, the Bruins
went on an 11-1 run and never trailed by less than 17 the rest of
the way.
Missing five players – due to Rush’s homesickness and injuries
to others – the Bruins were led by Moiso’s 21 points, while Travis
Reed chipped in 17 of his own.
Dec. 23 – UCLA 66, American 56
In a game the Bruins were expected to dominate, UCLA didn’t lock
up the victory until less than three minutes remained when Davis
picked up a loose ball and converted a three-point play to give
UCLA a 57-48 lead.
The Bruins built a 36-19 halftime lead, but were outscored by
the Eagles 37-30 in the final 20 minutes, prompting a
tongue-lashing by Lavin.
"If we had to grade ourselves in all areas, the grades would all
be ‘F’," he said.
Though the Bruins were playing without center Dan Gadzuric,
injuries could not be used as an excuse. Leading scorer Bobby
Thompson was missed, among others, and only seven players saw
significant minutes.
Dec. 19 – UCLA 114, Cal State Northridge 97
By scoring its most points since a December 1997 contest against
Cal State Fullerton, UCLA blew past the Matadors for the
victory.
Led by forward Travis Reed’s career-high of 21 points, and
double-digit totals from six other players, UCLA coasted to the
114-97 victory.
Dec. 12 – UCLA 72, UNLV 67
In a game featuring dramatic ups and downs, the Bruins were able
to outlast UNLV with a big second-half rally in Pauley
Pavilion.
Leading by 13 midway through the first half, UCLA allowed the
Rebels to even the game 40-40 at halftime, and found themselves
trailing 59-46 eight minutes later.
The Bruins, however, went on a 15-2 run and tied the game at 61
on a layup by Davis with just over five minutes remaining.
A dunk and foul shot by Dan Gadzuric three minutes later put the
Bruins up 68-67 – a lead they would not relinquish.
Earl Watson’s 15 points and Moiso’s 14 led the Bruins, while
Davis chipped in with a team-high seven assists.AARON MICHAEL
TOUT
UCLA’s Earl Watson rips a shot away from a Wildcats player
during the Bruin win over Arizona on Jan. 2.
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