Sports Notebook

Bibby reprimanded by Pac-10

USC men’s basketball head coach Henry Bibby was placed on
probation for the remainder of the 2003 season by the Pac-10 on
Monday.

Bibby has complained about officiating after each of USC’s
last three losses.

“Conference rules prohibit public comments about
officiating of the nature Coach Bibby made,” Pac-10
commissioner Tom Hansen said in a statement.

Patterson update

Will Andre Patterson play against Oregon?

Well, it depends on who you ask. UCLA head coach Steve Lavin
said he wasn’t sure if the sophomore forward would be
available Thursday. Patterson injured his left ankle while playing
last Thursday against Stanford.

Patterson, who leads the team in rebounding, didn’t
practice on Monday but worked out on a stationary bike. Lavin
conservatively called him day-to-day.

“I begged them to let me play against Cal,”
Patterson said. “I begged them before the game, I begged them
at halftime, but I’ve got to go with what coach
says.”

Patterson sat out Saturday’s loss to Cal and seemed to
have a harder time watching the game than dealing with the pain in
his ankle.

“It’s the same thing as when I was out at the
beginning of the season (while academically ineligible),” he
said. “It was frustrating.”

The replacement

With Patterson out and Cal’s Gabriel Hughes dominating the
boards Saturday, Lavin gave Ryan Hollins a shot. The freshman, who
has seen limited action this season, responded with two powerful
dunks and three rebounds in 15 minutes.

“I knew that at some point I’d get an opportunity to
step in there and help the team,” Hollins said.
“It’s been tough not playing, but I play hard every
day.”

Patterson could relate.

“I talked to Ryan right before, in case I couldn’t
play,” Patterson said. “I told him not to be scared. I
looked at it a lot like last year, when I didn’t know when
I’d get in but would always play hard when I got called
on.”

Drew commits

On the heels of its big recruiting weekend, the UCLA football
team didn’t come out empty-handed. Concord De La Salle
running back Maurice Drew committed on Sunday. He’s agile,
aggressive, possesses good hands and looks to initiate contact
““ surprising, given his 5-foot-9-inch, 190-pound frame.

However, he more than answered questions about his size during a
prep career in which he never lost a game. Earlier this month, in
the CaliFlorida classic, players from Florida were so impressed
that they asked Drew for his autograph after the game.

Bruins on display for NFL scouts

While two teams battled it out in Super Bowl XXXVII, six UCLA
players battled it out for the chance to play in the NFL.

Quarterback Cory Paus, kicker Chris Griffith, defensive end
Rusty Williams, defensive tackle Sean Phillips and cornerback Joe
Hunter spent Saturday in St. George, Utah, to play in the Paradise
Bowl, while offensive tackle Bryce Bohlander was in Orlando,
Florida, to compete in the Rotary Gridiron Classic. The games give
exposure to college players looking to earn NFL roster spots.

Paus, in particular, needed the opportunity. He missed much of
his senior year with an ankle injury, but returned in front of over
50 NFL scouts in attendance. The West lost to the Midwest,
36-31.

Briefs compiled by Jeff Agase and Bruce Tran, Daily Bruin
Staff.

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