For Ben Howland, defeating Washington State tonight only means
one thing.
“It’s everything,” he said.
“We need to get a win. We’re desperate for a
win.”
Desperation turned into disbelief Wednesday in practice when
guard Brian Morrison rolled his right ankle contesting a Janou
Rubin shot. Morrison, who Howland had tentatively penciled into the
starting lineup Tuesday in place of junior Dijon Thompson, is
doubtful for tonight’s game as well as Saturday’s
match-up with Washington.
The loss of Morrison thrusts Thompson back into the starting
lineup and adds to UCLA’s recent woes.
The Bruins’ surprising 5-0 start to conference play came
to a halt almost as fast as it began, with five straight losses
culminating in a disastrous non-conference loss to St. John’s
last weekend. Howland has stressed the need for a vast improvement
in defense and rebounding to carry the team through the rest of the
season.
“We just have to get back to doing what we were doing
early in the year: defending and rebounding,” Howland said.
“You have to be able to hang your hat on that. You can
control that.”
Since returning from the St. John’s game ““ in which
UCLA was out-rebounded by 19 on the boards ““ Howland said
practices have emphasized regaining the rebounding edge and the
defensive intensity with which UCLA (9-8, 5-4 Pac-10) began the
season.
Morrison’s presence in the starting lineup had factored
heavily into Howland’s defensive emphasis. Thompson has
struggled recently against smaller, quick guards on the perimeter,
prompting Howland to make the change.
But where the loss of Morrison may prove more costly is in
dealing with Washington State’s 1-3-1 zone defense. Morrison,
who missed nine games already this season due to a hamstring
injury, is UCLA’s best three-point shooter. Howland had
planned to put in a smaller lineup against the zone in which
Thompson, Morrison and freshman Trevor Ariza were on the floor at
the same time in order to stretch opposing defenses.
But whatever the strategy UCLA decides to implement without
Morrison against Washington State tonight, this game marks the
bottom of an uphill battle towards regaining some momentum.
“We want to work hard and work our way back up,”
senior forward T.J. Cummings said.
Washington State (9-10, 3-6), while near the bottom of the
conference, has improved markedly with the arrival of new coach
Dick Bennett. His heavy emphasis on defense and a slower game plan
have resulted in a first half of conference play with victories
over Cal, USC and Arizona State. The Cougars also lost to No. 9
Arizona by only five points.
“This team has the capacity to surprise and
disappoint,” Bennett said.
UCLA is currently tied at third place in the Pac-10 with Oregon
behind Stanford and Arizona, and the Bruins need this victory to
continue to play with the big kids.