Foremost among UCLA coach Ben Howland’s long list of
concerns after watching the game film of Saturday’s loss to
California was the woes of the Bruins’ interior defense.
Neither junior Michael Fey nor freshman Lorenzo Mata could contain
unheralded center David Paris, who bulldozed his way to 20 points
on 10-for-11 shooting. Fey had been playing stellar defense of late
before suffering a lapse against the Bears, but Mata, Howland said,
has been a weak spot. “I talked to Lorenzo about it, and this
is where we are right now,” Howland said. “He knows
he’s not putting up a fight physically and holding his
ground.” Mata, who has played primarily at the backup center
position, has been exposed by opposing teams of late.
Arizona’s Channing Frye, Stanford’s Rob Little, and
Paris each were able to score at will against him in UCLA’s
three consecutive losses. Until Mata demonstrates he can stand firm
against opposing centers, his playing time could continue to
diminish. Howland said that junior Ryan Hollins has moved ahead of
Mata in the rotation as backup center, and senior forward Josiah
Johnson also received playing time in the second half against Cal.
“(Howland) told me I look like I’ve been playing kind
of soft,” Mata said. “I’ve noticed it too, but
now that he’s talked to me, it’s given me a little
motivation. I’m going to do whatever I can and play hard.
Fey, on the other hand, said his struggles on Saturday were because
he took the Cal big men lightly. “I have to go into every
game thinking I’m guarding (an All-American),” Fey
said. “I got away from that mind-set Saturday.”
ARIZA RETURNS: Former Bruin Trevor Ariza, a second-round draft
pick of the New York Knicks last June, will make his return to Los
Angeles on Monday when the New York Knicks face the Clippers at the
Staples Center. Howland, who was taken by surprise when Ariza
announced he was leaving after his freshman year at UCLA, said he
is happy that the 20-year-old forward has been successful.
“If he didn’t have that success, it could have been a
really bad situation,” Howland said. “You always hope
it works out, and sometimes it does for second-round
picks.”
STAYING PUT: After briefly considering moving senior Dijon
Thompson from power forward to wing after Saturday’s loss to
California, Howland has decided not to alter his starting lineup.
“We’re best when we have four guards in there,”
Howland said.
DRIBBLERS: UCLA, which had been as high as No. 12 in the RPI,
sunk to No. 50 after dropping two games against the Bay Area
schools.