No one wants to play Washington State.
Aside from having to drive two hours to Pullman, Wash., after
landing in Spokane International Airport, the Bruins have to combat
frigid temperatures in the low 40s and face a team that plays as if
its feet are mired in snow.
It’s not going to be easy tonight, especially with the
Cougars’ run-the-shot-clock-down type offense. Though the
Bruins are 4-1 against Washington State under Ben Howland, the
coach said that it could just as easily be 0-5.
“They’re a very difficult team to play,” said
Howland, whose Bruins have won by an average of 2.5 points in their
wins over the Cougars.
“They’re a very young team. (Josh) Akognon loves to
play against UCLA. Every time we play that guy he kills us,”
Howland said.
“They have a good team that no one wants to play. If
anyone has difficulty scheduling games, it’s (Washington
State head coach) Dick Bennett. Nobody wants to play him. Why would
you?”
In their last meeting at Pauley Pavilion, Akognon, the
Cougars’ guard, dropped a game-high 25 points on 6-for-8
shooting from 3-point range, and the Bruins nearly coughed up a
double-digit lead late in the game.
The No. 13 Bruins (19-4, 9-2 Pac-10) escaped, but lost to then
13th-ranked Washington 69-65.
Even though the matchups between the Cougars (10-9, 3-7) have
been close, the Bruins have been successful on the road, winning
the last 12 games at Washington State.
If the Bruins want to get their first 20-win season since
2001-2002, they’ll need to do it against a stingy
defense.
UCLA, however, leads the conference in field goal percentage at
47.9.
Whether sophomore guard Jordan Farmar will suit up is something
to watch for ““ it will be a game-time decision because of a
left ankle sprain Farmar sustained Saturday in the Bruins’
home win versus Arizona. Farmar leads the conference in assists per
game with 5.76.
UCLA will also look to the leadership of senior guard Cedric
Bozeman, who is currently playing with torn cartilage in his
shoulder. When Bozeman is in the lineup, UCLA is 14-1.
Winning on the road has been a trend this season. The Bruins
have won all but one game on the road. The single loss was against
Memphis at the Preseason NIT tournament in New York.
UCLA has now swept four Pac-10 schools on the road: the Oregon
and Arizona schools. This is the first time they’ve done this
since 1996-1997.
“Going on the road, it’s you against the
world,” Howland said.
“There’s nothing more gratifying than getting a road
win. Going into a tough environment, we’ve done a good job
thus far.”