And next up for the Bruins: an actual challenge.
After demolishing an undermanned and undertalented Oregon State team to the tune of 84-49 Thursday night, UCLA will get a sterner test against Oregon on Saturday.
The Ducks come into the game tied for sixth place in conference but still feature a potent lineup that poses matchup problems for the Bruins.
The first contest between the two ended with an 80-75 UCLA victory at McArthur Court, a game coach Ben Howland called one of the best in all his years of coaching, because the Bruins pulled out the victory without center Lorenzo Mata-Real and forward Luc Richard Mbah a Moute.
“We know Oregon is going to come in here and give us their very best game here,” Howland said. “The first time we played Oregon, we were very fortunate up there to get the win. That game was obviously a huge win for us.”
Another factor in play is how much trouble Oregon has had in conference games this season. The Ducks fell to 6-8 in the Pac-10 after losing at USC 81-75 Thursday night. With its overall record at a pedestrian 15-11, Oregon’s NCAA Tournament hopes are on a knife’s edge.
“They’re right on the edge of making it and not making it,” Howland said. “Everyone is fighting now for NCAA Tournament berths and seedings.”
Point guard Darren Collison echoed Howland’s comments following the drubbing of Oregon State, adding that, despite the final score of Thursday’s game against the Beavers, the Bruins will have to be even better on Saturday.
“We can’t (lose our focus),” Collison said. “It’s going to hurt us in the long run ““ for example, it’s going to hurt us against Oregon, which is a very good team.”
MATA-REAL STEPPING UP: In 18 minutes of play on Thursday, backup center Mata-Real had as many points (11) as starting center Kevin Love. He also had five rebounds and three blocks, providing productive minutes for the Bruins.
Howland was very pleased with his lone senior’s play.
“I thought Lorenzo did a great job tonight,” Howland said. “He played well on both ends of the floor. We need that; we’re going to need him.”
Mata-Real started for last year’s Final Four team but has accepted a backup role for his senior season with the arrival of the freshman Love.
LUC HITTING THE BOOKS: Luc Richard Mbah a Moute had five turnovers on Thursday in his second game back from an ankle injury suffered against Arizona, but Howland did not attribute his play entirely to rust.
“I’ll tell you what ““ and what everybody forgets is ““ we’re still in the middle of midterms,” Howland said. “(Mbah a Moute) is a very serious student. He’s had a lot of midterms the last couple of weeks. Today he couldn’t go through the walk-through ““ he had to go to class. We’re always fighting stuff like that at UCLA.”