The original version of this article contained an error and has been changed. See the bottom of the article for additional information.
MESA, Ariz. — UCLA made a plan to play a more up-tempo style this season.
An influx of athletic freshmen and a new point guard meant the Bruins were going to run. When Joshua Smith (Georgetown) and Tyler Lamb (Long Beach State) transferred earlier this season, however, those plans looked to change, as coach Ben Howland was left with little depth on the bench – just eight scholarship players.
Somehow, the Bruins have run their way to a 16-4 record and a 5-1 start to conference play. Never was that more evident than during UCLA’s 84-73 win over Arizona on Thursday.
Despite losing redshirt junior forward Travis Wear to a concussion and momentarily missing freshman guard Jordan Adams because of cramps, the Bruins’ transition game was a key to the upset win. Late in the game, UCLA ran straight through Arizona’s full-court press, leading to a dunk from redshirt junior forward David Wear that put the Bruins up by nine points.
Howland, however, admitted to letting the tempo lag when the chips were down.
“We ran a lot this week,” Howland said after the game. “I thought I let it slip in terms of not pushing hard enough. That was a big emphasis and it will be again. We’ve got to push, even with limited numbers, because we’re getting easy baskets in transition. Our guys can run.”
UCLA will be short-handed again on Saturday against Arizona State (15-4, 4-2 Pac-12), as Wear did not pass the necessary preliminary testing to clear a concussion on Friday, leaving Howland with just seven scholarship players.
Howland said Friday walk-on junior center Sooren Derboghosian could see some minutes.
Will the Bruins continue to push the ball with dwindling numbers? Find out Saturday.
Correction: Sooren Derboghosian’s name was misspelled.