M. hoops gets CSUN in opener
Untested Bruins try to keep expectations in check for season
opener
By Randy Satterburg
Daily Bruin Staff
It’s hard to know what will be higher when the No. 6 UCLA men’s
basketball team tips off its regular season Saturday with a home
game against Cal State Northridge  the Bruins’ emotions or
the expectations that have been placed upon them.
With four returning starters, four blue chip freshmen recruits,
and a roster that has depth through 12 players, the Bruins are
already being tabbed as Final Four contenders. Sports Illustrated
went so far as to pick UCLA as its preseason No. 1.
"That’s ludicrous," UCLA head coach Jim Harrick said of the
magazine’s bold prediction. "How could anybody in their right mind
not vote Arkansas No. 1? And it’s unfair to the players to be
talking about the Final Four when they haven’t even played a game
yet this year. We’re more worried about playing well in our season
opener."
The Bruins will make their 1994-95 debut Saturday against the
Matadors, a team which played the Bruins surprisingly close two
years ago in Pauley Pavilion before losing, 80-73.
This marks the 24th career campaign for Cal State Northridge
head coach Pete Cassidy, whose teams are always quick and
disciplined as passers.
"You always know when you play a Pete Cassidy team that you will
be screened a lot and that his team will make you play good
defense," Harrick said.
With several of UCLA’s freshmen making strong impressions in the
preseason there has been speculation that one of them could crack
the Bruins’ starting line-up soon.
"Right now we’ll go with the same lineup (as the AIA game), but
I’m not real set on anything," Harrick said.