Bruin guard Morrison out until Jan. 15 ANN
ARBOR, Mich. — UCLA junior shooting guard Brian Morrison will be
lost for closer to 3½ weeks after pulling his left hamstring
last Saturday against Michigan State. He did not make the Michigan
trip, as he was at home in Redmond, Wash. receiving treatment.
Morrison, the team’s leading 3-point shooter, is not expected to
return to action until at least Jan. 15 against Arizona State.
"He’s healing and getting better," coach Ben Howland said following
Saturday’s 70-66 loss to Michigan. "Not having him hurt us, but
that’s no excuse. We have to have other guys step up." Dijon
Thompson went 5-for-10 from beyond the arc, but the Bruins missed
their seven other attempts. Junior Janou Rubin played seven minutes
at the position and Jon Crispin, who scored his first two points of
the season, played five. BACK AT HOME: UCLA
assistant coach Ernie Zeigler, who was born and raised in Detroit,
said before the game that coaching in Michigan’s Crisler Arena
would be an emotional moment for him. He had previously been there
during his first coaching stint at Detroit Cody High School while
bringing the players for basketball camps. "I know when I step on
that floor there, thinking back on how my career began, it’s going
to be a nostalgic time," said Zeigler, who was inundated with
ticket requests from family and friends. Zeigler’s main priority
now is using his local connections in recruiting Detroit
Renaissance High forward Malik Hairston, who was expected to be in
attendance at Saturday’s game.
DRIBBLERS: Reserve point guard Ryan Walcott
scored two points in seven minutes of play after missing the past
two games due to muscle spasms in his back. Point guard Cedric
Bozeman, fresh off a 1-for-9 free throw shooting performance
against Michigan State, missed both his free throws against
Michigan. Combined, the Bruins shot 9-for-15.