Thursday, November 19, 1998
Bruins hope to buck Broncos in Pavilion
M. HOOPS: UCLA team faces off against Santa Clara with first
real test of basketball season
By AJ Cadman
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
It was the beginning of the end. The last time the UCLA Bruins
played the Santa Clara Broncos, Jim Harrick was the head coach.
Steve Lavin was just an assistant at the time. It was the team’s
first game since winning the NCAA Championship 89-78 over the
Arkansas Razorbacks. The Bruins were set to defend their title
admirably. There was much promise, and one reason for doubt: the
graduation and the departure of Ed O’Bannon.
The Santa Clara Broncos, a West Coast Conference representative,
had been known for one thing at the time. The little-known school
had beaten Pac-10 power Arizona a couple of years earlier. And a
little-known player at the time would go on to capture his dreams
and play in the NBA. This freshman had sunk the crucial free throws
to mark the first time a No. 15 seed in the NCAA Tournament had
defeated a No. 2 seed. His name was Steve Nash.
But here were these two teams: one fresh off a national
championship and one knocking on the door for a little respect. The
Bruins took the small school for granted at the 1995 Maui Classic
and lost, 78-69.
Now, Lavin is the head coach with his own team. Harrick is
coaching at Rhode Island. Ed O’Bannon is playing professionally in
Europe. Steve Nash is with the Dallas Mavericks. But, both teams
are in the same positions as they were just three years ago: one
with outstanding young talent and promise and the other again
knocking on the door.
The Broncos travel from Northern California to Pauley Pavilion
Thursday night to take on the Bruins in UCLA’s first real test. The
contest’s implications will be much like a high school teacher
giving quizzes on the first day of school to see how his students
stack up against each other.
The Broncos have proven to be up to the task of handling tough
competition. Besides their upset against the Wildcats, the Broncos
narrowly lost down the stretch against 1998 Final Four participant
Stanford last season 69-60 at the Cable Car Classic at the San Jose
Arena.
The Bruins will showcase their highly-touted freshman class
Thursday evening, who will get their first real taste of NCAA
Division I competition on the parque floor of legendary Pauley
Pavilion.
Freshman centers Dan Gadzuric (6-foot-10) and Jerome Moiso
(6-foot-10) will play tag team against the Broncos’ 6-foot 10
senior center Alex Lopez. Lopez averaged 5.2 points and 3.3
rebounds per game last season against mainly WCC competition.
"I think things are going well. We still have some things we
have got to work on and get better at (before the season starts),"
said Gadzuric. "We are not where we want to be yet. But, (the team)
is looking forward to Thursday."
In the frontcourt, freshmen Matt Barnes and JaRon Rush, and
sophomore Travis Reed will attempt to keep the Broncos off the
boards and clean up shop against SCU’s 6-foot-7 junior forward Todd
Wuschnig, who averaged 8.4 points and 5.8 rebounds last season.
In the backcourt, the absence of Baron Davis for the 1998 home
opener leaves the door wide open for head coach Steve Lavin as to
who will start opposite sophomore Earl Watson. Watson will assume
point guard duties while Todd Ramasar, who started both exhibition
games, senior Brandon Loyd, Ryan Bailey or Rico Hines will get the
nod at the other starting guard position. Hines did not play in the
preseason due to a sprained left knee.
"(My knee) is feeling a lot better. It’s real strong again,"
said Hines. But Lavin stated he was still uncertain of Hines’
status, which will be determined closer to game time.
"When you miss two weeks," said Lavin, "it’s hard just to step
right back in."
The Bruin backcourt will have the dubious task of stopping
6-foot-3 junior guard Brian Jones, who averaged 15.6 points and 4.8
rebounds during the 1997-98 campaign, and talented freshmen Darrell
Teat and Brian Vaka.
"We’ve got a lot of people who can get up and down the court,"
said starting guard Earl Watson. "There is a lot of talent on this
team. We are going to work on some things this week, mostly with
the younger players, but we should be ready for (Santa Clara)."
The lack of senior leadership, due in part to the departure of
Kris Johnson, J.R. Henderson and Toby Bailey, is countered by the
Broncos’ own losses last season.
Santa Clara lost guard Craig Johnson (12.6 points, 5 rebounds
per game) and guard/forward Lloyd Pierce (11.2, 3.7) to
graduation.
With the amount of youth that will be on the court tonight,
momentum will be a key factor in building confidence at the
beginning of the season, most especially for the younger players on
the squad.
Lavin and Co. will have to be focused in order to end the Bruins
three-game season opener losing streak.
The Bruins lost last season to North Carolina 109-68 at the
Great Alaska Shootout, the second worst loss in UCLA history.
In 1996, the Bruins lost in overtime in Pauley to Tulsa 77-76.
But UCLA returned in the following contest to outscore their
opponents by an average of 23 points.
The Bruins are hoping to make sure lightning doesn’t strike
twice.BAHMAN FARAHDEL/Daily Bruin
JaRon Rush and the UCLA men’s basketball team will play their
home opener tonight against the Santa Clara Broncos.
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