NICOLE MILLER/Daily Bruin Ray Young
elevates himself over UCSB players during a game on Wednesday.
Men’s Basketball PREVIEW vs. at Wooden
Classic Saturday Noon at Anaheim, Calif. TV-KCAL, Channel
9 Radio-1150AM
By Chris Umpierre
Daily Bruin Staff
Legendary Bruin coach John Wooden is happy to see UCLA back as a
participant in the annual John R. Wooden Classic.
Wooden said he was disappointed UCLA wasn’t able to play
last year. “From my point of view, I’d like them to be
in it every year,” Wooden said. “But I understand that
it’s difficult because schedules are filled in several years
ahead.”
“Don’t think I’m being critical,” he
added. “I just would like them to be in it.”
After a one-year hiatus, the Bruins (2-2) return to play in the
Classic as they will take on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (3-1)
on Saturday at noon in Anaheim’s Arrowhead Pond. Immediately
following that contest, No. 18 USC will face Utah.
Because of conflicting dates, the Bruins weren’t able to
participate in the tournament last season. It marked the second
time UCLA hasn’t participated in the Classic since it began
in 1994.
It’s a mystery to sophomore forward Jason Kapono as to why
UCLA isn’t a part of a tournament that is named after the
school’s most celebrated coach every year.
“I really don’t understand it,” Kapono said
about the Classic that is played in nearby Anaheim. “Plus,
it’s here in Southern California. You would think they would
have us. I really don’t know why.”
UCLA is not contractually obligated to play in the Classic every
year, but the school does its best to be a part of the
tournament.
In early December last season, UCLA already had nonconference
games lined up against Gonzaga and DePaul. In addition, the Bruins
were scheduled to fly to Hawaii later in the month for the Pearl
Harbor Classic.
UCLA also did not participate in the 1996 Classic due to similar
conflicting dates.
According to UCLA Sports Information, the Bruins are scheduled
to play in the 2001 Wooden Classic. The three other teams have not
yet been selected.
When the Bruins have participated, they have won every game;
UCLA is 4-0 in the tournament. In 1998, when they last played in
the Classic, a then-No. 18 Bruin team upset 11th-ranked Oklahoma
State 69-66.
Wooden said one of the reasons he agreed to having a tournament
named in his honor was the idea that UCLA would play every year and
draw a lot of fans, raising money for charities.
“The main reason I agreed to it was that $50,000 goes to
charities,” he said. “Last year the money went to
Special Olympics and this year as well.”
In prior years, it went to children’s hospitals.
“I don’t select the charity but I must agree to
it,” he added. “I’m very pleased with that
aspect.”
He should also be pleased with the UCLA-Georgia Tech matchup,
which promises to be a high scoring affair.
First-year head coach Paul Hewitt has employed a running,
pressing system at Georgia Tech. He typically uses a 10 player
rotation in hopes his team will wear down the opponent.
“In terms of style, we’ll be pressing 94 feet or
three-quarter court,” Hewitt said in a statement at the
beginning of the season. “We’ll run on every possession
and employ a secondary break. We want to make conditioning a factor
in every game.”
This type of game should play into the hands of UCLA, which has
struggled playing half-court basketball in its last two games
against Cal State Northridge and UC Santa Barbara.
With Bruin fast breaks few and far between, the Matadors and
Gauchos both had considerable success against UCLA by slowing down
the game. Both teams employed a solid zone defense against the
Bruins.
UCLA prefers to play up-tempo basketball, utilizing their
athleticism on the fast break.
The Bruins should finally be able to run on Saturday.
“That’s our type of game,” shooting guard Ray
Young said. “We like any team that tries to up the tempo
because we have great athletes, we have great shooters. I think the
Georgia Tech game is going to be one of those games we
like.”
Young added that if was up to him, UCLA would be part of the
Wooden Classic every year.
“I think it’s a great tribute to John Wooden,”
Young said. “I wouldn’t mind personally to play in it
every year but I don’t know the politics of the whole
situation. I just go where they tell me.”