Talk Show a Few Weeks Away

Look for a calmer, quieter Bruin team in the next few weeks--at least until Baron Davis comes back.

Davis is the team’s leading returning scorer at 11.7 points a game, and rebounder at four. And he and Rico Hines are UCLA’s most vocal players.

“Everything’s dramatic with him,� Coach Steve Lavin said. “Baron’s playing to the crowd, talking trash to his opponents, pumping guys up on the team.�

Earl Watson, his backcourt mate, is filling in at point guard with a completely different style. He’s soft-spoken, poker-faced. The type who, Lavin said, “just looks at you and that’s all it takes.�

In the meantime, Davis has been doing his best from the sideline, where he watches scrimmages with an ice bag on his surgically repaired knee. The sophomore constantly yells suggestions and encouragement.

“You don’t want to just sit there,� he said. “You have to try to participate as much as possible.�

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UCLA overcame a sluggish start to defeat the Taiwan National team, 98-65, on Thursday night before a crowd of 6,029 at Pauley Pavilion.

Taiwan led by one point midway through the first half before UCLA pulled away to a 44-28 halftime lead. The Bruins were led by freshman Jaron Rush, who scored 21 points in 23 minutes. Watson had 16 points and Ryan Bailey, a transfer from Penn State, had 15.