They Remain Short-Handed on Long Shots

OAKLAND —  The fact that UCLA lacks the brawn Ben Howland covets never has been more apparent than it was Thursday in the loss to Stanford.

That’s hardly a problem that can be fixed in a day.

“It’s going to take a while, years of recruiting,” Howland said.

The more immediate issue as the Bruins face California today is how to counter a zone defense, with the Bears almost certain to use one at times after Arizona and Stanford thwarted UCLA so thoroughly with zones.

The problem is that with Brian Morrison not yet back from a hamstring injury, UCLA has no consistent three-point threat.

Dijon Thompson is the closest thing the Bruins have, and although he is shooting 32% from long range, he is only seven for 29 (24%) in conference games.

Trevor Ariza had made only nine of 40 this season and Cedric Bozeman is five for 16, leaving walk-on Janou Rubin, at 10 for 17, as perhaps UCLA’s best option.

Morrison was shooting almost 46% from three-point range at the time of his injury Dec. 20 against Michigan State.

“It’s been a huge setback not having him,” Howland said.

Morrison is on the trip, and although Howland ruled out using him against Cal without a full practice under his belt yet, he said he expects him to play some on Wednesday against USC.

As for the shortcomings in the strength department, UCLA faces another challenge today trying to handle standout Cal freshman Leon Powe, who is 6 feet 8 and 245 pounds.

Although UCLA had success collapsing the defense on Arizona State’s Ike Diogu, that will be more difficult against Cal because the Bears also have center Amit Tamir, an exceptional passer who also can step outside and make the three-point shot.

Since there is no hope of the Bruins’ getting stronger overnight, Howland is hoping UCLA will show more tenacity.

“You can still be tough without being strong. You can still give your body up,” he said. “Stanford is strong and tough. That’s a double-whammy. That’s why they’re undefeated and in the top two in the country.”

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The Arizona and Stanford games felt more like big games, but in truth, today’s contest against Cal is more crucial to the Bruins’ season.

Stanford and Arizona appear to be far superior to the rest of the Pacific 10, but third place in the league is up for grabs, and Howland believes the team that finishes third will claim an NCAA tournament berth.

“I do,” he said.

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T.J. Cummings spent a lengthy period on the bench at the end of the Stanford game and did not seem pleased, but Howland downplayed it Friday.

“We were down by 20-plus points and I put Josiah [Johnson] in to get experience,” he said. “Then the last three or four minutes, [Stanford] went small and we went small with them.

“The thing I was appreciative of was it really bothered T.J. [to lose]. I want to see who really hurts and who doesn’t.”

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Ariza has been one of UCLA’s standouts, but he had only two points and two rebounds against Stanford and Howland said he believes Ariza was tired.

The slender forward won’t be gaining -- or even maintaining -- much strength during the season. Howland said doctors have warned him against weightlifting for now because of the possibility of a recurrence of the partially collapsed lung he suffered earlier.

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Ryan Hollins will start a second consecutive game at center over Michael Fey.

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TODAY

at California, 1 p.m., Channel 2

Site -- Haas Pavilion, Berkeley.

Radio -- XTRA 690/1150.

Records -- UCLA 9-5 overall, 5-2 in Pacific 10; Cal 7-8, 3-3.

Update -- After a 5-0 start in the Pacific 10, the Bruins were brought down to earth by a 25-point loss to Arizona and a 15-point loss to Stanford, the league’s top teams. The race for third, however, appears very competitive, with UCLA, Oregon, and USC in the mix along with Cal after its 63-62 victory over USC on Thursday. To say the Bears have been erratic is an understatement: Their one-game winning “streak” equals their longest of the season. Forward Leon Powe is one the Pac-10’s best freshmen and leads Cal in scoring and rebounding.