No second thoughts

Better than last season, that’s what UCLA players are saying about the 2006-2007 team. That they are further along at this stage than the team that advanced to the national championship game last season. That they have more potential than the team that lost three players -- Jordan Farmar, Cedric Bozeman and Ryan Hollins -- to the NBA.

It is what players say at the “programs� -- places such as North Carolina, Duke, Kansas and Kentucky -- where a Final Four appearance is not a triumph but an expectation.

“I see us being better,� said Josh Shipp, a redshirt sophomore forward who sat out all but four games last season because of a hip injury. But Shipp stopped for a moment when it was pointed out that technically the only way the Bruins can be better is to win a national championship. “Well I can’t predict that,� he said.

The Bruins will open their season tonight against a veteran Brigham Young team with a well-regarded 6-foot-11 center, Trent Plaistad.

So UCLA’s weaknesses might be on display in the first game.

UCLA Coach Ben Howland is nostalgic for the 7-foot Hollins who became, in the last month of last season, a competent scorer, fierce rebounder, dangerous shot blocker and a long-armed and mobile defender.

“I wished he would have redshirted,� Howland said of Hollins, who is with the Charlotte Bobcats.

The Bruins are loaded with lean, strong swingmen in the 6-5 to 6-8 range. Arron Afflalo, a 6-5 guard who tested NBA interest before deciding to return for his junior season; Shipp, 6-5, who had hip surgery last season and has come back leaner and as an improved shooter; and 6-8 sophomore Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, the Pacific 10 Conference freshman of the year, provide the Bruins plenty of scorers and solid defenders.

Quick sophomore Darren Collison, who has grown his hair from last season’s shaved look, is willing to be the vocal leader and eager to replace Farmar as point guard.

“I want to play hard and fast,� Collison said. “That’s how we’re going to play.�

And then there is the center.

Lorenzo Mata, 6-9 and 240 pounds, whose solid bottom half Howland has compared to “a Mack truck� and who has blossomed from a reluctant shooter and unconfident defender as a lightly recruited player from South Gate High, is now called “a key for us� by Afflalo and “our best rebounder and shot blocker for sure,� by Shipp.

It is not only a platitude when Howland said in the last month, while Mata recovered from his second surgery since breaking his leg last January, “We really need Lorenzo back and healthy. He’s a key guy for us.�

Mata returned to practice last weekend and hopes to play as much as 20 minutes in tonight’s opener. “I really hope so,� Mata said. “I feel so ready.�

For most of preseason practice and in UCLA’s two exhibitions, sophomore Alfred Aboya, a 6-8 sophomore, has played center. Aboya, like Mbah a Moute, grew up in the African country of Cameroon and it was Aboya who was thought to be the bigger recruiting catch by Howland.

Aboya played in 33 games last season, but he was never truly healthy. A knee injury from high school kept Aboya out of much of the preseason. He also had a hip injury in February. “Nobody really saw the real Alfred last year,� Aboya said. “It will be a very big surprise when they see Alfred this year.�

Collison says Aboya adds quickness and toughness to the middle. Afflalo says the team most appreciates Aboya’s “intensity.� Shipp says Aboya is a great offensive rebounder, a tough defender and, “The kind of center you want on the run.�

Mbah a Moute says his countryman has an inner toughness that Howland nurtures. “It hurt Alfred a lot last year not to be at his best,� Mbah a Moute said. “He very much wants to show all his skills. Alfred may not be the best shooter or best rebounder, but maybe he is the second-best in many things and he is always the best at toughness.�

Howland said it was good for Aboya to exclusively practice as the center in the preseason. “It helped Alfred just learning one position,� Howland said. “But he gives up a lot in terms of size, especially to the inside players in our conference.

“Even BYU is a great example. Plaistad would start for a lot of teams. Alfred is so active, so athletic; he’s constantly in motion with his feet. When Lorenzo is back, Alfred can play some forward.�

So it is Mata who is the wild card. “Lorenzo give us more size and presence in the middle,� Howland said. “He’s 6-9 barefoot now, probably pretty close to 6-10 in his shoes.�

And it is in shoes where Howland needs Mata, not in bare feet.

“I like it that I’m needed,� Mata said. “I’m feeling so good now, let’s just go play.�

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(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

Starting five

With the departure of Jordan Farmar, Cedric Bozeman and Ryan Hollins, UCLA will have to rely on sophomores to take on lead roles this season. The Bruins’ projected starters:

*--* G Darren Collison 6-1 Soph. G Arron Afflalo 6-5 Junior F Josh Shipp 6-5 Soph. F Luc Richard Mbah a Moute 6-8 Soph. C Alfred Aboya 6-8 Soph.

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* Tonight’s game: UCLA vs. BYU, 7:30 at Pauley Pavilion, FSN Prime Ticket

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UCLA breakdown

Scouting report

* Last season: 32-7, 14-4 in Pacific 10 Conference.

* Finish: Pac-10 champion. Defeated California, 71-52, to win conference tournament. Defeated Belmont, 78-44; Alabama, 62-59; Gonzaga, 73-71; Memphis, 50-45; and Louisiana State, 59-45, in the NCAA tournament before losing to Florida, 73-57, in the national championship game.

* Coach: Ben Howland, 61-35, fourth season.

* Who’s gone: G Jordan Farmar, (13.5 ppg., 4.8 apg.); G Cedric Bozeman, (7.6 ppg.), C Ryan Hollins (7.0 ppg., 4.8 rpg).

* Projected starters: G Darren Collison, 6-1, So.; G Arron Afflalo, 6-5, Jr.; C Alfred Aboya, 6-8, So.; F Josh Shipp, 6-5, So.; F Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, 6-8 So.

* Tonight’s game: UCLA vs. Brigham Young, 7:30, at Pauley Pavilion -- BYU has been picked to finish second in the Mountain West Conference coming off a 20-9 season under first-year coach Dave Rose. The Cougars have something the Bruins don’t: Seniors, six of them. But it is 6-11 sophomore Trent Plaisted, who led BYU in scoring (13.6) and rebounding (6.9) last season, who might give the Bruins the most trouble.

* Key dates: Nov. 21 at Maui Invitational, possible second-round meeting with Kentucky -- An early-season dream matchup between the top programs in college basketball history; Dec. 9 vs. Texas A&M; in Wooden Classic at Honda Center -- No. 12 Aggies are a program on the rise after upsetting Syracuse in the NCAA tournament; Dec. 31, vs. Washington at Pauley Pavilion -- Huskies have perhaps nation’s second-best freshman, 7-0 center Spencer Hawes; Jan. 13, at USC -- Bruins get first look at new Galen Center; Feb. 10, at West Virginia -- Bruins get a chance to make up for their worst home loss from last season.

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Roster

* Russell Westbrook (G) -- #0, 6-3, 187, Fr. Must be good -- fast -- in role as first point guard off bench.

* Darren Collison (G) -- #2, 6-1, 165, Soph. Team is his to run now that Farmar is a Laker.

* Josh Shipp (F/G) -- #3, 6-5, 220, Soph. Lost a season rehabilitating a hip injury; the Bruins need him.

* Arron Afflalo (G) -- #4, 6-5, 215, Jr. Taking 500 shots a day this summer has helped his range.

* DeAndre Robinson (G) -- #5, 6-5, 210, Soph. Hopes to score his first point as Bruin this season.

* Mustafa Abdul-Hamid (G) -- #10, 6-2, 185, Fr. Work-in-progress from St. Louis who is academic star.

* Ryan Wright (F/C) -- #11, 6-8, 240, Soph. Needs to improve footwork, but Bruins need his bulk off the bench.

* Alfred Aboya (F/C) -- #12, 6-8, 235, Soph. Promises to impress now that his sore knees feel better.

* James Keefe (F) -- #13, 6-8, 220, Fr. Prize recruit needs to get stronger to play Ben Howland defense.

* Lorenzo Mata (C) -- #14, 6-9, 240, Jr. His recovery from October knee surgery could be key to season.

* Michael Roll (G/F) -- #20, 6-5, 200, Soph. Three-point threat is getting shot off quicker.

* Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (F) -- #23, 6-8, 230, Soph. Pac-10 freshman of year still getting better.

* Joey Ellis (G) -- #24, 6-2, 185, Soph. Blowouts will be his best chance to play.

* Nikola Dragovic (F) -- #41, 6-8, 215, Fr. Hindered by 10-game NCAA suspension for playing with pros in Serbia.

* Matt Lee (G) -- #55, 6-0, 160, Jr. Walk-on whose spirited practice play earned him a roster spot.