UCLA’s players don’t remember Steve Lavin

Steve Lavin figures to evoke strong reactions on Saturday in his return to Pauley Pavilion.

Just not from the UCLA players.

Several Bruins seemed mildly confused when asked about the St. John’s coach, who guided UCLA to the NCAA tournament six times in seven years before being fired after the 2002-03 season.

Seated at a table in an interview room late Wednesday night, Malcolm Lee, Joshua Smith and Tyler Honeycutt passed a microphone among one another, as if they didn’t know what to say, before Smith finally spoke.

“I think he was here and was one of the coaches when they won the national championship [in 1995],� Smith said.

“No he wasn’t,� Lee added. “Was he?�

Informed that Lavin had been an assistant coach at that time, Lee said, “I thought you meant head� coach.

“Learn your history, man,� Honeycutt said, jokingly chiding Lee.

Lee said he rooted for St. John’s during its 93-78 victory over then-No. 3 Duke last weekend, but only because a Red Storm triumph could boost UCLA’s NCAA tournament resume should the Bruins win the intersectional showdown.

St. John’s (13-8) had an official NCAA Ratings Percentage Index figure of 24 on Monday, significantly higher than UCLA’s 47, and that was before a 58-56 victory over Rutgers.

Asked about how his team’s fans might greet Lavin, Bruins Coach Ben Howland said Thursday he “would hope and would think he’s going to get a very warm reception. Steve gave UCLA 12 years of his life and worked very hard and was part of a national championship team.�

Howland added that Lavin had been “nothing but positive about UCLA� even after he went into broadcasting after his dismissal.

“Steve’s been great and is really, really a first-class guy,� Howland said.

Howland also noted that Lavin didn’t exactly leave him a roster bereft of talent when Howland took over before the 2003-04 season. Cedric Bozeman and Ryan Hollins went on to become starters on Howland’s first Final Four team two years later.

“He left a number of good players,� Howland said.

The Bruins said Lavin’s presence on their home court would not be a distraction regardless of the reception he receives.

“Steve Lavin being at St. John’s really has nothing to do with how we’re going to play,� Honeycutt said.

Said Smith: “We’re not really focused on him.�

They’ll meet again

Howland said the game against St. John’s was part of a home-and-home series that had been in the works before Howland arrived at UCLA. The Bruins are scheduled to play the Red Storm next season in New York.

St. John’s defeated UCLA, 71-55, on Jan. 31, 2004, in Madison Square Garden during Howland’s first season with the Bruins.

Etc.

An X-ray on junior guard Lazeric Jones’ sprained left wrist was negative, Howland said. Jones landed on the wrist in the second half of UCLA’s 64-50 victory over USC on Wednesday when he tried to dunk. … Howland said obscene chants directed at USC by fans during the game were something that would be addressed before the teams played next season. “That was obviously something we don’t condone,� Howland said.

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