Bruins Fearing Freshman Errors

PITTSBURGH —  Is Steve Lavin’s job security determined by top UCLA administrators, the ivory-tower suits no one ever sees?

Or does it lie in the far less steady hands of freshman point guards Cedric Bozeman and Ryan Walcott?

The coach had better hope the Bruins’ performance in the NCAA tournament--starting tonight against Mississippi--is a trivial matter to Chancellor Albert Carnesale and Vice Chancellor Pete Blackman because the largest patch of green on this St. Patrick’s Day weekend will be in the UCLA backcourt.

“You hope that by this time the freshmen have become like sophomores,” Lavin said. “The level of competition we’ve played, the travel, the tough conference games, should all have helped by now.”

Visiting Bracketville without an experienced point guard almost always results in an early exit. Yes, Arizona won the NCAA title in 1997 with freshman Mike Bibby following Coach Lute Olson’s commands. But mature guard play usually separates the contenders from the pretenders.

A team with a senior at the point, even when that senior is 5 feet 5, holds a distinct advantage. Mississippi (20-10) is that team; Jason Harrison is that short, savvy senior.

“Harrison is the player who steps up, he’s an extension of their coach,” Lavin said. “He’s a tough competitor, a fighter, who gets the key steal or shot.”

Bozeman and Walcott, in contrast, have committed many of the turnovers and missed some of the shots that kept UCLA (19-11) from winning close games recently. The Bruins have other problems, to be sure, but none seem less curable.

Bozeman will start, as he has 14 of the last 15 games. Walcott will play at least 10 minutes off the bench, as he has in 11 of the last 15 games.

Bozeman, a 6-6 high school All-American from Santa Ana Mater Dei, averages 3.8 points on 42.5% shooting and has made only six of 20 free throws. He has 81 assists and 60 turnovers, including a season-high six miscues in the loss to California last week.

He spent the week watching film of his few strong performances and Thursday pronounced himself relaxed and prepared.

“I’m ready to start a clean slate in the tournament,” he said. “I’m ready for this and I’m looking forward to it. I’m feeling real loose.”

Walcott, a 6-1 redshirt freshman whose development as a role player has been a pleasant surprise, is also confident after making four of five shots and playing a season-high 26 minutes in the first-round Pac-10 tournament loss to Cal. He averages 2.2 points on 42.9% shooting and has 28 assists and 30 turnovers.

“I’m playing good at the right time,” he said. “I’ve got to take care of the ball. That’s all I’ve been thinking about.”

There is little doubt Bozeman and Walcott will develop into excellent players given time. Lavin likes to point out that former Bruin standout point guards Earl Watson, Baron Davis, Tyus Edney and Cameron Dollar also endured rough times as freshmen.

But the future might be now for the embattled coach, who, despite a six-year winning percentage of 69.6% and an NCAA tournament appearance every season, is under intense criticism.

UCLA was ranked No. 5 in the preseason and picked to win the Pacific 10 Conference. Instead, the Bruins finished sixth in the conference--worst in school history--and enter the tournament unranked.

A loss to Ole Miss would mean their first season with less than 20 victories since 1987-88.

“This is my most challenging season as a coach for many reasons,” Lavin said. “And my biggest challenge has been being patient with freshman guards.

“I think they can be effective [against Mississippi]. Cedric poses match-up problems with Harrison, and Ryan gives us speed and quickness.”

UCLA is more experienced at every other position. Senior center Dan Gadzuric could dominate against the three-guard, two-forward Mississippi lineup. And the Bruins usually win when guard Billy Knight and forwards Matt Barnes and Jason Kapono shoot well.

The Bruins held a spirited practice at Mellon Arena on Thursday, going full tilt during a scrimmage that had guard Rico Hines flying onto press row after a loose ball and Barnes getting poked in the eye by reserve Andre Patterson.

“They probably think we are soft prima donnas from Westwood,” Hines said. “We have to set the tone and be the first to dive after a ball and be the first to get out running.”

The players reminded themselves that beating Kansas and Alabama--teams seeded No. 1 and No. 2 in the tournament--proves they can play with anyone. And they insist that their road loss to Villanova on Feb. 9 is now a positive because it simulated this trip.

“It helps to play cross-country against someone out of your conference,” Barnes said. “Having little time to prepare, being on national television, it’s the kind of experience we needed before the tournament, especially our young guys.”

That would mean the freshman point guards, who today hold Bruin fortunes in their hands.