Collison is putting the NBA question on hold

Darren Collison paid attention to how two former UCLA teammates handled season-long speculation about whether they planned to leave the Bruins early for the NBA.

Jordan Farmar, who turned pro after his sophomore season, Collison’s rookie year, and Arron Afflalo, who left early last year, always answered the NBA question by saying something such as, “I’m not thinking about it.”

As third-ranked UCLA, 26-3 overall and 14-2 in Pacific 10 Conference play, prepares to host seventh-ranked Stanford (24-4, 13-3) in a game where a Bruins win would clinch their third straight outright conference championship, Collison was asked Tuesday to reflect on what might be his final two home games.

“You’re not supposed to be thinking about that,” Collison said.

The junior point guard has been mentioned as an NBA prospect since taking over for Farmar last season. Collison sprained his left knee in November and as he limped through the early part of his recovery while wearing a brace, the NBA talk quieted.

But Collison has averaged 16 points a game in his last four games and is nine for 14 from three-point range in that span.

“Honestly, I don’t know what’s going to happen after the end of the season,” he said. “We have a long road ahead of us, trying to do something special we didn’t do the last couple of years.

“I’ve been to the Final Four twice and we didn’t win the championship. I’m not trying to go to the Final Four again and not win it again.”

And if the Bruins were to win a 12th championship next month?

“It would probably make things a lot easier,” Collison said. “Whether I come back or go, I just want to win a championship.”

There is a small tent city growing around Pauley Pavilion, filled with students who are camping out for the best floor seats for Thursday’s game.

Collison and junior Josh Shipp said it was nice to see the enthusiasm but neither could name an event -- sports or otherwise -- that would entice them into sleeping outside for two nights.

“I camped when I was little,” Collison said. “Not now.”

If it was a big event Shipp said, “I’m sure I would have tickets.”

UCLA has clinched the conference championship the last two years on the road -- at Stanford two years ago and at Washington State last season.

“It would be special to do it in front of our fans this year,” Shipp said.

Freshman center Kevin Love said Coach Ben Howland told the team about former coach John Wooden’s hospitalization before Sunday’s game at Arizona.

“A lot of us were really upset,” Love said. “Thinking about that gave us a little extra incentive. We said before the game we were going to do it for Coach Wooden. Especially for me, I’ve tried to embrace the tradition here, with everything Coach Wooden did, to play the rest of this season for him and to win a title under UCLA’s name would be something special.”

Shipp said he had been “devastated” when he heard the news.

“When I was little, we had a banquet and Coach Wooden was speaking there,” Shipp said. “That was a great feeling, to have the greatest coach there.”

Love and Collison were named to the National Assn. of Basketball Coaches (NABC) District 15 first team.

Also named to the District 15 team were Arizona guard Jerryd Bayless, Arizona State guard James Harden and USC guard O.J. Mayo.

Josh Akognon of Cal State Fullerton was named to the second team.

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