'BAMA CELEBRATION DANCE HAS LSU'S COACH STEAMING.

Byline: BILLY WITZ

The Big Dance came two months early for Alabama and it created a big stir.

When the Crimson Tide beat LSU last weekend in Baton Rouge, Alabama's Ron Grizzard celebrated the occasion by jumping on a press table, pumping his fist and exchanging taunts with LSU fans. Naturally, this did not sit well with LSU coach John Brady.

He called Grizzard and teammate Doc Martin ``a couple of jerks (and) a reflection of the coach.''

And that would be none other than Mark Gottfried, a former member of Jim Harrick's staff at UCLA. Brady exchanged words with Gottfried and Alabama assistant coach Tom Kelsey, who had to be restrained by a policeman. Brady was reprimanded Tuesday by the SEC. When he received the letter, Brady said he tossed it in the garbage can and refused to apologize.

Wednesday, Brady was warned that if he again publicly criticizes another team, coach or player, he'd be suspended for at least three games.

Circle this date: Feb. 3, when LSU travels to Tuscaloosa - and asks for the last dance.

--Home alone: UCLA athletic director Pete Dalis isn't the only one who's taken notice of the flagging attendance at Pauley Pavilion. Crowds have declined each of the last four seasons and the Bruins, who have drawn more than 7,500 fans just once in seven games this season, are on pace for a season-low average in the 36-year-old building.

``It's not hard to play here,'' said Washington State guard Cedric Clark. ``It's a nice atmosphere. There's a lot of history here and the crowd's rooting, but it's nothing that's going to bother you.''

--Olson's return: Lute Olson, who took a leave of absence from the Arizona basketball team shortly before the death last week of his wife, Bobbi, hasn't said when he'll return. But it could be by next week when USC and UCLA come to Tucson.

``He needs his space now,'' said Jim Rosborough, a longtime assistant who is serving as interim coach. ``But I anticipate he'll return. I think we can help him. We've got a good group of kids who can keep his mind off things. I sense (Olson's return) will be sometime soon.''

--A steal: Washington's top recruit, 6-foot-8 Mike Jensen, was booted off his Kentwood (Wash.) high school team when he and some teammates were charged with misdemeanor theft after swiping two cases of beer from a store during a holiday tournament.

Washington coach Bob Bender said the incident wouldn't affect Jensen's scholarship.

--No big deal: Maybe Stanford is too used to looking down its nose at the rest of the world. Or maybe the Cardinal is just smart enough to know that being No. 1 doesn't mean much in basketball.

In any event, players were decidedly nonchalant about assuming the top spot in both polls.

Jason Collins, out of Harvard-Westlake High in Studio City, was kicking back at his fraternity house Sunday watching the NFL playoffs when the next room erupted in cheers. Someone shouted at Collins to change channels and he caught the replay of Indiana's Kirk Haston hitting a 3-pointer at the buzzer to upset then-No. 1 Michigan State.

Collins was so excited, he shrugged, said, ``Oh,'' and returned to the football game.

--New kind of Cardinal: The Cardinal had lost five of six to Arizona, whose quick guards had exerted too much pressure on them. Two years ago, Gonzaga's backcourt of Matt Santangelo and Quentin Hall helped knock Stanford from the NCAA Tournament.

This season, it's a different story. The Cardinal is countering teams' defensive pressure by taking defenders to the basket - a key to its 85-76 win at Tucson.

``In our game, they were so aggressive off the dribble,'' said Rosborough, the Arizona interim coach. ``It's something I thought was a whole lot different and a whole lot better than in the past.''

--RPI standings: The Pac-10 stands as follows in this week's ratings: Stanford 3rd, Arizona 12th, UCLA 28th, Cal 36th, Arizona State 49th, Oregon 68th, Washington 136th, Oregon State 159th, Washington State 199th.

--Bliss-ful existence: Dave Bliss is using the same formula he crafted at New Mexico in taking Baylor to a 12-1 start: Play bad teams and get them at home.

The Bears, who lost Tuesday at Texas Tech, have scheduled the likes of Arkansas-Little Rock, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Grambling, Liberty, Cal State Fullerton and two non-Division I schools, Hardin-Simmons and St. Edwards (or is it Elsewhere?)

Thus, they're rated No. 307 in the nation in strength of schedule.

Next week, Baylor might go from belting a few stiffs to needing a few stiff belts: The Bears have a four-game stretch against Oklahoma State, Texas, Iowa State and Oklahoma.

HOOP NOTES

By Billy Witz

GAME OF THE WEEK

Game of the week: No. 17 Wisconsin at No. 3 Michigan State, an old-school classic Saturday. It was their scrum at the Final Four that prompted this year's crackdown on physical play. If officials call it tight, it could be the game of next week by the time it ends.

VALLEY WATCH

UC Santa Barbara swingman Branduinn Fullove, a freshman from Simi Valley High, had career highs of 16 points and seven assists in the Gauchos' Big West-opening 81-75 win over Boise State.

HIGH FIVE

Indiana forward Kirk Haston, who attempted just two 3-pointers last season, beat the buzzer and No. 1 Michigan State with a 3-pointer that was drawn up for him.

FLAMEOUT 

Pacific, which blew a 17-point lead in the final 13 1/2 minutes at home, losing to UC Irvine 85-80.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

``Tell 'em I had surgery on my mouth and that I can't talk,'' Arizona guard Gilbert Arenas, a Grant High alum, on his decision not to talk to reporters after making 3 of 14 shots in the Wildcats' loss to Stanford.

STAT OF THE WEEK

With Arizona coach Lute Olson on a leave of absence, the Wildcats suffered back-to-back home losses to Mississippi State and Stanford. It marked the first time the Wildcats have lost consecutive home games since 1983-84, Olson's first year in Tucson.

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo: LUTE OLSON

Box: HOOP NOTES (see text)