BOZEMAN LEARNING TO THRIVE IN THE BACKGROUND.

Byline: STEVE DILBECK

SAN DIEGO - He does the little things now. Some you notice, some you might not. There are moments when Cedric Bozeman's play demands attention, but more often he is blending in with his UCLA teammates, helping weave parts into a whole.

Bozeman no longer plays the point, is no longer the undisputed floor leader, the man controlling the game's flow.

Yet after injuries, losing the position at which he had started for three years, after setbacks and criticism of his play, Bozeman reinvented himself as a player this season. Became someone almost unrecognizable.

And in many ways, even more valuable.

Bozeman missed all of last season after tearing his ACL in the final practice before the first exhibition game. Freshman Jordan Farmar, who was likely going to beat him out, started in his place and has been a fixture at the point ever since.

This season Bozeman, somewhat remarkably, returned as an effective small forward. Then 11 games into the season, the senior suffered a shoulder injury. If someone was trying to tell him something, he wasn't ready to listen.

``I truly believe things happen for a reason,'' UCLA coach Ben Howland said. ``We would not be where we are right now this year, with this young team, if we didn't have Ced Bozeman battling back from torn cartilage in his left shoulder. He's playing with a torn labrum right now. He is tough. I'm so proud of him.''

UCLA opened the NCAA Tournament with an easy 78-44 victory against overmatched Belmont on Thursday, and Bozeman was again a silent assassin.

He scored nine points, connected on 4 of 6 field goals, pulled down six rebounds and added a pair of assists and a blocked shot. Nothing particularly dramatic, everything completely effective.

It was a far cry from the UCLA team Bozeman played on that went to the NCAA Tournament when he was a freshman. A far cry from his junior season, when he shot under 30 percent from the free-throw line.

``I just want to enjoy every moment of it, because this is my last go- around,'' Bozeman said. ``I've gone through so much in my career - injuries, losses, the ups-and-downs - to get to this point is great.''

This season Bozeman set career-highs in field goal shooting (.518, after a career .411 mark), free throw shooting (.773 after that .286 junior season) and 3-point shooting (.429, a team high).

He used to shoot without rhythm, like the ball weighed 10 pounds more for him. Now he's become one of the team's best shooters. He plays rock solid defense. He rebounds. He adds veteran leadership. He does whatever he can.

``Think about how much he's improved from two years ago when he was a junior to right now,'' Howland said. ``I mean, I can't say enough about Ced Bozeman. I love Ced.

``There isn't any player I could be happier for with all the adversity he's gone through to where he is right now. A big part of what we're doing as a team.

``He's one of the best kids I've ever been associated with as a human being in 25 years. He's such a nice, great kid, it's unbelievable.''

All this had to seem unlikely after Bozeman's knee blew up prior to last season. As he began his lengthy rehab, Farmar blossomed. Some wondered if Bozeman would return for a senior season.

``Man, when you come off a hard injury like an ACL, it's tough,'' Bozeman said. ``You think twice about even playing. You wake up in the morning sore and hurting.

``But I knew I needed to come back. I wanted to finish off my career as a Bruin and I didn't want go out with an injury. I just wanted to make sure I was back and hopefully something special can happen this year.''

Bozeman continued to work hard. He grew stronger. He practiced his shot. Practiced it more and more. He learned the nuances of a new position. Worked to blend in with mostly young teammates.

Farmar is now the undisputed point guard, but there never seemed any awkwardness. Never any true seeds of controversy.

``He's great to have off the ball, to have as an extra ballhandler,'' Farmar said. ``He's a great all-about-team guy that you need to have to be successful.

Bozeman has played every position this season for the Bruins except center. He is very different from the player he once was, but one who has become valuable in his own way.

``Before the knee, I was probably a little more explosive but I think my brain power has increased,'' he said.

``I just want to be a player. That's what I did in high school. Just another piece of the machine.''

It has been a long and unexpected journey for Bozeman. Unexpected turns, seeming dead ends, continued setbacks.

But he's here now, with a UCLA team dreaming of big things. A role player who has survived, who, even if he doesn't know it, has already won.