BRUINS' TURNOVER NOT BAD COLLISON, FARMAR LOOKING SIMILAR.

Byline: BRIAN DOHN

Staff Writer

During an offseason of inquisitions about replacing Jordan Farmar as UCLA's point guard, Darren Collison often smiled, then gave politically correct answers about being ready to prove his worth.

Truth be told, though, the whole thing wore on him.

"Oh my gosh, it was killing me," said Collison, a sophomore. "I knew what I could do. It was like they doubted me. I knew Jordan was good, himself, but I felt I could put that standard on myself."

Collison alleviated any concerns with his play early in the season -- which included a MVP performance at the Maui Invitational -- and he has No. 4 UCLA on the precipice of a second straight Pacific-10 Conference championship.

The Bruins (24-3, 13-2 Pac-10) can clinch at least a share of the conference title by defeating Stanford today at Pauley Pavilion, and are in line to secure the West's No.1 seed in next month's NCAA Tournament.

Now, the only uncertainty regarding Collison's play is whether UCLA is better with him at the point, or if the Bruins were better last season, when Farmar helped them to the NCAA championship game before losing to Florida.

"They're two different type of points guards," said UCLA sophomore power forward Luc Richard Mbah a Moute.

"There are some things Jordan brings to the table that Darren doesn't bring to the table, and (things) Darren brings to the table that Jordan didn't have. It's a different style of play. With Darren, we play a little bit faster."

Collison is a better defender, and quicker on offense, but scouts have said Farmar ran the half-court offense better last season and was able to get off shots in tight space when the shot clock was winding down.

In fact, Collison, 6-foot-1 and 165 pounds of energy and quickness, is having a better statistical season than Farmar did in helping UCLA to a 32-7 mark.

"Last year I sat and watched a lot, so I knew he was a great player," UCLA redshirt sophomore wing Josh Shipp said. "He would go against Jordan every day in practice and hold his own. I was never worried. We all knew what he could do. There was never a question that he could replace Jordan. I had no doubts. I saw it every day."

Statistically, Collison is averaging 13 points, 5.9 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 2.2 steals in 32 minutes per game. Farmar averaged 13.5 points, 5.1 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 30.4 minutes per game.

Also, Collison is averaging 2.8 turnovers and shooting 52.5 percent from the field, including 50 percent (41 of 82) from 3-point range. Farmar turned the ball over 3.6 times per game and shot 41 percent from the field, including 33.3 percent (63 of 189) from beyond the arc.

"I remember everybody asking a question about Darren going into the season," UCLA coach Ben Howland said. "I never expressed any reservation. I thought he'd have a very good year, and he is. It's not anything that's unexpected. He played 19 minutes a game as a freshman."

Other factors must be looked at in comparing the sophomore seasons of Collison and Farmar, including a more mature and seasoned team surrounding Collison.

Junior guard Arron Afflalo, UCLA's leading scorer, is more mature and a better offensive player than he was last season -- when he also led the Bruins in scoring -- and Shipp, who sat out most of last season, takes some of the scoring pressure off Collison.

UCLA also runs more this season, largely because of Collison's willingness to push the tempo, and that creates more opportunities for assists and easy baskets.

"Darren brings different things," Afflalo said. "It's not about his ability to do what Jordan did, because Jordan brought some different things, like leadership-wise. But Darren's natural athleticism, which it seems he was just born with, he's capable of putting our team in a different place."

Collison's value to the Bruins was shown on a national level the past twoSaturdays.

During a made-for-television game at West Virginia, the Bruins' offense was out of rhythm and lacked composure at crucial times as Collison sat on the bench, unable to play because of a sprained left shoulder.

Then, last week at Arizona, Collison dazzled a CBS audience with 17 points and 15 assists (one off the school record). He turned over the ball only twice in 35 minutes, and showed his quickness, speed and deft jump-shooting touch -- despite his less than aesthetically pleasing motion - by making 5 of 7 attempts from 3-point range.

"I don't think there's a better point guard in America than Darren Collison," Arizona coach Lute Olson said.

"Collison is a great, great point guard. He gets into the lane and he's one of the toughest guys around to keep out of the lane because he's so quick. Plus, he defends like crazy."

The next inevitable comparison centers on the NBA. Despite being advised by many people to return to UCLA, Farmar opted for the pros after his second season and was a late first-round pick of the Lakers.

Sources say UCLA expects Collison to return next season, where he can play himself into the top half of the draft.

"In the offseason there was nothing I could do about people doubting me," Collison said. "There's nothing I can do right now, whether I'll be back after this season."

As for the comparisons, Collison said there is only one way to measure them.

"When I first came into the season, my goal was to get back in the national championship (game)," he said. "So I still haven't accomplished anything yet."

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(1 -- color) UCLA's Josh Shipp, left, says there was never a question that Darren Collison, right, could replace Jordan Farmar.

Andy Holzman/Staff Photogrpaher

(2 -- color) no caption (Darren Collison)

(3 -- color) no caption (Jordan Farmar)

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