BRUINS STUDYING FOR ARIZONA TEST.

Byline: Jon Wilner Daily News Staff Writer

The talent and lofty rankings remain, as does the large, silver-haired chap pacing the visitor's bench. But in every other respect, tonight's Pac-10 opener at Pauley Pavilion lacks the ingredients that made Arizona-UCLA one of the nation's best rivalries for 15 years.

``It's more of a matchup of traditional powers and top-10 teams,'' UCLA coach Steve Lavin said. ``It's less of a love-hate type rivalry.''

The No. 6 Wildcats and No. 10 Bruins have won or shared the Pac-10 title every year since 1986, and for each of those seasons there was an antagonist, someone who stirred the passion drink.

Arizona despised Trevor Wilson and Don MacLean just as the Bruins scowled at the sight of Brian Williams. More recently, Santa Ana natives Reggie Geary and Miles Simon turned up Arizona's intensity for showdowns with high school rivals Toby Bailey and Kris Johnson.

This year, there are no personality clashes. Arizona (8-0) has two L.A. area natives - Bell-Jeff grad Ruben Douglas and Long Beach's Rick Anderson - but they are freshmen with no sworn enemies on the UCLA roster, itself loaded with out-of-area players.

It remains a rivalry, of course, but without the backyard-brawl feel of previous encounters. So the Bruins (8-2) are trying to create it.

``The tradition has been passed on from guys like Toby,'' UCLA sophomore Rico Hines said. ``They told us Arizona is our real rival. Everybody thinks it's USC, but it's really Arizona.

``Now we have to inform our younger guys slowly but surely that this is a big-time game.''

For confidence and momentum, yes. For Pac-10 title and NCAA Tournament seedings, probably not. The teams are similar in many ways, most notably the inexperience that permeates both rosters and the uncertainty of their postseason assignments.

The Wildcats have an advantage with two senior starters, point guard Jason Terry and center A.J. Bramlett, but otherwise they depend on unproven talent like Douglas, power forward Michael Wright and wing man Richard Jefferson.

For the past month both teams have dined on subpar competition - UCLA smashing the likes of Delaware State, Cal State Northridge, American and Loyola Marymount; Arizona hammering Holy Cross, Wyoming, Iowa State and UC Irvine.

For both, tonight's game will be a major advance in intensity and competition.

``Similar to Maryland and Kentucky, this will be a test to find out where we are and find our deficiencies,'' Lavin said. ``And because it's such a competitive league, we have to protect our homecourt.''

The Bruins have assumed a contrarian view in recent days. Because both teams are young, they say, because both teams are unproven and trying to carve a path to title contention, tonight's game is the most important on the schedule.

``Last year, we lost the first game of the Pac-10 season at Arizona, and it set the tone,'' UCLA junior forward Sean Farnham said. ``We have to set the tone here, let everyone know we're ready to contend. It's a momentum game for both teams. Nobody has proven anything, that's why it's so important.''

UCLA vs. ARIZONA

Time: 7:30 p.m., Pauley Pavilion.

TV/Radio: FX; XTRA-AM (1150).

UCLA (8-2) update: Freshman forward JaRon Rush (11.1 ppg) is serving a one-game suspension after missing two practices and a game due to homesickness. Freshman forward Matt Barnes (knee/ankle) has not practiced this week and is questionable. Freshman center Dan Gadzuric (tendinitis) is expected to play, although his time may be limited. The key for UCLA: executing its inconsistent half-court offense against Arizona's tenacious defense.

Arizona (8-0) update: Wildcats have played just one road game this season, an overtime victory over Brigham Young. Their leading scorer is point guard Jason Terry (20.4 ppg), one of the best players in the conference. Center A.J. Bramlett averages 15 points and 10 rebounds. Watch freshman forward Michael Wright, perhaps the best rookie in the league.

- Jon Wilner

CAPTION(S):

Box

BOX: UCLA vs. ARIZONA (see text)