UCLA'S POINT MAN COLLISON IS HOPING TO FILL FARMAR'S BIG SHOES.

Byline: BRIAN DOHN Staff Writer

There were times Jordan Farmar threw errant passes, then chewed out teammates for not having elastic arms to catch the basketball. Other times, Farmar would argue with teammates on the court about botched plays.

It was part of Farmar's fire, and although at times it wasn't very nice, the ultra-competitiveness of his nature made him a leader, often elevated UCLA's play, and his unwillingness to lose was a driving force in helping the Bruins return beyond respectability the past two seasons.

With Farmar in the NBA, Darren Collison takes over Farmar's role.

Collison, a sophomore, is quicker than Farmar on offense, and a better defender, but Farmar brought intangibles to the point-guard position, and his ability to compete at a fierce level separated him from others.

Collison's physical tools suggest he is talented enough to be UCLA's point guard, but his easygoing personality, complete with plenty of smiles and pleasant manners, leads to questions about Collison's ability to be a bulldog of a leader.

Bruins coach Ben Howland said analyzing Collison's feistiness cannot be measured by his off-court demeanor.

``Last year, they got into a fight because Jordan was trying to establish (his ground) by punkin' him a little bit,'' Howland said. ``Darren punched him right in the face. That's when we knew we were going to be good. I think he gained the respect of Jordan, `Hey, I'm not taking any of your (stuff).' He's a fighter.''

It was more than seven months ago that UCLA, twoyears removed from a second straight sub-.500 season, played in the national title game, losing to Florida in Indianapolis.

Despite losing Farmar, wing Cedric Bozeman and center Ryan Hollins, all starters last season, the senior-less Bruins are ranked No. 6 as they begin their season tonight by hosting Brigham Young.

``One of the things I want to work on this year is being more of a leader,'' Collison said. ``You can be a leader by action or you can be a leader by words, and my job as a point guard is to lead by action and words. I have to be an extension of the coach.

``I know what he wants in practice, and I have to know what he wants in games.''

Guard Arron Afflalo, the Bruins' leading scorer last season, is back for his junior season after toying with a jump to the NBA. Power forward and Pacific-10 Conference Freshman of the Year Luc Richard Mbah a Moute also returns, and after redshirting last season because of a hip injury, Josh Shipp is back to take Bozeman's spot.

All are proven players and are the backbone of UCLA's high ranking.

The uncertainty is how Collison will respond to being thrust into a role everyone associated with the program figured would not come until next season. However, when Farmar left after his sophomore season, Collison's timetable was accelerated.

``You know what? It's big shoes to fill,'' Howland said. ``Jordan is in the NBA, he's doing well. I'm not saying we're not going to miss a beat. I haven't said that, but (Collison) does come in there with a lot of positive experience under his belt. Darren played 19 minutes a game, so he played half the game essentially, night in and night out. And he did play his very best, in my mind, his last 10 or 12 games of the year, especially defensively. He was the best at stopping the ball in transition and he was doing a really good job pressuring the ball.

``He's going to make mistakes. It's going to be his first year as the starting point guard, and there is always a curve there a little bit, but he'll be fine.''

The 6-foot-1, 165-pound Collison is talented, and can wreak havoc defensively and upset opposing point guards with his in-your-jersey defense.

Collison's parents, June and Dennis, were all-American sprinters in track at Adelphi (N.Y.) University, so it should come as little surprise that he loves the fastbreak, which has teammates believing this will finally be the season UCLA plays the up-tempo style Howland has said he wants to play but has yet to show in three seasons.

``He's been a defensive assassin (in practice),'' Afflalo, UCLA's best defender, said of Collison. ``He's been causing havoc on the perimeter, which is allowing the rest of the team to work miracles behind him.

``Offensively, he's trying his best to push the ball. Coach Howland wants us to run, and he's doing a fantastic job of trying to get that running game going for us.''

But Collison is also largely unproven in late-game situations, and in shooting the ball. Collison shot 40.2 percent from the floor last season, including 32.8 from 3-point range, and averaged 5.5 points.

His unorthodox shooting technique was tweaked during the offseason to tighten his shot, which remains largely the same.

``Like coach says, it's just that I got stronger,'' said Collison, who improved his bench press improved from 140 to 190 pounds. ``I think strength is one of the most important things in the game. I'm not going to be the strongest guy, but I'm going to be the quickest.''

Collison also worked on his dribble, which was too high for Howland's liking last season, and contributed to 77 turnovers, compared to 88 assists. It also made it difficult for Collison to split on-ball screens, a staple of college defenses.

``I'm most definitely ready for this,'' Collison said. ``I actually stole some tapes out of (assistant) coach (Kerry) Keating's office when he wasn't there, just to see what I needed to work on with my game, and what I needed to improve on. I learned I needed to be more in control. I was still in the high-school mode, where you can do anything.''

Afflalo, Shipp and Mbah a Moute are back as starters, centers Lorenzo Mata, Alfred Aboya and Ryan Wright will get the chance to replace Hollins at center and incoming high school all-American James Keefe will get minutes.

But Collison's development likely will be the biggest factor as to whether the Bruins repeat as Pac-10 champions.

``I would think Darren's going to have a good year,'' Howland said. ``He better.''

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FIVE FACTS

1. Arron Afflalo -- perhaps the Pac-10's best defender -- is back to anchor a defense that allowed just 58.7 points per game last season.

2. Darren Collison has a different look this season. Collison played as a bald point guard last year but sports a new look with hair this year.

3. UCLA was tabbed the preseason favorite to win the Pac-10 by the media, which has correctly picked the Pac-10 champion in three of the past six years.

4. There are no seniors on the team, so juniors Afflalo and Lorenzo Mata are the elder statesmen.

5. The Bruins had two 7-footers on their roster last year, but their tallest player is Mata at 6-foot-9. Five players are 6-8.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Dec. 9: No. 12 Texas A&M battles No. 6 UCLA in a nationally televised game in the Wooden Classic in Anaheim. The Bruins have a big stage to show whether they deserve the top-10 ranking and whether they have what it takes to get back to the NCAA title game.

Dec. 31: UCLA lost only seven games last year, but two of those were to Washington. Former UCLA assistant Lorenzo Romar brings his Huskies to Pauley Pavilion in an early Pac-10 Conference game on New Year's Eve.

Jan. 18: Arizona State true freshman Jerren Shipp will play against his older brother, UCLA's Josh, for the first time in a collegiate game. The Shipp family has one thing in common: Its love for the Pac-10. Older brother Joe played for Cal. Jerren Shipp is one of four true freshmen who will play for the Sun Devils.

SEASON'S A SUCCESS IF...

The Bruins can stay healthy. Last year, UCLA managed to advance to the NCAA Championship despite the loss of Josh Shipp to a hip injury and other various injuries to every starter and seemingly every player on the roster. Forward Lorenzo Mata already is recovering from knee surgery. ... UCLA makes good on Arron Afflalo's decision to stay for his junior year. Also, the Bruins need Luc Mbah a Moute -- the Pac-10's freshman of the year -- to remain a rebounding machine.

SEASON'S A FLOP IF...

The Bruins can't find a suitable center. Even though 7-footers Ryan Hollins and Michael Fey weren't always consistent, Hollins was instrumental in UCLA's success down the stretch in the Pac-10 and in the NCAA Tournament. Alfred Aboya, Ryan Wright and Mata will attempt to get the job done inside.

INTRODUCING

UCLA should implement a more up-tempo pace, especially with speedy sophomore Darren Collison running the show. Collison isn't new to the Bruins -- he played 19.2 minutes per game as Jordan Farmar's backup last year -- but this is his team now.

Freshman Russell Westbrook already has impressed the coaching staff and fans. He'll see playing time this season, along with freshman James Keefe, who's 6-foot-8.

You won't get to check out freshman Nikola Dragovic for a while. because the NCAA has ruled him ineligible for the first 10 games.

Scott Garson is UCLA's new assistant coach. He replaces Ernie Ziegler, who left to become head coach at Central Michigan.

ROSTER BREAKDOWN

BACKCOURT

UCLA had one of the best backcourts in the country last year and that might not change. Farmar left a vacancy at point guard, but Collison should be a fine replacement. He's the son of track stars, and should be quite adept at pushing the ball up the floor more this year. Afflalo is UCLA's returning scorer and best defender. He figured to play some at backup point guard, too, but with Westbrook's fine preseason, Afflalo might not have to play point.

FRONTCOURT 

Guard-forward Josh Shipp has returned to the form he showed before his freshman season, which was limited to four games because of hip surgery. Mata must stay healthy. Mbah a Moute should be a rebounding presence but Aboya and Wright must be able to give consistent minutes off the bench, too. Dragovic will provide depth when he is reinstated to play after 10 games.

CAPTION(S):

4 photos, 7 boxes

Photo:

(1 -- color) UCLA point guard Darren Collision possesses an easygoing, calm demeanor, compared with his predecessor, Jordan Farmar.

Staff illustration

(2) ARRON AFFLALO

(3) LORENZO ROMAR

Elsa/Getty Images

(4) JOSH SHIPP

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

Box:

(1) FIVE FACTS (see text)

(2) ROSTER

(3) MARK YOUR CALENDAR (see text)

(4) SEASON'S A SUCCESS IF... (see text)

(5) SEASON'S A FLOP IF... (see text)

(6) INTRODUCING (see text)

(7) ROSTER BREAKDOWN (see text)