UCLA BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK: BRUINS GETTING ON THE DEFENSIVE.Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer Since the moment of his arrival nearly three years ago, UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX coach Ben Howland Ben Howland (born May 28, 1957 in Lebanon, Oregon) is an American college head coach of men's basketball. He has been the head coach of the University of California, Los Angeles since 2003, and recently signed a contract extension through 2013. has stressed the need to play great defense. Finally, the Bruins seem to have grasped the concept. No. 14 UCLA (17-4, 7-2 Pacific-10 Conference The Pacific-10 Conference (Pac-10) is a college athletic conference which operates in the western United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I. Membership Full members ) enters tonight's matchup with conference doormat Arizona State in first place, largely because the Bruins are playing the best defense in the league. UCLA is coming off a weekend sweep of Oregon and Oregon State in which the two teams averaged 51.5 points and shot 33.7 percent from the field. Both teams also hit season-lows for points scored. ``Good teams that win emphasize defense, emphasize rebounding,'' Howland said. ``You look at the NBA NBA abbr. 1. National Basketball Association 2. National Boxing Association NBA (US) n abbr (= National Basketball Association) → Basketball-Dachverband (= right now, the best two teams are the Detroit Pistons The Detroit Pistons are a team in the National Basketball Association based in the Detroit metropolitan area. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. Franchise history From Fort Wayne to Detroit and the San Antonio Spurs The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They play in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and are the current NBA Champions after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2007 NBA Finals. . What do they emphasize? They're the best two defensive teams in the league. ``In any sport, to be a consistent winner, and to win the on the road, which is the hardest thing to do, you have to play great defense. And that's the thing you can control more than any other aspect; your effort and your intensity defensively.'' Halfway through the Pac-10 schedule, UCLA's 41.5 percent field-goal defense, and 33.9 percent field-goal defense from 3-point range, are second in the league. The Bruins, led by wing Arron Afflalo Arron Agustin Afflalo (born October 15, 1985) is an American professional basketball player, currently with the Detroit Pistons. He recently completed a three-year career at University of California, Los Angeles in the Pacific Ten Conference of the NCAA as the starting shooting , are also first in scoring defense at 59.9 points per game. ``Everybody's working as a unit,'' UCLA senior wing Cedric Bozeman said. ``Everybody's working together, and when somebody's beat, somebody's there to help. We're doing a good job.'' --Recruiting rhetoric: Saturday will be a huge day for the Bruins - and not just because big-draw Arizona comes to Pauley Pavilion. Two of UCLA's top targets for the 2007 recruiting class, both from Oregon, plan on making unofficial visits to watch the game. Kevin Love, a 6-foot-9 power forward from Lake Oswego High, and small forward Kyle Singler, a 6-8, 200-pounder from South Medford High, are expected on campus. The meaning is increased since both players, who are good friends, might make their college decisions before taking official visits in the fall. Brian Dohn, (818) 713-3607 brian.dohn(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): box Box: No. 14 UCLA vs. ARIZONA ST. - Brian Dohn |
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