UCLA BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK: COUGARS WANT TO TAKE IT SLOW.Byline: BRIAN DOHN Staff Writer Washington State leads the 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 in scoring defense, is second in field-goal percentage defense and is a headache for opposing teams because of the slower tempo of their games. Bruins wing Josh Shipp Josh Shipp (born 23 January in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) is an American motivational speaker and author focusing on youth and college-aged audiences. He is noted as being one of the youngest speakers ever accepted into the National Speakers Association. said 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 knows what it will take to trump Washington State's defense when the No. 2 Bruins travel to face the 13th-ranked Cougars on Thursday. "They kind of play off on defense, not really aggressive -- it's kind of weak, and they try to play the passing lanes," Shipp said. "Basically, we just have to knock down shots and force them to get out and run." In that sense, it is a matchup of contrasting strengths. UCLA is second in the Pac-10 in 3-point percentage (38.1), paced by point guard and conference leader Darren Collison's 49.4 percent. Bruins guard 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 is shooting 39.6 percent from beyond the arc. The Cougars are allowing a league-low 57.8 points per game, are second in field-goal percentage defense (39.4) and fourth in 3-point field-goal percentage defense (32.5). "They're really athletic," UCLA coach Ben Howland said. "They're second in the league in blocked shots, so they do a lot of things very well and they're obviously very well coached." What's at stake: A UCLA win will give the first-place Bruins (25-3, 14-2) the outright conference title. Washington State (23-5, 12-4) can still share the crown with the Bruins, but that would require the Cougars to sweep UCLA and USC An abbreviation for U.S. Code. this weekend and UCLA to lose at Washington on Saturday. Doctor knows best? Bruins center Lorenzo Mata was poked in the right eye in Saturday's second half against Stanford and was bothered enough to have a CAT scan CAT scan (kăt) [computerized axial tomography], X-ray technique that allows relatively safe, painless, and rapid diagnosis in previously inaccessible areas of the body; also called CT scan. Monday. Mata said, "I'm pretty sure there's nothing wrong with my eye," but added doctors recommended he wear goggles goggles, n the protective eyewear worn by dental personnel and patients during dental procedures. goggles see periocular leukotrichia. for protection. To that, Mata laughed. "I'm not wearing goggles," Mata said. "I don't think it's necessary. My eye is all right." Culture shock: Howland said Cougars forward Ivory Clark "might be the most underrated player in our conference." Clark also rates high on the conference's list when it came to the level of culture shock he experienced upon enrolling at Washington State. He is from New Orleans and played for an NAIA NAIA abbr. National Association of Intercollegiate Athletes school (Dillard University) before transferring to Midland (Tex.) College. He then was recruited by New Mexico, Wichita State, South Florida and Marshall before Washington State came calling. "It was a very different environment than New Orleans," Clark said. "It was a tranquil and peaceful place that kind of soothed me and sat well with me." Clark is averaging 9.1 points and 5.1 rebounds. brian.dohn@dailynews.com (818) 713-3607 |
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