UCLA BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK: FOCUS HELPS BRUINS GET OUT TO FAST START.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

PULLMAN, Wash. - Washington State's deliberate offense gets most teams out of sync offensively, but No. 13 UCLA made its first five shots from the field and coasted to a 50-30 win Thursday at Friel Court.

The Bruins scored the first 14 points, and for the third time this season led 18-2, matching starts against Stanford and USC.

``Our preparation is really good, and it's because of our players,'' UCLA coach Ben Howland said. ``They're very bright, very smart kids.''

Point guard Jordan Farmar said the Bruins are paying more attention to detail, and there is more accountability this season when mental mistakes are made in relation to the game plan.

``It's different,'' said Farmar, a sophomore. ``There's more focus. The younger guys who aren't playing as much want to play, so they're really paying attention. The level of focus is just different.

``The coaches are watching film at 11 o'clock at night. I'm telling them they need to rest. We know (opposing teams') tendencies, which plays they like to run the most, and stuff like that.''

Bruins assistant Donny Daniels was responsible for breaking down Washington State.

--Three's a charm: In Howland's third year at Northern Arizona, he went 21-7 and won the Big Sky championship. In his third year at Pittsburgh, he went 29-6, was named national Coach of the Year, won the Big East title and went to the Sweet 16.

Now, in his third season at UCLA, the Bruins are 20-4, lead the Pacific- 10 Conference with a 10-2 mark, and are getting better as the weeks go by.

``When you take over a program, you better be good in your third year,'' Howland said.

And why?

``So you don't get fired,'' he added.

--You still here? It seems like once a month for the past two seasons Washington State coach Dick Bennett hints about retiring, or makes a joke about it, and following the fewest points the Cougars scored in a home game in nearly 59 years, he did it again.

After meeting with his team behind closed doors for 15 minutes after the game, Bennett was asked if his Cougars would be up for Saturday's game with USC to make amends.

``They're probably hoping that I'll announce an early retirement because I'm not sure they're going to regroup for me,'' Bennett said. ``But kids are funny. They'll probably bounce back and play a halfway decent ballgame.''

The Cougars' 30 points was the fewest it scored at home since a 51-30 loss to Oregon State on Feb. 24, 1947.