Bruins Anticipating Burst of Emotion

LAS VEGAS —  This UCLA season of prodigies and prodigals concluded one more strange stage here late Saturday.

And however sloppy the ending came in the Bruins’ 65-57 victory over Nevada Las Vegas, however many missed free throws and offensive rebounds cut into their big, late lead, the Bruins understood the deeper meaning of their current eight-game winning streak.

Center Jelani McCoy, who was suspended for the first nine games, returns to action Tuesday at Pauley Pavilion against Illinois and in plenty of time to give UCLA a shot-blocking burst of emotion for the conference opener at Arizona on Jan. 3.

“It’s perfect,” said Kris Johnson, who returned from his suspension five games ago, of the timing of his and then McCoy’s returns. “We’re getting little booster shots here and there--shots of energy, just adrenaline, new looks.

“It couldn’t have happened any better.”

Without him, the midget, makeshift Bruins got blown out by North Carolina to start the season, then found life in the inspired play of J.R. Henderson and Toby Bailey and the defense and energy of freshman guards Baron Davis and Earl Watson.

On Saturday, Davis was the difference in the scrambling final minutes, as the Runnin’ Rebels fought for survival. Davis grabbed 13 rebounds and scored 11 points in the game--though he was only two for five from the free-throw line and missed the front end of two one-and-ones.

Watson had 10 points, four assists and four rebounds.

“Being 8-1 at this point in the season with only having Kris for half of these games and having Jelani for none of them is great for a couple of reasons,” UCLA Coach Steve Lavin said.

“One, our team learned that we can win without those two players. And then, to get them back is a real injection in terms of having our whole family back.”

Said Johnson: “We don’t believe in the asterisk or the moral victories. All we wanted was W’s regardless of who’s out there. We want the best record we can have. Things start getting important for seeding later on down the road, so you want to win every game, night in and night out.”

Johnson’s return has limited the playing time of freshmen Travis Reed and Rico Hines, who were getting much more action than anyone expected.

McCoy’s expected reinsertion into the starting lineup somewhere near the start of conference play will displace Watson, who Lavin says will still get major minutes.

To have McCoy, UCLA’s only real intimidator on a defense that gave up some easy baskets because of his absence, and Johnson back and apologetic about their suspensions gives the Bruins focus for the conference season, Lavin said.

“I think lessons were learned by Kris and Jelani,” Lavin said. “I think our young players learned by watching Kris and Jelani . . . and I also think they gained a lot of confidence realizing they can be successful as freshmen.

“Maybe there was a lot of playing time that wouldn’t have been there if Kris and Jelani had been there right out of the gates.”

The UCLA players said they expect McCoy, even if he’s a little rusty, to immediately change the tone of their play. The Bruins gave up offensive rebound baskets and easy drives to the hoop in the last three games against Saint Louis, Boise State and UNLV.

“We’ll be able to cut down on all of the penetration,” said Henderson, the Pacific 10 Conference’s leading scorer. “Lately, guys have been just going to the basket with no contest whatsoever.

“With Jelani back there, that’ll change a lot of shots. I’m not really a shot blocker, that kind of force.

“Plus, he brings to the table his energy--when he gets a good dunk or something, he kind of pumps up the team, a little energy we’ve been lacking.”

Lavin, who has settled into trying to play Henderson, Bailey, Davis and Watson almost all of the game, and lately Johnson too, now has at least a six-man rotation, with much more versatility than he had in the first nine games.

“Now what you have is the best of both worlds,” Lavin said. “You have the inside presence to go big against teams like Kansas and Duke, but then we can go small against teams like Arizona to match their quickness.

“It just gives you different looks and versatility--the ability to play on the halfcourt or the open court.”