Reed’s Role Getting Bigger

With UCLA in dire need of productive big bodies, freshman forward Travis Reed on Saturday continued his progress toward becoming a significant Bruin contributor, playing 24 minutes, scoring eight points and grabbing three rebounds.

Against North Carolina on Thursday, the coaching staff was reluctant to put Reed in the game too early against the Tar Heel front line.

But Reed played solid minutes against Alaska Anchorage on Friday, and Saturday was steady enough to play most of the fourth quarter and record a huge block of Cedric Dixon’s short jumper to help preserve UCLA’s late lead.

“This tournament has really matured me,” Reed said. “I think I’m beginning to play with more confidence. I had to calm down, get used to things.”

Said fellow freshman Baron Davis: “Last night against Alaska, when he came in he started playing well and it gave him some confidence. And you could see it carry over.”

When the 6-foot-6, 243-pound Reed is in the game with J.R. Henderson, the Bruins can play a lineup that doesn’t force the 6-5 Toby Bailey or the 6-0 Earl Watson to pound down low with big men.

“It’s hard when you have a point guard down low trying to get the rebound,” Reed said. “I can go down there and get the rebounds and they can stay outside and do their thing.”