Bruins ready to kick some Beaver tail

  KEITH ENRIQUEZ/ Daily Bruin Senior Staff Junior
Matt Barnes takes it up strong against a
Washington State defender in the Bruins’ victory earlier this
season.

By AJ Cadman
Daily Bruin Senior Staff

There is something to be said for the guy that always shows up
for work on time and ready to get down to business.

For the last 112 consecutive games, senior guard Earl Watson has
been the one constant in the Bruin starting lineup. The 6-foot-1
Kansas City native been a mainstay for a squad that has won eight
of its last 10, and is in the thick of a conference race.

But Watson’s current iron-man streak is in serious
jeopardy as the Bruins (10-5, 4-1 Pac-10) try to rebound from their
worst loss of the season ““ a 25-point defeat at the hands of
No. 12 Arizona ““ and prepare to take on the Oregon State
Beavers (8-9, 2-3) tonight at 7:30 p.m. in Pauley Pavilion.

Though he has played through pain before, Watson’s bruised
lower back and hip limited his action on the court last Saturday in
Tucson and may keep him out Thursday night.

“I can still feel the pain when I try to make some
explosive moves or try to sprint as fast as I can,” Watson
told reporters Tuesday of a brief 20-minute practice session while
wearing a back brace. “The brace helps take pressure off my
back.”

The Bruins’ second-leading scorer at 14.9 points per game,
Watson was pivotal in last year’s contest with the Beavers in
Westwood. Scoring 19 points in 38 minutes, he also helped shut down
Oregon State’s current leading scorer Deaundra Tanner to zero
points in a 69-59 UCLA victory.

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Under normal circumstances, Watson would draw the defensive
assignment of Tanner, who leads the Beavers in scoring at 13.4
points per game. But the injury has the coaching staff wondering
whether their floor general will be ready to go at tipoff.

“I always assume that by game time, he will find a way to
get out there,” UCLA head coach Steve Lavin said of Watson.
“But he seems to be in severe pain this time.”

For fellow UCLA backcourt battery-mate Jason Flowers, the impact
of Watson’s potential absence can be felt but the focus on
others to carry the load will be emphasized.

“We wish we could have him,” said Flowers. “If
he’s ready, then we welcome him with open arms. But we know
that if he can’t go, we got guys that can step right
in.”

While the Bruins have won 14 of their last 15 meetings against
Oregon State ““ with Lavin posting a perfect 4-0 mark in Los
Angeles ““ this year’s Oregon State ballclub brings a
more physical defensive style of play. First year head coach
Ritchie McKay has the Beavers allowing a mere 61.0 points per game
(second in the Pac-10) and knocking on the door of the likes of
nationally top-ranked Stanford (60.9).

“We know that they are going to pack it tight in the
middle on defense,” said freshman forward TJ Cummings of the
contrasting styles of play on display on Thursday. “We have
to be crisp and play our defense and press well. If we are solid in
our traps, we know that we can get them to give up the
ball.”

“They put a premium on possessions,” Flowers added
of Oregon State’s preference to slow the pace of the game.
“Against an aggressive defense like theirs, it’s
imperative that we try to force the tempo to how we like
it.”

“If you cut the head off the dragon, it’s going to
be tough for any team to win.”

With added emphasis on defense, Oregon State is limited on the
other end of the floor. Dead last in the conference in scoring at
64.5 points per contest, they are also in the Pac-10 cellar in
rebounding with a meager 27.4 boards per night. Meanwhile, UCLA has
no trouble on the offensive end; the Bruins are fourth in the
Pac-10 in scoring (80.9) and rebounding (39.1).

And with the questionable availability of injured 6-foot-9
frontcourt players Brian Jackson and Jason Heide, who combine for
over 23 points and 10 rebounds per game for Oregon State,
it’s essential for the Beavers to halt tonight’s game
to a snail’s pace.

“They are a grinder type of team,” Lavin said.
“Oregon State is deliberate; they are really solid, physical
and tough. They are very efficient at what they try to
do.”

While the Beavers have won two in a row, sweeping conference
cupcakes Washington and Washington State, they have lost all three
Pac-10 contests on the road and all six away games this season.
Also, one cannot take away from the way the Bruins have played of
late.

“I think the overall aggressiveness of our defense has
created a sense of confidence,” Lavin said of his surging
Bruins. “But (Watson) is the heart and soul of this team. We
need him to be successful.”