Men’s Basketball Notebook

Pulling rank

The UCLA men’s basketball team had to wait one more day to
see if its sweep of Southern Cal and nonconference foe DePaul will
be enough to get them into the national rankings.

After the Bruins learned Sunday afternoon that they didn’t
break into the ESPN/USA Today poll’s top 25, Monday, however,
brought the news that UCLA had returned to the Associated
Press’ top 25 list.

The Bruins received 278 points from the AP, good enough for No.
24 this week. This is the first time UCLA has cracked the top 25
since Nov. 20.

The Bruins garnered 22 points in this week’s USA
Today/ESPN top 25 rankings, placing them at No. 27.

“We really talk only about our strength of schedule and
RPI,” Lavin said, referring to the two strongest indicators
for the NCAA Tournament selection committee. “Our players can
then see who we have played and where we have been. Then they know
we have played tough teams and how we have done against
them.”

UCLA boasts the second strongest schedule in the country
entering the week, aiding their eighth-best RPI.

Injury update

UCLA junior center Dan Gadzuric suffered a left ankle sprain in
last Saturday’s 94-88 win over DePaul in Chicago. He received
continual medical treatment over the weekend and was on crutches as
of Tuesday afternoon.

“He is listed as doubtful for Thursday’s
game,” said Bill Bennett, UCLA men’s basketball sports
information director. “The medical staff has done numerous
treatments on Dan, but he is still sore and experiencing swelling.
He can’t really put any weight on his left ankle.”

Gadzuric is averaging 11.2 points and 7.8 rebounds this
season.

Addressed with the question of how UCLA will try to counter
Arizona’s potent starting frontline of Loren Woods, Michael
Wright and Richard Jefferson, Lavin is optimistic about other
players filling in for Gadzuric’s possible absence.

“We will have our work cut out for us. Our guards will
have to help out on the glass and our frontline will have to try to
stay out of foul trouble,” he said.

The coaching staff also discussed the possible activation of
freshman Josiah Johnson, who has been rehabilitating a stress
fracture in his left foot since Oct. 27.

“We will monitor the situation in terms of putting Josiah
in there,” Lavin said. “He’s a legit 6-foot-8 and
plays wide. He plays great with his back to the basket and is very
skilled.

“But we have to look at what is best for us and
Josiah.”

Shooter’s touch

There is definitely no sophomore slump for UCLA forward Jason
Kapono.

Last week Kapono, the Bruins’ leading scorer, averaged 24
points and nine rebounds in victories over USC and DePaul. He was
15 of 27 from the floor, including 8 for 12 from beyond the
arc.

Kapono tied a career-high 28 points against DePaul.

“Jason has done a good job of not forcing things,”
Lavin said of the second-best free throw and three-point shooter in
the Pac-10. “He is letting the game come to him, but he knows
there are times when he needs to step up and make big plays for
us.”

Notes compiled by AJ Cadman, Daily Bruin Senior Staff.