Team looks to rebound, beat ‘SC
By Daily Bruin Staff
Feb. 5, 2002 9:00 p.m.
 ELI GILL Senior Matt Barnes looks to
pass the ball against Oregon last Saturday. The Ducks went on to
beat the Bruins 91-62.
By Greg Schain
Daily Bruin Reporter
It’s about revenge.
It’s about winning the Pac-10.
And most of all, it’s about pride.
“Losing to USC is like losing to your younger
brother,” said redshirt guard John Crispin, a transfer from
Penn State who will see significant playing time next season.
“We’re gonna set the tone early. It’s our house,
it’s our game and we’re not gonna let them walk in here
and beat us on our court.”
When the No. 15 Bruins (15-6, 7-4 Pac-10) take the court tonight
against No. 25 USC (16-5, 8-3), they will be looking to avenge an
81-77 loss to the Trojans that they suffered Jan. 10, when they
were out-rebounded by 24-11 on the offensive glass.
In order to have a more favorable outcome, UCLA knows it will
have to assert control on the boards.
“If we want to win, we have to make sure we have more
bodies in the paint to protect the interior,” UCLA head coach
Steve Lavin said.
Senior guard Rico Hines agrees.
“We didn’t try to rebound last game,” he said.
“We’re going to actually try to rebound this game.
Rebounding is all about desire. Height doesn’t mean
anything.”
David Bluthenthal, a small forward for USC, especially ripped up
the Bruins’ defense in the last game. The senior recorded 18
rebounds, including eight on the offensive end.
He expects UCLA to perform much more aggressively today in
attempt to keep him out of the paint.
“It’s going to be a physical game,”
Bluthenthal said. “I think UCLA is going to play real up
tempo.”
UCLA will need to play up-tempo if they want a chance to win.
Last game and throughout the season, UCLA has played with less
desire and less poise than USC.
Even players around the conference have noticed.
“UCLA is more talented, but USC plays harder,” Cal
freshman Jamal Sampson said.
Senior Billy Knight knows that the Bruins will need to show more
spirit than they did last game.
“We have to hustle and play hard,” said the guard.
“Last game, they outhustled and outplayed us.”
If UCLA loses tonight, it could be a death blow to their Pac-10
title hopes. They would be behind at least three other teams,
including USC, which would be two games in front of UCLA with six
to play.
“We want to win to get back in the Pac-10 race,”
junior Jason Kapono said.
