James Keefe News

You know a team is in trouble when it searches for positive things to say after losing.

If the coach calls for a zone defense at some point this afternoon, that will be just fine by Jerime Anderson .

Ben Howland does not often give himself over to resignation. He is a competitor, through and through.

Two of the most storied mena s basketball programs will battle in the Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series when No.

UCLA coach Ben Howland announced at his Tuesday news conference sophomore forward Drew Gordon, the team's third-leading scorer and second-leading rebounder, would be transferring at the end of the quarter.

Drew Gordon 's departure from UCLA had been in the works for weeks, according to a source.

Long Beach State's T.J. Robinson has a clear shot on the way to a game-high 25 points against UCLA.

UCLA coach Ben Howland wanted changes on Friday. He wanted the Bruins to get back to what has made them so successful in his seven-year tenure - tenacious defense, hustle for loose balls and winning the battle of the boards.

There was no turkey dinner for the UCLA players this year. With an evening tip-off in the 76 Classic, the Bruins did not want to get weighed down with mashed potatoes or pumpkin pie.

UCLA's basketball team heads into today's 76 Classic at Anaheim Convention Center, one of the nation's toughest preseason tournaments, on the heels of a sluggish start with young players.

UCLA reinstated Nikola Dragovic on Wednesday after the Serbian forward's two-game suspension for his arrest in an assault case.

For now, at least, the UCLA basketball team will have to suffice with small improvements, glimmers of progress.

The young Bruins picked up their first win of the of 2009-10 season last Friday by beating Cal State Bakersfield, 75-64. After learning they would be without its only returning starter from last season, Nikloa Dragovic, UCLA fell behind early against the underdog Roadrunners from Bakersfield.

's suspension for at least another game following his arrest and subsequent charge of felony assault.

Less is better in UCLA coach Ben Howland's book. That also applies to the Bruins' box score Monday against Cal State Fullerton.

Talk to the young man about pressure and he smiles. "What's life without pressure?" he says.

UCLA, a team with more bumps and bruises than an over-ripe tomato basket, approaches today's season opener with Cal State Fullerton as a shell of what it will become.

Ben Howland has gone back to basics at UCLA . Losing Final Four veterans like , Josh Shipp and Alfred Aboya will force that on a coach.

Mike Roll and Jerime Andersen did wonders for the UCLA backcourt in their return from injury, but Nikola Dragovic is still struggling to find his shooting stroke.

The UCLA men's basketball team is young, and it shows. In a cover-your-eyes way, not a Fab Five way.