What coach wouldn't want to be mentioned in the same sentence as former UCLA legend John Wooden?
Well, maybe not in this instance. Ben Howland became the first UCLA coach since Wooden to be swept on an Oregon trip. It hadn't happened in 48 years.
And it didn't need to.
The Bruins, who arrived in the state riding a three-game win streak, led 37-24 at halftime against Oregon, then collapsed in a 75-68 loss.
"It's devastating to lose after having a 13-point lead," senior point guard Jerime Anderson said. "We were spotted 13 points in 20 minutes."
And they couldn't hold it.
But this is a team that has risen up through serious adversity, including the early-season distraction of having its best, most veteran player -- Reeves Nelson -- kicked off the squad.
A couple of losses in Oregon aren't going to derail the Bruins' confidence.
"There is nothing going through our heads mentally telling us we don't want to win or anything like that," Anderson said.
In any case, the score of games for the next month won't greatly impact the Bruins, who understand they have only one avenue into the NCAA Tournament.
"The goals are the same," senior guard Lazeric Jones said. "We want to win the Pac-12."
The potentially worst news of the weekend for UCLA involves sophomore Travis Wear, who hyperextended his left knee at Oregon. He was scheduled to be evaluated once back in Los Angeles.
Otherwise, Jones agreed with his backcourt mate that there is nothing awry with the Bruins' psyche.
"I can't say anything was lacking," Jones said. "They came out in the second half, got momentum and took the lead."
A silver lining for the Bruins? The Pac-12's new, unbalanced schedule doesn't send them to Oregon next season.
NOTES, QUOTES
--The Bruins are getting virtually no contributions from their bench beyond sophomore C Joshua Smith and freshman G Norman Powell. Over the past five games through Jan. 22, their other reserves totaled just five points.
--The loss at Oregon was UCLA's sixth in a row in games played outside Southern California.
--UCLA is 1-4 in Pac-12 road games, having beaten only winless cross-town rival USC.
BY THE NUMBERS: 1 -- Free throws the Bruins made out of eight attempts in the first half of their loss at Oregon. UCLA finished the game 10-for-21 from the line.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "The first half, we played great. ... We obviously won the first half." -- UCLA coach Ben Howland, after the Bruins squandered a 37-24 halftime lead at Oregon in a 75-68 loss.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
THIS WEEK'S GAMES:
--vs. Utah, Jan. 26
KEY MATCHUPS: The Bruins will try to outmuscle the Utes and hope to take advantage of Utah's inexperience at point guard after the recent dismissal of senior Josh "Jiggy" Watkins. Utah is coming off a huge home win over Arizona State, so UCLA will want to get out of the gate quickly and not give the Utes hope they can pull the upset.
--vs. Colorado, Jan. 28
KEY MATCHUPS: UCLA must cope with a Colorado team that is playing better by the week and gaining confidence. Defensive targets for the Bruins include G Carlon Brown, G Spencer Dinwiddie and F Austin Dufault. The Bruins have won four of the five all-time meetings, but the teams have not played since 1977-78.
FUTURES MARKET: Junior G De'End Parker is expected to transfer, coach Ben Howland said. Parker, who arrived this season from City College of San Francisco, has played only two games because of injury and his mother Carmen Johnson's ill health, which has required him to be return home recently. Howland said Parker would like to return to the Bay Area to be closer to his mother, who is suffering from heart problems.
"We're going to help him with the petition so he can get closer to home," Howland said. "I know that has weighed heavily on his heart. His mom is more comfortable with him around. He has our full support."
PLAYER NOTES
--Sophomore F Travis Wear had 17 points and seven rebounds at Oregon after contributing 16 points at Oregon State. He shot 15-for-21 from the field in the two games and had averaged 16.0 points over the past five games through Jan. 22.
--Sophomroe C Joshua Smith played only 12 minutes at Oregon, bogged down by four fouls. He finished with six points and four turnovers.
--Senior G Lazeric Jones scored 17 points at Oregon State and 14 at Oregon, but he continues to be a volume shooter. He was 12-for-33 from the field for the weekend and was shooting 36.4 percent (28-for-77) over the past six games through Jan. 22.
