UCLA’s game against St. John’s is about two programs returning to greatness, not just former coach Steve Lavin

Former UCLA coach Steve Lavin brings the St. John’s Red Storm to Westwood for the first time since he was fired in 2003.


UCLA’s game against St. John’s is about two programs returning to greatness, not just former coach Steve Lavin

By RYAN ESHOFF
The Daily Bruin in Men's Basketball, Sports
Published February 4, 2011 Updated: February 4, 2011, 1:22 AM

St. John’s
Saturday, 10 a.m.
Pauley Pavilion
CBS




The story lines seemed to write themselves.

Steve Lavin returns to UCLA. Ben Howland matches wits with the Big East once more. New York versus Los Angeles, Gotham clashes with Tinseltown.

But then some strange things started to happen. The host Bruins have won six of the past seven games and vaulted to within striking distance of the Pac-10 lead. The visiting Red Storm has knocked off No. 11 Notre Dame and No. 3 Duke by a combined 33 points.

Suddenly, the game is about basketball again. The return that has everyone buzzing is not that of a coach but that of two storied programs seeking a postseason renaissance – and each badly needing a win on Saturday to ensure one.

“Both of us are going to be very motivated,” UCLA coach Ben Howland said.

UCLA (15-7, 7-3 Pac-10) is only two years removed from an NCAA Tournament, but it feels like much longer to the Bruin faithful accustomed to Final Fours. It has been a much longer drought for St. John’s (13-8, 5-5 Big East), which hasn’t danced in March since 2002.

Bill Walton, Ed O’Bannon and Kevin Love won’t suit up in the Pauley Pavilion locker rooms. Neither will Chris Mullin, Mark Jackson or Ron Artest.

Instead, it’s a pair of squads on the proverbial NCAA Tournament bubble. The matchup presents a unique opportunity that neither can really afford to not capitalize on: defeating a tournament-worthy team from an outside power conference in February.

It’s the kind of game that cements postseason resumes. Or softens them.

“We really need to play well and win the game,” Howland said.

The Red Storm bring with them a style much different than the one the Bruins employ. Lavin’s full-court press and matchup zones will be a stark contrast to Howland’s physical man-to-man principles.

Not to mention the personnel: St. John’s boasts nine seniors, UCLA has nine fewer than that.

“They’re a very talented team that’s got a lot of experience,” Howland said. “They’ve got some real firepower.”

The Red Storm feature 11 players that average more than seven minutes per game. Their catalyst is senior point guard Dwight Hardy, who averages 15 points per contest.

UCLA, meanwhile, is hoping to avoid a rude awakening, and not just because it’s facing an unfamiliar foe that has knocked off some of the country’s best teams.

Game time is set for 10 a.m., an hour earlier than the start time for the Jan. 22 contest with Stanford that saw the Bruins trail 22-8 out of the gate before getting their act together and pulling out a win.

“Hopefully we’ll do better this time in terms of getting off to a good start,” Howland said.

In spite of the disruption of brunch plans, the game should feature plenty of energy. Pauley Pavilion was the loudest it has been all season during Wednesday’s win over USC, and the presence of a unique opponent from New York can only fuel the buzz.

Then there’s the Lavin factor.

The former coach will be on the Pauley Pavilion sidelines for the first time since a UCLA win over Washington in March of 2003.

Yet as big of a deal that may be for lifelong Bruin fans, freshman center Joshua Smith was in fifth grade at the time of the game.

“We’re trying to beat (St. John’s),” Smith said. “We’re not really focused on him returning or anything like that.”

Should the Bruins prove successful in achieving that goal, they will be just two wins away from the 20-win plateau with eight games to play. They would also have a win over a Big East team and fellow bubble-sitter. This one’s big.

But given all the history between the two teams, could it mean even more than all that?

“I don’t even know,” UCLA junior guard Malcolm Lee said. “I just know it’s going to be a real hyped game.”