NICOLE MILLER/Daily Bruin Ray Young elevates himself over UCSB players during a game on Wednesday. Men's Basketball PREVIEW vs. at Wooden Classic Saturday Noon at Anaheim, Calif. TV-KCAL, Channel 9 Radio-1150AM
By Chris Umpierre
Daily Bruin Staff
Legendary Bruin coach John Wooden is happy to see UCLA back as a participant in the annual John R. Wooden Classic.
Wooden said he was disappointed UCLA wasn’t able to play last year. “From my point of view, I’d like them to be in it every year,” Wooden said. “But I understand that it’s difficult because schedules are filled in several years ahead.”
“Don’t think I’m being critical,” he added. “I just would like them to be in it.”
After a one-year hiatus, the Bruins (2-2) return to play in the Classic as they will take on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (3-1) on Saturday at noon in Anaheim’s Arrowhead Pond. Immediately following that contest, No. 18 USC will face Utah.
Because of conflicting dates, the Bruins weren’t able to participate in the tournament last season. It marked the second time UCLA hasn’t participated in the Classic since it began in 1994.
It’s a mystery to sophomore forward Jason Kapono as to why UCLA isn’t a part of a tournament that is named after the school’s most celebrated coach every year.
“I really don’t understand it,” Kapono said about the Classic that is played in nearby Anaheim. “Plus, it’s here in Southern California. You would think they would have us. I really don’t know why.”
UCLA is not contractually obligated to play in the Classic every year, but the school does its best to be a part of the tournament.
In early December last season, UCLA already had nonconference games lined up against Gonzaga and DePaul. In addition, the Bruins were scheduled to fly to Hawaii later in the month for the Pearl Harbor Classic.
UCLA also did not participate in the 1996 Classic due to similar conflicting dates.
According to UCLA Sports Information, the Bruins are scheduled to play in the 2001 Wooden Classic. The three other teams have not yet been selected.
When the Bruins have participated, they have won every game; UCLA is 4-0 in the tournament. In 1998, when they last played in the Classic, a then-No. 18 Bruin team upset 11th-ranked Oklahoma State 69-66.
Wooden said one of the reasons he agreed to having a tournament named in his honor was the idea that UCLA would play every year and draw a lot of fans, raising money for charities.
“The main reason I agreed to it was that $50,000 goes to charities,” he said. “Last year the money went to Special Olympics and this year as well.”
In prior years, it went to children’s hospitals.
“I don’t select the charity but I must agree to it,” he added. “I’m very pleased with that aspect.”
He should also be pleased with the UCLA-Georgia Tech matchup, which promises to be a high scoring affair.
First-year head coach Paul Hewitt has employed a running, pressing system at Georgia Tech. He typically uses a 10 player rotation in hopes his team will wear down the opponent.
“In terms of style, we’ll be pressing 94 feet or three-quarter court,” Hewitt said in a statement at the beginning of the season. “We’ll run on every possession and employ a secondary break. We want to make conditioning a factor in every game.”
This type of game should play into the hands of UCLA, which has struggled playing half-court basketball in its last two games against Cal State Northridge and UC Santa Barbara.
With Bruin fast breaks few and far between, the Matadors and Gauchos both had considerable success against UCLA by slowing down the game. Both teams employed a solid zone defense against the Bruins.
UCLA prefers to play up-tempo basketball, utilizing their athleticism on the fast break.
The Bruins should finally be able to run on Saturday.
“That’s our type of game,” shooting guard Ray Young said. “We like any team that tries to up the tempo because we have great athletes, we have great shooters. I think the Georgia Tech game is going to be one of those games we like.”
Young added that if was up to him, UCLA would be part of the Wooden Classic every year.
“I think it’s a great tribute to John Wooden,” Young said. “I wouldn’t mind personally to play in it every year but I don’t know the politics of the whole situation. I just go where they tell me.”