ESPN.com - No. 10: UCLA

ESPN.com: ESPNMagazine

Tuesday, November 12, 2002
No. 10: UCLA

By By John Gustafson

Last Season: 2112, Sweet 16


	Kapono's shooting should guide the Bruins.

Don't tell Steve Lavin it never rains in LA. After losing three starters from last season's squad, the coach got caught in a squall before this year's first practice. McDonald's All-American Evan Burns failed to qualify and enrolled at San Diego State. Then sophomore F Andre Patterson was declared academically ineligible for the fall quarter. But this being Westwood, there are still plenty of bright spots. Senior F Jason Kapono is a deadly shooter (16 ppg, 45% 3PT) and Penn State transfer Jon Crispin provides a deep threat off the bench. Don't forget, Lavs has visited the Sweet 16 five times in six years. Assuming the Bruins get more from 6'10" junior post T.J. Cummings (7.6 ppg) and 6'6" soph point Cedric Bozeman (4 ppg, 3.5 apg), the long-term forecast is sunny.

One Step Ahead: Now that big lug Dan Gadzuric is clogging up the middle in Milwaukee, Lavs can really crank up the end-to-end game. Senior SG Ray Young, soph G/F Dijon Thompson, frosh PF Mercedes Lewis (who doubles as a tight end) and frosh F Matt McKinney (a world-class volleyballer) can all press and run.

One Step Behind: One knock against Lavin has been his failure to develop talent (Gadzuric, Jerome Moiso). Bozeman is the next litmus test. The former McDonald's All-American struggled mightily with his shot (28% on threes) and composure last season. Lavin still thinks the kid can be special. It's time to show him how.

2002-2003 NCAA PREVIEW
MEN
1. Arizona Wildcats	9. Georgia Bulldogs
2. Kansas Jayhawks	10. UCLA Bruins
3. Oklahoma Sooners	11. Alabama Crimson Tide
4. Pittsburgh Panthers	12. Kentucky Wildcats
5. Florida Gators	13. Virginia Cavaliers
6. Texas Longhorns	14. Michigan State Spartans
7. Duke Blue Devils	15. Xavier Musketeers
8. UConn Huskies	16. Indiana Hoosiers

This article will appear in the November 25 issue of ESPN The Magazine.