Bruins Won’t Stop Halfway Cyclones’ Plan To Play Half-Court Game Fails To Impress Ucla

UCLA likes an expressway pace. Iowa State thrives on a half-court slowdown. Something has to give in their NCAA Tournament Midwest regional semifinal.

“UCLA has athletic ability far beyond ours,” Iowa State center Kelvin Cato said. “They are a fastbreak team we won’t try to slow down. We’ll just try to control them. We know all their guys can jump. Only a few of our guys can jump.”

The Bruins (23-7), cruising with an 11-game winning streak, are six-point favorites over the Cyclones (22-8) in tonight’s game of contrasting styles. The teams follow Minnesota vs. Clemson.

Iowa State has lost all five games it has played against UCLA, but the Cyclones won’t be awed.

“UCLA is more athletic than Kansas and has four guys that probably will go into the NBA, but we don’t think the environment will be too much for us,” said Iowa State guard Dedric Willoughby. “We watched these guys win the national title two years ago and have some players who can do anything at anytime, but we still think we can do the job.”

The Cyclones, who knocked off quick, athletic Cincinnati 67-66 in the second round, hope to frustrate the hyper Bruins.

It won’t work, said UCLA guard Cameron Dollar.

“It will be a lot of fun playing half-court,” Dollar said. “We’ve done it time and again in our conference. “

“We’ve played 18 games like that because most of the teams in our league (Pac-10) won’t let us run,” said forward Charles O’Bannon.

O’Bannon smiled when told of the praise from Iowa State.

“They’re just trying to pump UCLA up a little,” O’Bannon said. “We know they play well together and do what they do very well.”

Steve Lavin, who was named UCLA head coach Feb. 11 when Jim Harrick was dismissed, said Iowa State’s tempo was definitely a concern.

“We do like that expressway lane, but we’ve played well at different speeds this year,” Lavin said. “We can play a half-court game.”

UCLA averaged 102.5 points in beating Charleston Southern and Xavier in the first and second rounds. Iowa State coach Tim Floyd said the Bruins have him worried.

“I’ve got great respect for UCLA because I believe they are as talented as Kansas from their one through six players,” Floyd said. “They create great matchup problems. We will have to limit their transition baskets and keep them off the foul line. “

Rookie Lavin gives Iowa State the coaching edge.

Lavin said “if it comes down to a chess match between coaches we may be in trouble. Floyd could be the next coach of the Chicago Bulls if Phil Jackson retires, and all I have is 23 wins.”

It’s Iowa State’s first appearance in the final 16 since 1986.

UCLA, which won the national title two years ago with Lavin as an assistant, is making a fourth appearance in the final 16 in the 1990s. The Bruins have been NCAA champions 11 times.

Cyclones guard Jacy Holloway said, “We’ve all watched UCLA play on television. But coach Floyd has kept us so busy it’s been hard to worry about who we’re playing.”

MEMO: Cut in Spokane edition.