UCLA basketball: Nikola Dragovic remains day-to-day

UCLA forward Nikola Dragovic will remain suspended through Monday night's game against Pepperdine after meeting with Coach Ben Howland on Friday to discuss his legal troubles.

Dragovic faces a felony assault charge stemming from an altercation at a Hollywood concert last month. The incident was made public Friday and he was suspended for the Cal State Bakersfield game that night.

"We have to get more information that's going to be given to the appropriate people here on our campus," Howland said.

The coach said he learned enough from his meeting with the senior to feel comfortable that he knows the details of what happened, but declined to comment further, saying, "This is a legal case. This is a case that is obviously pending."

Dragovic was expected to attend practice this afternoon but will not be allowed to participate. Similarly, Howland said, Dragovic could sit on the bench in street clothes for the Pepperdine game.

Describing his meeting with Dragovic on Friday night, Howland said, "It was a long day for him. He was obviously very apologetic and felt terrible about this whole situation."

-- David Wharton

Photo: UCLA's Nikola Dragovic blocks a shot during a game last season against Oregon. Credit: Los Angeles Times.

UCLA basketball: Dragovic decision still pending

UCLA Coach Ben Howland will not make any announcement today regarding suspended forward Nikola Dragovic, a team spokesman said.

Dragovic faces a felony assault charge in relation to an altercation at a Hollywood concert last month. He surrendered to police on Friday and was later released on bail.

Despite the fact that Dragovic told the team about the altercation soon after it occurred -- and Howland accompanied him to meet with police on Friday -- the coach said he knew few details about what happened.

The Bruins' only returning starter, Dragovic was suspended for Friday night's game against Cal State Bakersfield. Howland said he would decide on any further suspension after meeting with the player and with university administrators.

Dragovic had a brush with the law early last season, arrested after an incident with his former girlfriend. The city attorney decided not to file charges but left open the possibility of revisiting the case within a year.

"That will be taken into account," Howland said after the Bakersfield game. "This is a second incident."

The coach is scheduled to speak with reporters on Sunday afternoon. UCLA plays against Pepperdine at Pauley Pavilion on Monday night.

-- David Wharton

Photo: UCLA forward Nikola Dragovic forces Humboldt State's Kevin Atkins to pass on a drive down the lane. Credit: Chris Carlson / Associated Press

Ted Green: What's going on with UCLA basketball?

What in the name of Gail Goodrich and Walt Hazzard, Lewis Alcindor, the Walton Gang , Nell and John Wooden Court and everything holy in Westwood did I just watch?

That was UCLA basketball?

Losing to Cal State Fullerton and now down 10 to Cal State Bakersfield in the opening half?

Goodness, gracious, sakes alive.

Who's next, Cal State . . . Channel Islands? San Marcos? Dominguez Hills?

If UCLA has an open date tomorrow, I hear Stanislaus is looking for a game.

But Bakersfield? The last time I even heard the name Bakersfield mentioned in public, John Steinbeck was writing about dust bowls in "The Grapes of Wrath."

Normally, any UCLA team going back half a century would eat a Cal State Bakersfield for breakfast. Certainly Bakersfield has plenty of Denny's.

But in case you haven't noticed, things are not normal in Howlandville, far from it.

If you respect the decades of sustained excellence that UCLA basketball stands for, it's almost unbearable to watch how far the mighty have fallen.

If you like movie trivia, Coach Ben Howland (pictured above) is aptly named Ben because I smell a rat.

UCLA basketball: Bruins trail early before tying score at halftime

Things might have gone worse for the Bruins. But not by much.

This morning, they suspended senior forward Nikola Dragovic after learning that he faces a felony assault charge relating to an unspecified incident last month at a concert in Hollywood.

This evening, they were sleep-walking through much of the first half against Cal State Bakersfield, falling behind by 11 points on several occasions, before scrambling to tie the score, 35-35, at halftime.

UCLA was shooting the ball better at 55.6%, but seemed occasionally confounded by Bakersfield's zone defense, committing 10 turnovers. The Roadrunners were led by Stephon Carter's 10 points and stayed even with the Bruins, 15-15, in rebounds for the first 20 minutes.

-- David Wharton

UCLA's Nikola Dragovic arrested, suspended by Bruins

UCLA basketball forward Nikola Dragovic was suspended for tonight’s game against Cal State Bakersfield after his arrest in relation to an incident last month at a concert in Hollywood.

Dragovic was informed this morning that the Los Angeles district attorney filed a felony charge against him. He turned himself into University of California police and Hollywood Division detectives soon after.

The charge could be even more serious given that Dragovic was arrested at the start of last season in regard to an altercation with his ex-girlfriend.

At the time, the city attorney's office decided not to file charges after meeting with the player and the alleged victim, though prosecutors reserved the right to revisit the case for up to a year.

“This is an unfortunate situation for Nikola,” Coach Ben Howland said. “Our staff and players will do what we can to help him during this time. He made us aware of the incident when It occurred, but until this morning, we did not know charges would be filed.”

According to the Associated Press, Dragovic was booked and released from the Hollywood station on $30,000 bail late Friday, Los Angeles police Officer Julie Boyer said.

Dragovic's status for upcoming games remained uncertain.

-- David Wharton

UCLA basketball: Media day

Nothing mysterious or unexpected about the focus of UCLA practices this week.

In two words: Shot selection.

Coach Ben Howland, meeting with reporters today, is still upset that his team took 84 shots in a double-overtime loss to Cal State Fullerton on Monday -- and made only 31% of them.

"We took so many bad shots," he said. "We were really hurried."

The coach would rather see his players be more patient, make extra passes and wind up in the neighborhood of 60 shots for Friday night's game against Cal State Bakersfield.

For more details on media day, stay tuned to http://latimes.com/sports/

-- David Wharton

Photo: UCLA coach Ben Howland gives his team instructions as they play against Cal State Fullerton at Pauley Pavillion on Monday. Credit: Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times.

UCLA basketball: Ben Howland on recruits

Coach Ben Howland spoke out today about Josh Smith and Tyler Lamb, who signed national letters of intent with UCLA during the early period.

Smith, who ranks among the top big men in the nation, averaged 26.8 points and 13.5 rebounds last season  at Kentwood HIgh in Washington. Howland praised the 6-10 center's ability to play with his back to the basket.

"He is an outstanding athlete and has good leaping ability and quick feet for his size," the coach said. "He has a very bright future ahead of him and he'll make an immediate impact at UCLA."

Lamb is a 6-4 guard from Santa Ana Mater Dei who averaged 14 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3.3 steals.

"He's very athletic and is going to be an outstanding player that can play multiple positions," Howland said. "He is a very good defensive player and has been a part of one of the best high school programs in the country."

 -- David Wharton

UCLA basketball: First half report

This could be a very rough season for the Bruins.

After unimpressive exhibition victories over Concordia and Humboldt State, UCLA is struggling in their official season opener at Pauley Pavilion, trailing Cal State Fullerton, 33-27, at the half.

What's wrong with the Bruins? Where to begin?

During the first 20 minutes, they made only 12 of 36 shots, finding almost no rhythm on offense. They hold a slight advantage in rebounds but have eight turnovers.

The only bright spot has been the play of sophomore guard Malcolm Lee, who has 10 points after a string of baskets inside.

Guard Aaron Thompson and forward Gerard Anderson are leading the Titans with 13 and nine points respectively.

-- David Wharton

UCLA basketball: Zeigler will wait, Smith will sign

Trey Zeigler, the shooting guard that UCLA is recruiting out of Michigan, said today that the Bruins rank among the top teams on his list but that he will wait until spring before announcing a decision.

Oklahoma and Michigan are among the other schools on the 6-foot-5 prospect's list. His father, Ernie, is the coach at Central Michigan and a former assistant under Ben Howland at UCLA and Pittsburgh.

Meanwhile, Josh Smith, a recruit who recently committed to the Bruins, will take care of the paperwork and sign tomorrow. 

-- David Wharton

UCLA basketball: The fun begins

Beginning with the season opener against Cal State Fullerton on Monday night, the Bruins face six games over a span of 14 days.

Coach Ben Howland worries about how his young team will handle this jam-packed start. Some players share his concern.

"That's just going to test our stamina and our ability to do turnarounds on different games and our different assignments," guard Malcolm Lee says. "Games are going to be rolling in and out, we're going to have different assignments and different objectives for every game."

After the first few -- Fullerton, Cal State Bakersfield and Pepperdine -- UCLA plays in the 76 Classic tournament in Anaheim, where the field includes nationally ranked teams such as West Virginia, Butler and Clemson.

"We're going to look up and down just for right now," freshman Mike Moser predicts. "But once we start getting our chemistry right, getting our rotations going real smooth, I think things are going to look more solid."

At least one player, senior forward James Keefe, is looking forward to the next two weeks.

"It's more fun when you're actually playing games than when you're practicing against each other," he said.

-- David Wharton

Photo: Malcolm Lee. Credit: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times