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Anderson looking to restore confidence tonight in road test against Bruins

Rick Anderson's goal for this weekend is to go back to Southern California, win some games and have some fun in the process.

The sophomore forward from Long Beach, Calif., was playing some of the best basketball of his career during preseason practices, but a back injury and strep throat set him back as he missed a week of practice. Aside from hitting the occasional three-pointer and free throw, Anderson has seen his playing time severely cut lately, even though sophomore forward Richard Jefferson is out with a broken foot.

With Arizona beginning a difficult four-game road trip tonight against UCLA (8:30 p.m. MST, Fox Sports Net), Anderson returns home knowing he has to contribute immediately if Arizona is to stay on track towards a ninth Pacific 10 Conference championship.

"I'm kind of down right now," Anderson said. "I'm going to let it (the game) come to me, I think the team needs me big time."

Anderson, one of seven scholarship players, says there is no excuse for him not to be seeing more playing time. His production is down dramatically - witness his zero point and zero rebound performance in seven minutes Saturday against Washington.

"It's getting better," Anderson said. "I've played well in practice lately."

UA head coach Lute Olson wants to see Anderson play with more intensity every game, and won't take anybody off the bench if they aren't ready to play.

"Ricky needs to grow up and get a little tougher," Olson said following Arizona's victory over Delaware on Dec. 30. "He needs to be healthy in practice to get us ready for games."

Olson criticized Anderson's preparation for each game and hasn't been afraid to sit him on the bench, giving junior Justin Wessel and freshman Luke Walton more time at small forward.

"The guys know that if there is one game that they are not ready to play, they are definitely going to take a hit," Olson said.

It looked like Anderson was back to his preseason form on Dec. 1, when he poured in 16 points against Brigham Young. Also during that game, Anderson was smiling and pointing at his brother, Rob, who plays on the UA golf team, in the crowd after draining a three-pointer.

Anderson, who said he plays his best when he's having fun, hopes for a performance like that in Los Angeles this weekend to lift him out of his latest slump.

A three-time team MVP at Long Beach Poly High School, Anderson will run into a familiar face at Pauley Pavilion tonight. In high school, he and Bruins freshman forward Jason Kapono were rivals.

"Playing there with my family there and against Jason Kapono is huge," Anderson said.

Providing a spark off the bench for the No. 2 Wildcats, a team needing help from every single one of its players as the roster gets shorter, would be even bigger.

Bryan Rosenbaum can be reached at Bryan.Rosenbaum@wildcat.arizona.edu