SAUL LOEB/Arizona Daily Wildcat Sophomore center Channing Frye and the Wildcats will try and complete the sweep of the southern California schools starting tonight at 8:30 against UCLA.

Steve Lavin has seen both the good and bad of what coaching at UCLA can bring.

The good: reaching the Sweet 16 five times in the last six years and averaging 20 wins per season since he became the Bruins' head coach seven years ago.

The bad: Lavin this year has become one of the most hated men on the Westwood campus after suffering through one of the worst seasons ever for the storied program. There is even a Web site dedicated to his firing at www.firelavin.com.

But does that mean tonight's 8:30 tip-off with No. 1 Arizona in McKale Center has lost any of its luster?

Game Info Who: UCLA at No. 1 UA When: Tonight at 8:30 p.m. Where: Mckale Center TV: FSN (Steve Physioc/ Marques Johnson) Who to Watch: UCLA - Ryan Hollins UA - Hassan Adams

"Absolutely not. If you look at their last few games against the Oregon schools, USC and Georgetown, they have played very well," UA head coach Lute Olson said. "They were really struggling early, I think all the negative things they were reading and hearing really affected them. At this point, I think it's been a gathering point for them. It's getting them closer together as a team."

After nine straight losses, the Bruins finally were able to get a win in their last game at Georgetown. However, that game doesn't help UCLA get closer to reaching the Pacific 10 Conference Tournament as it currently stands one-half game behind Washington for the last spot. But a win over UA will.

"I think the biggest difference with UCLA than in the last time we played them will be their confidence level," said UA sophomore center Channing Frye. "I think that game they really didn't come out with a lot of confidence in themselves. A lot of things were going on off the court and no matter what they say, I think it really did have an effect on the game."

In the first meeting of the season at Pauley Pavilion, the Wildcats won an 87-52 laugher, handing the Bruins their worst-ever loss at home in school history.

"Actually, I was kind of surprised how easy we beat them there," said freshman guard Hassan Adams, who grew up in Los Angeles. "In that game, we we're hyped after our win against USC, and we wanted that win (against UCLA) and we came to play."

But UA isn't expecting the same Bruin team this team around.

One of the differences will be in the paint as UCLA has turned to freshman center Ryan Hollins in its last couple of games.

He has taken advantage of the extra playing time, scoring a career-high 14 points against Georgetown and also scoring 11 points, pulling down 11 rebounds in addition to seven shot blocks two weeks ago against Oregon.

"He gives them a true center, whereas before they were playing with forwards and guards," Olson said.

But during the last couple of years, as senior Jason Kapono goes, so do the Bruins. Kapono, who had 25 points last season in McKale, is UCLA's leading scorer at 16.8 points per game.

However, Kapono struggled in the team's last meeting, scoring only four points in 20 minutes, while being covered most of the game by Arizona freshman Andre Iguodala.

"When Andre is in the game, his length can bother people," Olson said. "The key there is to be on (Kapono) really tight. I think Andre is reacting better to that now."

Hoops notes

Two of the three Arizona recruits for the 2003 season were named finalists for the Naismith Prep Basketball Award.

Point guard Mustafa Shakur of Central High School in Wynnewood, Pa., and Ndudi Ebi of Westbury Christian High School in Houston were two of the 10 finalists for what is considered the top award for a high school basketball player to win.

LeBron James of Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary High School is also named a finalist.