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Struggling Bruins visit McKale

The problems for the 1999-2000 UCLA Bruins have been indescribable, and the No. 4 Arizona Wildcats hope they aren't the solution when the two face off tomorrow afternoon at 1:30 at McKale Center.

"You really can't even describe how they are feeling because I've been on talented teams that have lost before and their is no way to describe it," said UA junior center Loren Woods, who has been suffering from back spasms. "You just can't put two and two together and come up with the four."

The Bruins (13-10 overall, 4-7 in Pacific 10 Conference) are reeling after a crushing 104-75 loss at Arizona State last night, while the Wildcats (22-4, 11-1) are riding high after dismantling the USC Trojans 92-85 in a hard-fought contest at McKale.

Judging by the facts, it would seem a UA is in order, but when the Bruins and Wildcats meet, nothing is said and done until the final buzzer rings because this is a rivalry game.

"We can't be fooled by that score (ASU-UCLA), believe me," UA head coach Lute Olson said. "Take a look at how UCLA generally plays when we play them. That is a big game for them, and we'll see the real Bruin team in here on Saturday."

Adding to the fire of the rivalry game is the fact that this game will be nationally televised by ABC.

"I think everybody has been waiting for that UCLA game because it's on ABC," UA freshman guard Gilbert Arenas said. "We haven't been on TV in a long time. Everybody is getting new shoes for that game, a haircut and a shave."

The last time the Bruins and Wildcats met was at UCLA in Pauley Pavilion on Jan. 20. UA won the game 76-61 behind a tremendous second half performance by Arenas, who finished the game with 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting. Arenas credited his hot hand to redshirt freshman forward Luke Walton's dad, Bill Walton, who shook his hand at halftime.

In order to beat UCLA tomorrow, the Wildcats are going to have to control junior center Jerome Moiso, who scored 22 points and had 14 rebounds in the first game.

Moiso, though, only managed six points last night against ASU in only 20 minutes.

"We do need to stop Moiso, but actually we need to stop the whole team," Arenas said. "We need to come out and play hard. We can't just focus on one guy because that is what has hurt us in the past."