Bruins Zigged Instead of Zagging

I have a simple question for Steve Lavin. What do you have the team do at practice each day? If you have them practice standing in one spot on the perimeter, swinging the ball from side to side until someone shoots a three-pointer with two men in his face, you can move on--the team has that play down.

It’s an absolute shame that UCLA fans who were treated to some of the most beautifully choreographed basketball in the game’s history by John Wooden are now forced to watch this year’s squad.

TONY ROSSI, Manhattan Beach

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Last Saturday, I turned the TV on to watch UCLA versus Gonzaga. Instead I got USC versus Gonzaga. I know it was USC because every play was the same on offense, defense was nowhere to be found and they looked like a bunch of guys lummoxing up and down the court and getting thoroughly whipped by the opponent.

An hour later, I turned the TV on again to watch USC. Instead it’s UCLA playing Loyola Marymount. I know it was UCLA because they were well coached, exciting, entertaining and slaughtering their opponent. When did the transformation take place? That explains why USC played at the Wooden Classic. So now when I have the urge to go watch a UCLA game, I’ll head for the Sports Arena and watch UCLA wearing cardinal and gold.

AL SANCHEZ, Los Angeles

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Bob “Teflon” Toledo’s UCLA football team, depleted by injuries and suspensions, finishes ninth in the Pac-10 and suffers its worst defeat in 69 years (to Oregon State of all schools), yet only a handful of mildly critical letters show up in The Times’ Sports Viewpoint.

Steve “Sticky” Lavin’s UCLA basketball team, depleted by injuries and suspensions, plays one bad half against a nationally ranked team early in the preseason, and I’m guessing there will be more than a few letters asking for his job.

BEN BROWDY, Los Angeles

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Let me get this straight. Gonzaga defeats UCLA at Pauley Pavilion by 16, has one more loss than UCLA, a tougher schedule, and somehow is still ranked lower than UCLA. Who says that the Pac-10 gets no respect?

KURT HAGIHARA, North Hollywood

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Prima donnas, head cases, ship jumpers, or any other uncoachable prospect: Feel free to try out for the UCLA basketball experience! You’ll get scholarships, housing, a chance at greatness and a top-notch education. We’ll get the usual, another talented team that can’t run plays, mediocrity, scandal headlines instead of stats, and the best cheerleader on the West Coast in Steve “It’s all on me/my bad, fellas” Lavin or Steve “I’m a players’ coach” Lavin.

Cool works in the NBA, not the NCAA.

PAUL PONTRELLI, Glendale

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UCLA’s fall from basketball grace rivals USC’s football woes. If UCLA is to restore its basketball program to prominence, a bold move needs to be made.

Rick Majerus has previously expressed interest off the record in the UCLA job. The media-conscious Majerus and Los Angeles are a perfect fit for one another. This alumnus is tired of seeing UCLA get beat up by not only the Dukes, Stanfords and Arizonas of the world, but also the Detroit Mercys and Gonzagas. Dalis ought to seriously consider Majerus. I’m sure there are many alumni like myself who would rather see a size XXL sweater roaming courtside than a fancy-but-empty suit.

LAWRENCE LEE, Ann Arbor, Mich.