Friday, Oct. 12 The Bruins have the talent, depth and, most important, the shooting ability to win it all. The only question mark is chemistry, and who will be the leader to mix the talent into a stable product on the floor. Jason Kapono is the Bruins' best player, and the second best shooter in the West behind Casey Jacobsen. Kapono may have to sacrifice some scoring to help distribute the ball and play as a point forward. If he sees no help defense, he can score. If he's doubled, he can find people. The key player will be freshman point guard Cedric Bozeman, a clever handler that knows how to play. Bozeman is 6-5, silky smooth, and makes it look easy. Watch out for Dijon Thompson, a 6-8, sleek, athletic small forward that can play point. Thompson is a special player.

7
UCLA
LAST SEASON: 23-9
2001 FINAL RANKING
ESPN/USA Today: No. 12

Why No. 7?
Here's why we love UCLA: They can disrupt a team's offense, largely with their press. They’ve got one of the better shooters in the game in Jason Kapono, a solid inside threat in Dan Gadzuric and a developing T.J. Cummings. Their role players might be some of the best in the nation in Matt Barnes, Ray Young, Rico Hines and Billy Knight. Oh, and they have maybe the best newcomer class in the country. Cedric Bozeman will start right away at the point and Dijohn Thompson and Andre Patterson will be hard to keep off the court. Everyone on the court can score in some fashion. And for the first time since Steve Lavin has been at UCLA, the team didn't lose a player early to the NBA. Replacing Earl Watson's leadership will be the toughest thing the Bruins have to face this season. It can be done but it won't be a cinch for Bozeman. The schedule allows the Bruins to play big-time games throughout the season. This team is driven to go deep in the tournament and make the Final Four.

Will Rise If ...
The Bruins get the necessary big-time play out of point Cedric Bozeman. Everything else is in place for the Bruins to make a Final Four run. They've got the depth and the talent at every position but the point. Bozeman is legit but he needs to be consistent -- a tough chore for a freshman.

Will Fall If ...
UCLA doesn't get help scoring off the bench. Dan Gadzuric and T.J. Cummings can't do it alone. They need contributions on the offensive backboard and have to get a few finishers in the post. UCLA is vulnerable if Gadzuric is off his game.

-- Andy Katz, ESPN.com

SCOUTING REPORT: One Pac-10 coach's take on the Bruins

“

Got to take care of the basketball against them. Their pressure defense gives them a lot of their offense. You've got to make them pay for it if you've got a chance to attack them. You've got to do a good job of containing Jaosn Kapono. You've got to be able to limit his touches and make him work. He opens up everything to the inside guys. He can make shots. Gadzuric needs angles to score so you've got to push him off the block. They're also a good offensive rebounding team, especially Matt Barnes. This year you can probably go after the point guard a bit more and pressure him. They do a good job with their press but in the halfcourt they don't defend you as well as you would think. You can score against them once you break that initial pressure. ”

2001-02 UCLA ROSTER
Player	Yr.	Pos.	Ht./Wt.	Key 2000-01 Stats
(23) Matt Barnes	Sr.	F	6-7/230	PTS: 11.6 | REB: 7.3 | FG%: 47.8
(21) Cedric Bozeman	Fr.	G	6-6/183	Watson's replacement is bigger, but not necessarily better -- yet.
(43) T.J. Cummings	So.	F	6-9/205	PTS: 6.4 | REB: 3.5 | FG%: 48.5
(50) Dan Gadzuric	Sr.	C	6-11/248	PTS: 11.7 | REB: 8.6 | FG%: 53.4
(22) Rico Hines	Sr.	G/F	6-4/217	Sat out 2000-01 season after knee surgery; will battle Knight for PT at shooting guard
(52) John Hoffart	So.	C	6-10/286	Transfer from Cal-Poly didn't play last season; Should spell Gadzuric, if needed
(54) Josiah Johnson	Fr.	F	6-8/240	Remember Kris Johnson? Well, meet his younger, and bigger, brother Joshiah
(24) Jason Kapono	Jr.	F	6-7/199	PTS: 17.2 | REB: 5.7 | 3PT%: 45.7
(3) Billy Knight	Sr.	G	6-5/210	PTS: 7.9 | REB: 1.9 | 3PT%: 42.1
(5) Andre Patterson	Fr.	F	6-8/210	Will be frontcourt force next season. Will learn mostly by watching this season
(1) Dijon Thompson	Fr.	G/F	6-6/180	Big reason why Bruins' class of 2001 was rated so highly; Kapono-like skills
(10) Ryan Walcott	Fr.	G	6-2/175	Not expected to see much PT this season with so many talented guards around him
(34) Ray Young	Sr.	G	6-3/210	PTS: 7.0 | REB: 2.2 | AST: 1.2
Head Coach: Steve Lavin (114-47, 5 years) Assistant Coaches: Jim Saia, Steve Spencer, Gerald Madkins Home Court: Pauley Pavilion (12,800); Los Angeles

2001-02 UCLA SCHEDULE

November 19: Houston (a) 20: Seton Hall/Duke (b) 21: Maui Invt. 28: Pepperdine

December 5: UC Riverside 8: Alabama (c) 15: UC Irvine 20 at Washington 22: at Wash St. 27 Columbia 29 Georgetown

January 4: Washington 6: Wash St. 10: at USC 12: Kansas 17: at Arizona St. 19: at Arizona 24: Stanford 26: California 31: at Oregon

February 2: at Oregon St. 6 USC 9: at Villanova 14: Arizona 16: Arizona St. 21: at California 23: at Stanford 28: Oregon St.

March 2: Oregon