Lavin Gives Favorable Review

Bruin Coach Steve Lavin said he feels that, with a month left in the regular season, the squad compares favorably with where last season’s team was at a similar point in the schedule.

“We’re 18-4 right now,” Lavin said. “At this point last year, we were 15-7. I don’t think we were even in the top 25, were we? This team was ranked sixth in the nation last week, and this week we’re ranked ninth or 10th in the nation.

“I think this team is probably farther along in terms of confidence, in terms of playing in different environments. This team is just not as experienced. [Last season’s key seniors] Charles O’Bannon and Cameron Dollar were very experienced players.”

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Point guard Baron Davis, suffering from a respiratory problem, missed his second straight practice Tuesday, and Lavin said he wasn’t sure if Davis will be ready to play Thursday against Stanford.