No Lineup Changes for Now

With UCLA off on what Coach Steve Lavin called a “critical road trip” against California and unbeaten No. 7 Stanford this week--revisiting the scene of last season’s 48-point loss--Lavin still doesn’t plan to start Jelani McCoy.

“Right now I’m looking at not changing the lineup. The team’s played so well together,” Lavin said, meaning Kris Johnson and freshman Earl Watson will start, with McCoy coming off the bench. “We’ve talked. It’s natural. Jelani would like to start, but he understands that the team’s doing well.”

The play of Johnson and Watson and a 12-2 record have left Lavin reluctant to change, despite some deficiencies in the team’s performance.

“Earl is so good we can’t take him out of the starting lineup. He’s too valuable to take out,” Lavin said.

Lavin said J.R. Henderson, whose eye was injured against Oregon on Saturday, has improved and “looks like he’s going to be fine” although the eye remains irritated.