Wright Happier Being on Court

If UCLA had its way, freshman center Ryan Wright would spend the year getting stronger, being coached and learning the game better without game action. Wright, who made his first start in Sunday's 69-57 win against feeble Coppin State at Pauley Pavilion, said he was asked to redshirt but elected to play.

"I think he's getting better and better," Howland said of Wright. "He's really long. This was a bad game for him ... from a standpoint of having to guard a little 6-4 guy. Hollins has had more experience with that, and that's why I went with Ryan predominantly in the second half." One of the reasons UCLA wanted Wright to redshirt was his lack of competition while playing at Loyola High located near Toronto. L.A. Daily News