Mbah a Moute Hurting, Howland Near Decision On Starters

By KS Wong
Bruin Basketball Report

Junior forward Luc Richard Mbah a Moute returned to  practice on Thursday after bruising his left shoulder while diving for a ball during Wednesday's practice.  X-rays taken were negative.

Mbah a Moute is expected to play tonight against Azusa Pacific.

At Thursday's Pac-10 Conference media day, UCLA Coach Ben Howland said that Mbah a Moute, Darren Collison, Josh Shipp, and freshman Kevin Love would start and that the fifth spot was still undetermined.

"There's really four options," Howland said, "Roll could start, but if I bring him off the bench we get a lift offensively because he'll come in firing. Defensively, either Alfred or Russell makes us the best defensive team to start the game with. It could be Lorenzo."

"Once I get a lineup I like to stick to that lineup," he said. "Alfred, Lorenzo, Russell, Michael, regardless of who does start all those guys will play a significant role."