Sports: Its now college basketball conference play - Go Bruins!

UCLA is 11-2 overall and 1-1 in conference play.

The Bruins should finish in the upper half of the Pac-10. Wining the conference is unlikely as they have some deficiencies on the team - they are a donut of a team - nothing in the middle.

At the 1 spot, Farmar is in his second year. He is doing well but he has an injured ankle which is preventing him from playing his full potential and ankle injuries are often nagging ones. Collison, the freshman is getting more minutes to give Farmar a break and so far he seems up to the task.

At the 2 spot, Afflalo has been terrific and leads the team in scoring.

At the 3 spot, Shipp is finally recovered from off-season surgery and is getting the rust off and seems poised to develop further from his freshman season last year. His backup, Bozeman, was starting while Shipp was recovering and was doing a solid job. Unfortunately, Bozeman has injured his shoulder and it might be season ending. He has been the hard luck Bruin having lost one season already to knee surgery.

At the 4 spot, Aboya was projected to start but like Shipp he too had surgery and is now back trying to find his place in the rotation. He is sharing time at that slot with Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, a fellow Camaroonian. a Moute has been the rebounding machine for the Bruins and will likely to keep getting serious minutes.

At the 5 spot, Mata, 6-8, is getting minutes because Fey and Hollins, the two seven footers have been injured most of the season. Mata isn't much of an offensive threat but at least he is willing to mix it up underneath. Getting some minutes is Wright, a 6-8 freshman.

Coach Howland's original plan was probably to start Farmar, Afflalo, Shipp, Aboya and Fey. Bozeman, a Moute, Hollins and Mata were to be the backups with significant minutes. Collison, Wright and Roll would be worked in occasionally to give these freshman some experience. Thus, it seemed on paper that the Bruins had depth on their side. But with Farmar's nagging ankle, Shipp and Aboya recovering from surgeries, Bozeman possibly out for the season, Fey and Hollins injured, the original plan is pretty much in tatters.

Nonetheless, I think the Bruins should be very competitive in the Pac-10. I'm forecasting them to go 13-5 in conference play finishing 3rd or 4th in the Pac-10. I don't see Washington or Arizona winning the Pac10 title with less than 3 losses.