LOS ANGELES -- Freshman forward Nikola Dragovic of Belgrade,
Serbia, will miss UCLA's first 10 basketball games because he
played on a team defined by the NCAA as professional.
UCLA said that while Dragovic wasn't paid for the 10 games he
played with Mega Ishrana, an unknown number of players were
compensated.
"Nikola and his father tried to do everything the right way to
keep his amateur status," UCLA coach Ben Howland said Tuesday.
"They were unaware that anyone on the team had accepted money.
This is very unfortunate, but we will comply with the NCAA's
ruling."
Dragovic will be reinstated in time for the Bruins' 11th game of
the season, a home contest against Michigan on Dec. 23. UCLA,
ranked sixth in the preseason Top 25, will open its season against
BYU at Pauley Pavilion on Nov. 15.
Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press
I am going to space, and when I come back I have to pick up poodle crap.
