Muhammad, Pac-12 locals eager to play in home city

When Shabazz Muhammad comes home to Las Vegas today, he’s not looking forward to sleeping in his own bed or having some of his mom Faye’s cooking.

He’s ready for chicken fingers.

“That’s what I’ve missed the most about not being home, having some Raising Cane’s,” the former high school All-American from Bishop Gorman said. “I’m definitely taking all my guys there while we’re in Vegas.”

So if you see a bunch of tall guys wearing blue and gold sweat suits pounding chicken fingers around town, it’s Muhammad and the UCLA basketball team.

The Pacific 12 Conference tournament this year moved from Los Angeles to the MGM Grand Garden, making it a homecoming week for seven players with Las Vegas ties. Also here are Muhammad’s Gorman teammates Rosco Allen with Stanford and Ben Carter with Oregon, who’s joined by former Gorman star Johnathan Loyd and former Findlay Prep standout Dominic Artis. Two other Findlay alums — Nick Johnson and Brandon Ashley — are here with Arizona.

Chicken fingers aside, Muhammad said this is not a pleasure trip for him or the top-seeded Bruins, who won the Pac-12 regular-season title. UCLA plays at noon Thursday against the winner of Wednesday’s opening-round game between Stanford and Arizona State.

“It’s exciting to be coming home, but we have one thing on our minds, and that’s to win the (Pac-12) tournament,” said Muhammad, who leads the Bruins in scoring with an 18.3-point average. “This is about business.”

The Oregon trio already was in town back in late November when the Ducks beat UNLV in the Global Sports Classic at the Thomas & Mack Center. Stanford’s Allen has not had the chance to see his family and friends for a while.

“I’m definitely excited to be coming back home,” Allen said. “I’ve been to the MGM for a couple of concerts, and it’ll be a great venue for basketball.”

Allen said the Stanford experience probably has been more challenging off the court because of the school’s high academic standards. But he said he’s holding his own in the classroom.

“I’m learning so much,” Allen said. “I’ve been able to establish some great relationships with my teammates, and it’s been a great experience for me so far.”

Johnson, who spent two years at Findlay Prep, plans to visit the Henderson home where he and the other Pilots lived with coach Todd Simon and his wife, who oversaw the daily off-the-court routine.

“I missed living in the house with my teammates,” Johnson said. “There’s nothing like it.”

Fourth-seeded Arizona will play its tournament opener at 2:30 p.m. Thursday against the winner of Wednesday’s game between Colorado and Oregon State.

“Every game is going to be a battle. But we’ll be ready,” Johnson said.

Muhammad vows UCLA will be ready too, and he said he’s not being distracted by all the speculation about him leaving for the NBA after the season. On Monday, he was named Pac-12 freshman of the year, sharing the honor with Arizona State’s Jahii Carson.

“It’s kinda weird, but I’m telling everyone my focus is solely on the Pac-12 tournament and the NCAAs,” Muhammad said. “I know everybody keeps asking me, but I haven’t made any decisions about my future.”

Muhammad has remained upbeat despite injuries and illnesses that date to last summer, and his early-season eligibility battle with the NCAA. He said he’s not satisfied, despite making substantial progress on the court.

“There’s always improvement I can make,” he said. “I’ve learned that you can’t take any plays off at this level. It’s hard, but you’ve got to stay focused for all 40 minutes. So I’m working on that.”

■ NOTE — Southern California starting center Dewayne Dedmon and backup big man James Blasczyk were suspended indefinitely following allegations the two were involved in a melee in Spokane, Wash., over the weekend.

Interim coach Bob Cantu said the suspensions were the result of violating an unspecified team rule. It wasn’t immediately clear whether the 7-footers would be allowed to play in the Trojans’ opening game against Utah in the Pac-12 tournament on Wednesday night.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.