The Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA - Watching basketball practice without coaching takes some getting used to for Steve Lavin. A new career without the steady scrutiny that comes at UCLA has been an easier transition.

"This will be the first time 3 o'clock won't mean practice," Lavin said Friday. "For now, that's not really such a bad thing."

Lavin, fired after seven years at UCLA, is visiting as many programs as he can in preparation for his new job as a college basketball analyst for ESPN. John Chaney's Temple program was Lavin's first stop, and he'll be back again Saturday. There are scheduled pit stops at Villanova and Saint Joseph's, then next week it's Illinois, Wisconsin, Purdue, Northwestern and Indiana.

The next six months are a time for the carefully coifed Lavin to learn new techniques and tips while figuring out his next coaching step.

"I wouldn't trade my 12 years with UCLA for anything in the world, but to a certain degree, you're insulated in your program," Lavin said. "For 12 years, what I really learned and what I really know is UCLA basketball."

Lavin went 145-78 in seven years at UCLA, taking the Bruins to the NCAA tournament's round of 16 five times in six years, a feat matched only by Duke's Mike Krzyzewski.

UCLA won at least 20 games every season under Lavin except this last one, when the Bruins went 10-19 and 6-12 in Pac-10 play, finishing sixth for the second straight year - its worst-ever conference showing.

After the team's first losing season in 55 years, Lavin was fired. Ben Howland, who coached at Pittsburgh the last four seasons, was hired in April.

Lavin had a chance to stay in the game at Purdue. In May, Lavin talked with Purdue coach Gene Keady about possibly joining the Boilermakers as an assistant coach. Lavin was a graduate assistant under Keady from 1988-1991 and was intrigued at reuniting with his mentor, but thought ESPN presented a better opportunity.

"After 15 years of coaching, to step back, take a deep breath and work with ESPN was an opportunity I didn't want to pass up," he said.

Lavin, who spent 12 years at UCLA, including five as assistant, insisted there was no ill will toward the school.

"I have no regrets over anything that's happened," Lavin said. "You learn from the difficult stretches in your career."