Mismatches Doom Bruins in Final Four Loss

By KS Wong
Bruin Basketball Report

Box Score

For the third consecutive year UCLA ran into a team better in the Final Four. Memphis's Chris Douglas-Roberts scored 28 points and Derrick Rose added 25 to end the Bruin's season with a 78-63 win. The Tigers advance to the championship game against Kansas on Monday.

UCLA came into the contest with a reputation of being the better defensive and more physical team; however, they were never able to impose their will on a solid Memphis squad. In many respects, the Tigers were the more aggressive team and it was the Bruins playing on the back of their heels.

One of the keys going into the game for UCLA was their ability to control the boards, instead Memphis out-worked them and outrebounded the Bruins 42-35. In addition, the Tigers seemingly beat them to every loose ball opportunity. Joey Dorsey scored zero points but he pulled down a game-high 15 rebounds including 6 on the offensive end.

However, the biggest disparity between the two teams was the mismatch in the backcourt. Freshman Derrick Rose dominated UCLA's Darren Collison who was neither strong nor big enough to check the 6'3 Memphis point guard. Rose repeatedly powered himself into the paint against Collison for high percentage shots and passes to open teammates.

Unfortunately for UCLA, Collison's problems on the defensive end carried over into his offense. He finished with only 2 points on 1 of 9 shooting and committed five turnovers, playing perhaps his worst game of the season.

Collison was guarded most of the evening by either 6'7 Douglas-Roberts or 6'6 Antonio Anderson, and their size and length bothered and frustrated him.

Interestingly UCLA perhaps had its best match-up on the floor against Memphis when Collison picked up his fourth foul and had to sit on the bench with eight minutes remaining in the game. With Collison out, UCLA had Westbrook on Rose, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute on Douglas-Roberts and Josh Shipp on Anderson. With this line-up UCLA got two impressive defensive stops, forcing Memphis into tough shots, and cut the lead from eleven to seven points.

But then UCLA Coach Ben Howland decided to insert Collison back into the game at the five minute mark. Perhaps Howland figured he'd win this game with the same players who got them here. Instead the Bruins were thrown again into an array of defensive mismatches. Douglas-Roberts scored four straight points, including a momentum-changing dunk over Kevin Love while being guarded on the perimeter by Josh Shipp.

The Bruins were never able to make another run. Yet, the game wasn't just lost during this span, instead Memphis was the aggressor in the game and with their talent and athleticism the Tigers were able to control the tempo and ultimate outcome.

UCLA did not do a good job stopping Memphis in transition throughout the contest, in addition, the Bruins were unable to exploit its offensive advantage inside the paint with Kevin Love.

Although Love finished with 12 points and 9 rebounds, he only scored two points in the second half, finishing the game with just 11 shot attempts. The Bruins were unable to get the ball to Love despite Memphis' big men Dorsey and Shawn Taggart picking early foul trouble to start the second half.

With the Bruins unable to establish a low post game, they were forced to take shots from outside resulting in long rebounds and transition opportunities for Memphis. Love took three shot-attempts in the second half - two of the shots were from three-point distance!

Since UCLA was down most of the half, Howland elected to play Love the entire second and he was clearly winded down the stretch.

Sophomore guard Russell Westbrook had the best offensive performance for UCLA. He finished 10 of 19 for 22 points to lead the Bruins. Westbrook showed to all why he will play at the next level, aggressively slicing through traffic and getting to the basket at ease for scores.

But much of the credit must be given to the Memphis Tigers who outplayed UCLA in practically every facet of the game. Instead of allowing Collison and Love to beat them, they forced others on the Bruin team to hit shots such as Luc Ricahrd Mbah a Moute who took 13 shot attempts - second most on the team only behind Westbrook.

The Tigers also did a good job taking care of the ball. One of UCLA's signatures under Howland is to generate offensive opportunities via its pressure defense, but the Tigers were ready and committed just nine turnovers in the game.

UCLA finished an incredible season at 35-4. While a third consecutive Final Four is an amazing accomplishment for any basketball program, missing out on a national championship is disappointing, especially considering this was perhaps Coach Ben Howland's best team in Westwood since arriving five years ago.

(photo credit: AP)

Love and Keefe Help UCLA Hold Off Western Kentucky

By KS Wong
Bruin Basketball Report

Box Score

Top-seed UCLA gave up a 21 point halftime lead before hanging on to a 88-78 victory to advance to the West Region Final, Elite 8, on Saturday against Xavier.

In the first half, the Bruins put on a basketball clinic holding Western Kentucky to just 20 points on a meager 18.8% field goal shooting. Russell Westbrook and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute held Hilltopper leading scorer Courtney Lee to just 2 of 13 shooting. On the offensive end, UCLA abused them in the paint as the Bruins scored 24 of its 41 first half points from close range, finishing with a 51.6% shooting clip.

However, a regulation college basketball game is 40 minutes long, and unfortunately for the Bruins, they seemingly forgot there was still 20 minutes left when they entered intermission with a 41-20 lead.

UCLA came out in the second half without any sign of focus or intensity.

Western Kentucky scored two quick uncontested lay-ups as the Bruins perimeter defenders became lackadaisical and the rotations down low, specifically Kevin Love, were too slow switching.

Coach Ben Howland, sensing early trouble, called a quick time-out to get into the ear of his young players. Unfortunately, they took no heed to his words.

The Hilltoppers went on to score 58 points in the second-half --- the Bruin defense had allowed opponents an average of 58.2 points in an ENTIRE game this season.

Western Kentucky cut the margin to just four points with six minutes remaining in the game but the Bruins were able to hold them off, mainly by hitting from the foul line, making their last 14 of 16 free throws to hold off the charging Hilltoppers.

While some might point to the Hilltoppers fullcourt press that sparked their rally, in reality it was UCLA unfocused play that led to turnovers and sloppy play.

UCLA's backcourt picked up quick fouls in the half. Darren Collison, Russell Westbrook, and Josh Shipp played with four fouls for much of the second half with Collison fouling out with still over five minutes remaining. Some might blame the referees for calling some unwarranted fouls, but really it was a result of the Bruins not playing aggressive on the defensive end, reaching instead of moving.

No...the second-half collapse was not on the refs. The Bruin players need to shoulder the blame for their own play in this one.

A matter of fact, Western Kentucky had more personal fouls, 24, called on them versus UCLA's 22.

Fortunately for UCLA, it had too much of an advantage down low with Kevin Love, and a surprising contributor in sophomore James Keefe.

Love finished with 29 points on 10 of 14 shooting and 14 rebounds. He scored at will inside and was key to the Bruins breaking the Hilltoppers press, especially in the opening half.

While Love's stellar line is practically a given in every game he plays, Keefe's contributions were a much needed shot in the arm. The sophomore recorded his first double-double, scoring 18 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. He cleaned up a lot of Bruin misses, hauling down 6 offensive rebounds and putting them back in.

Keefe played 26 minutes and played a key role especially when Collison fouled out. With a lack of depth in the backcourt, Keefe's play allowed the Bruins to play Mbah a Moute at small forward and to guard Courtney Lee down the stretch which allowed them to protect Westbrook from picking up another foul.

Westbrook also finished with a double-double, 14 points and 11 rebounds. Josh Shipp finished with 14 points, including a three-point shot as the shot clock expired with four minutes in the game to give the Bruins a nine-point lead the Hilltoppers could not overcome.

The Bruins will now face No.3 seed Xavier on Saturday for the West Region championship and a chance to advance to their third consecutive Final Four. Although the UCLA players will likely have this Western Kentucky game, especially their subpar second half play, on their minds for awhile.

(photo credit: AP)

Bruins Get Light Work Out In First Round Tourney Win

By KS Wong
Bruin Basketball Report

Box Score

Top-seed UCLA (32-3) began its trek through the NCAA tournament with a lopsided 70-29 win over a terribly overmatched Mississippi Valley State team.

UCLA held Mississippi Valley State to the lowest point in the tournament since 1946, when Baylor scored 29 in a loss to Oklahoma State. The Delta Devils (17-16) also set a tournament record for fewest points in a first-round game, breaking the mark of 32 by Wisconsin in 1999.

The game result was never in question.

Freshman Kevin Love scored 18 of his game-high 20 points in just the first-half, outscoring the Delta Devils, who managed just 16 points, in the opening half by himself.

Love dominated the action inside, bullying himself into the paint at will. He shot 8 of 15 from the field and also grabbed 9 rebounds to help the Bruins to a resounding 50-29 rebound advantage over Mississippi Valley State.

UCLA dominated on defense holding the Delta Devils to just 19.7% field goal shooting, in addition, the Bruins had a season-high 13 blocked shots. Love and sophomore James Keefe each had 4 blocks.

Keefe started at forward in place of injured junior Luc Richard Mbah a Moute. Mbah a Moute was available and warmed-up with the team, however, UCLA Coach Ben Howland decided to hold him out for the game, one in which Mbah a Moute was definitely not needed.

The sophomore forward, Keefe, had a solid game. In addition to his defense, he grabbed 7 rebounds and scored 4 points including a soaring slam dunk off a turnover.

Howland stated afterwards that Mbah a Moute will likely start the next game for UCLA.

No Bruin played over 26 minutes with Coach Howland emptying his bench midway through the second half. Every UCLA player scored in the game except for DeAndre Robinson.

The UCLA scoring was spread across the entire team, other than Kevin Love, no other Bruin scored in double figures. Russell Westbrook had 9 points and a game-high 7 assists. Off the bench, Lorenzo Mata-Real added 9 points and 9 rebounds.

UCLA shot 47.4% from the field and 37.5% from beyond the arc. Love was 3 of 6 on three-pointers. While it was enjoyable to watch Love hit regularly from long-distance, its not the type of shot one hopes Love will make a habit of taking too many against upcoming opponents - his place is in the low blocks.

The victory sets up a a second-round match-up on Saturday against No.9 seed Texas A&M (25-10), a 67-62 winner over No.8 seed BYU. Coincidentally, UCLA played Texas A&M last year in the Wooden Classic held at the Honda Center.

(photo credit: AP)