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UCLA not expected to take Memphis lightly

Apr 5, 2008 - 10:09 AM No. 1 UCLA (35-3) at No. 1 Memphis (37-1) 6:07 pm EDT

SAN ANTONIO (Ticker) - Before coach Ben Howland and UCLA can take that final step to getting over the hump at the Final Four, they will have to deal with a very motivated team.

The Bruins aim to take another step towards capturing an elusive title when they face Memphis in the opener of the national semifinals of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday.

With a 76-57 victory over Xavier in the West Regional final last Saturday, UCLA (35-3) became the first of the four top seeds to advance to the Final Four.

Unlike the other three participants, a number of the Bruin players have already played on college basketball's biggest stage, losing to eventual champion Florida each of the previous two seasons.

UCLA will now face a top seed that many observers predicted would miss the Final Four - South Regional champ Memphis (37-1).

"The greatest thing for this team was they were on a mission and they still are," Memphis coach John Calipari said. "People that have watched us play, especially last weekend were stunned at how hard they played and how unselfish they played and with so much intelligence they played.

"They have done it all year. That's why our record is what it is. I don't think it's a lack of respect as much as it is that people just haven't seen us play."

While the Tigers are expected to be a tough out, especially after an 85-67 victory over Texas on Sunday to reach their first Final Four since 1985, the Bruins are arguably the most balanced team left in the tournament.

While such starters as Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, Darren Collison and Josh Shipp are back in the Final Four for a third or second time, it is the presence of Kevin Love inside that may finally garner a crown for Howland and UCLA.

One of the top freshman in the country even before he stepped onto the Westwood campus, Love has completely lived up to his billing, averaging a double-double en route to becoming just the second player to be named the Pac-10 Player of the Year in his first collegiate campaign.

In the NCAAs, he has helped lift the Bruins out of nearly every tight spot that they have been in, averaging 21.8 points and 11.0 rebounds.

Against Memphis, Love will be squaring off with another of the top freshman in the country in point guard Derrick Rose.

Rose has been equally as important to his team this season, and along with Love, has raised his play in the tournament. It was never more evident in the win over Texas, where Rose scored 21 points, handed out nine assists and helped bottle up star guard D.J. Augustin.

"(Rose) has been pretty good all year with his efficiency," Calipari said. "He'll score when he needs to. He's playing the game as it happens.

"His reactions on the court are off the charts. His hand-eye (coordination) and the speed of his hands and the way he reacts to what's being thrown at him is tremendous."

One of five teams to win a Division I-record 37 games, the Tigers have lost each of their two previous meetings with the Bruins in the NCAA Tournament.

The last encounter occurred in a regional final in 2006, when UCLA became its run of three consecutive Final Four.

The Bruins also topped the Tigers in the 1973 national title game behind Bill Walton.

Compared numerous times to the former UCLA great, Love will try to make history repeat itself.