All UCLA needs is Love

UCLA hopes the Beatles were right and that all you need is Love.

The Bruins have been to the last two Final Fours, losing to Florida in the 2006 national championship game and to the Gators again in the 2007 semifinals. The addition of 6-10, 260-pound freshman center Kevin Love might be what UCLA needs to win its 12th national championship.

If not for Kansas State’s Michael “The Human Double-Double” Beasley, college basketball would be gaga over Love’s ability to score and rebound in double digits. As it is, his production is perfect for a Bruins team that wins through grit and effort.

Love averages 17 points and 11 rebounds a game. Like the Bruins, his play is more fundamental that spectacular. Love is adept at using his body to gain position in the low post and in rebounding. And he takes special pride in his ability to pass.

When Love was a high school freshman, former UCLA assistant Kerry Keating saw him play. He immediately called Bruins coach Ben Howland and said that Love was good enough to start for the Bruins … the following day against Michigan State.

Love’s father Stan played at Oregon and was in the NBA for four seasons. Love’s uncle Mike is the lead singer of the Beach Boys.

“He’s the best freshman I’ve ever coached,” said Howland, who recalls that before the season Love told his coach that his goal was to average 18 points and 10 rebounds per game.

Howland, in his fifth season in Westwood, preaches unyielding man-to-man defense and a patient, half-court offense. At times, the Bruins have struggled to score but their ability to limit opponents’ scoring has made them a consistent, winning team.

“They’ve got several guys who will play for money,’’ Arizona interim coach Kevin O’Neill said. “They’re deep. They’ve got great front-line depth.

“I would not be surprised if they make it back to the Final Four,” Oregon State interim coach Kevin Mouton said. “Their help defense is as good as their one-on-one defense. And they have been there before."

Howland says the Bruins are as good defensively as any of his previous UCLA teams. The Bruins are forcing over 15 turnovers per game.

“Look at how many turnovers we cause, how many steals we have,” Howland said. “We’re No. 1 in the conference in steals. Some of the things we do in our schemes may cause us to have a higher field-goal percentage shot against us, but we create more havoc with turnovers forced.”

When UCLA can get the ball inside to Love, its offense is at its best. Love can either score or, if double-teamed, find the open man.

One of the Bruins’ biggest weaknesses, though, is the lack of a consistent outside shooter. Guards Russell Westbrook and Darren Collison are better when using their quickness to drive.

Junior Josh Shipp has attempted three times as many 3-pointers as any other Bruin, but he is making just 34.7 percent. In late February, he missed 21 consecutive attempts from behind the line.

He has over 50 points and over 300 rebounds this season. Since the 2002-03 season, only five freshmen have recorded a 500-point, 300-rebound seasons: Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant, Greg Oden, Michael Beasley and Love.