UCLA

Ben Howland and UCLA Agree to Seven Year Contract

Press Release — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 01:41:17 -0700

UCLA head men’s basketball coach Ben Howland and the University have agreed on a new seven-year contract, athletic director Dan Guerrero announced today. The new contract, which runs through the 2014-15 season, includes guaranteed compensation of $1.97 million for the 2008-09 season and escalates to $2.3 million for the 2014-15 season. It also includes the incentive package from his previous contract that has a maximum value of $235,000.

In 2007-08, UCLA set a school record for victories en route to a mark of 35-4 and a third consecutive Final Four appearance. Since the NCAA Tournament bracket expanded to 64 teams in 1985, UCLA is one of just four schools to earn three straight Final Four berths (Michigan State in 1999-01 was the last to do so). UCLA has also won three straight Pac-10 titles, making Howland the first Bruin coach since John Wooden to win three straight league championships, and two of the last three Pac-10 Post-Season Tournaments.

Howland is also one of just three coaches in the history of college basketball to win at least 30 games in three consecutive seasons. He has also produced four NBA first-round draft choices in the last three seasons, including the fourth and fifth selections in the 2008 draft.

“Ben Howland and UCLA are a great combination,” said Guerrero. “Ben is at the top of his profession and is deserving of this commitment by the University. He has returned UCLA to the nation’s elite, as illustrated by three straight Finals Fours and three consecutive 30-win seasons. He is an outstanding recruiter, and the foundation Ben has built for our program promises to keep us at the forefront for the foreseeable future.”

“I have said this before, but there is no place I would rather be coaching than UCLA,” said Howland, 51. “I grew up a Bruin basketball fan and this is my dream job. We have great young men in our program, both on and off the field, and they are the real reasons for our success. UCLA is a special name in college basketball thanks to Coach Wooden and I am proud to be the caretaker of his program. I am also grateful to Chancellor (Gene) Block and Dan for the faith they continue to show in me.”

UCLA's Mbah a Moute to Stay in the Draft

Press Release — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 16:05:03 -0700

UCLA forward Luc Richard Mbah a Moute has decided to remain in the NBA Draft, is hiring an agent, and will forgo his senior season, UCLA head basketball coach Ben Howland announced today.

"Luc had a great career at UCLA, and I’m really proud of everything he helped our team accomplish during his tenure as a player at UCLA," Howland said. "He was the freshman of the year in the conference, won three Pac-10 titles and started in three Final Fours, but, more than anything, he is a winner.

“I’m sure he’ll continue to provide that great attitude and work ethic at the next level in the NBA,” Howland added. “I will always be grateful and appreciative of Luc. He’s an outstanding player and an even better person."

As a junior, Mbah a Moute helped the Bruins compile a record of 35-4 en route to their third-straight Pac-10 title and third consecutive trip to the Final Four. The honorable mention All-Pac-10 and honorable mention Pac-10 All-Defensive Team selection was fifth on the team in scoring (8.8 ppg) and second in rebounding (6.0 rpg) last year. His 775 rebounds rank him No. 15 on UCLA’s career list.

“After speaking to my family and going through the process, I feel like the time is right for me to take the next step in my basketball career and keep my name in the NBA Draft,” said Mbah a Moute. “I had the greatest time of my life at UCLA. Starting in three-straight Final Fours and winning three straight Pac-10 titles is something I’ll never forget. I will be a Bruin forever.”

This season, Mbah a Moute became the first player since Andre Hutson and Charlie Bell of Michigan State (1999-2001) and the first Bruin since Bill Walton, Jamaal Wilkes and Greg Lee (1972-74) to start in three straight Final Fours.

Big 12 / Pac-10 Hardwood Series Schedule

Press Release — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 09:57:07 -0700

Irving, Texas - The Big 12 and Pacific-10 Conferences have announced the dates and matchups for the 2008 Big 12 / Pac-10 Hardwood Series. The series is in its second year after beginning competition during the 2007-08 season.

The majority of the games are scheduled for December 4-7, with three taking place outside the four-day series window. Each matchup is a return contest from 2007. The 2009 games in the series will be played December 3-6, while meetings in 2010 will take place December 2-5. After this season, new pairings will be in place for the next two years of the arrangement.

Last season, the Pac-10 held a 7-5 edge over the Big 12 in Hardwood Series games. Overall, the Big 12 posted an 11-8 advantage between the conferences in regular season and postseason play. The 12 contests averaged more than 10,000 fans, drawing a total of 123,035 to the arenas.

Additional components of the series, including the times and television information will be announced at a later date.

BIG 12 / PAC-10 HARDWOOD SERIES

Thursday, December 4, 2008
Oklahoma State at Washington
UCLA at Texas
USC at Oklahoma

Friday, December 5, 2008
Arizona at Texas A&M

Saturday, December 6, 2008
Baylor at Washington State
Oregon State at Iowa State

Sunday, December 7, 2008
Kansas State at Oregon
Nebraska at Arizona State
California at Missouri

Outside the four-day series window
Colorado at Stanford (Sat., Nov. 29, 2008)
Kansas at Arizona (Tue., Dec. 23, 2008)
Texas Tech at Stanford (Sun., Dec. 28, 2008)

Siegel's Take: 2008 Center Analysis

Shawn Siegel — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 11:37:56 -0700

This is the last of five Siegel's Take articles analyzing the 2008 NBA Draft prospects. Today's focus is surprisingly solid set of big men.

As I say every year, its important to note that I'm not as kind as most Draft analysts out there. The reality of the NBA Draft is that only a few guys will be stars, a handful more will be starters, a dozen guys will be career reserves, and the rest will all fizzle into nothingness within a couple of seasons.

On with the fun. Players are ranked by their NBA potential:

1) Brook Lopez - C - Stanford - Lopez was everything Cardinal fans hoped for in his second go-around, scoring with ease and improving on the defensive end. The issue is whether that inside scoring ability will translate to the NBA, where he loses the great size advantage and will be overmatched physically at times. To his credit, Lopez got bigger and stronger last year, and does a great job using his size to finish in the post. Despite the associated assumption of Stanford intelligence, Lopez isn't necessarily the smartest ballplayer or creative ballplayer. Defensively, though Robin gets the plaudits, Lopez shouldn't be a major detriment. While he'll never be an all-star, the sophomore has the best overall package of size, athleticism, rebounding, and scoring ability of any big.

2) Kevin Love - C - UCLA - I'm going to keep it somewhat short on Love, because he's a player that most college basketball fans saw repeatedly. Still, I think he's an underrated talent and that the worries about his lack of athleticism are overdone. It seems though that front-offices are beginning to agree, as he seems to be picking up some good momentum. Outside of Beasley, Mayo, Bayless, and Danilo Gallinari, Love might be the best offensive talent in the Draft.

3) Kosta Koufos - C - Ohio State - In the final weeks of the season, Koufos finally showed signs of stardom after a long string of middling performances. The best word to describe Koufos is finesse as he plays without force. The problem though is that this is not merely a lack of athletic explosion, but a lack of emotional spark or passion. If Aaron Gray can average 10 mpg as a rookie, then Koufos can definitely find his way as a long-time reserve in the league.

4) Alexis Ajinca - C - HTV - Going purely on hearsay, Ajinca intrigues me. He basically seems to be the International version of DeAndre Jordan, a crazy long (7'9" wingspan) and solid athlete that has yet to put it together. Ajinca isn't nearly as strong and thick as Jordan by comparison, but he's longer and more athletic. Honestly, who knows?

5) Marreese Speights - PF/C - Florida - Speights has been generating some good buzz in recent weeks due to some good workouts and measurements. The one measurement that worries you is his height, because his size is more suited to being a power forward. But I've lumped him into the Center ranking because it matches his offensive skill set. After blossoming in his sophomore season, Speights showed off decent post moves and an ever-improving jumper. The success of Al Horford, with the Gator pedigree and similar frame, will only add to his growing rep.

6) DeAndre Jordan - PF/C - Texas A&M - Its amazing Jordan is still considered to be a Top 20 pick considering just how useless his freshman season was. While he showed some promise against lesser competition, he was virtually nonexistent in Big 12 play. While the offensive woes aren't terribly surprising, its worrisome that he's not a good one on one defender yet. If you're overmatched by Oklahoma, I'm not sure how you'll cut it as a pro. Like Ajinca, he has the length of an airplane, as well as a mature frame, but it will take a couple years for him to develop.

7) Robin Lopez - C - Stanford - The less talented Lopez is either underrated or overrated depending on who you ask. Some feel that his defensive prowess is overrated, and that he's hopelessly inept on the offensive end. Others see him as a raw talent akin to the European prospects, who improved substantially in the past year and would be more highly rated if not for his older brother's shadows. I tend to fall in the latter camp, who can't help but be intrigued by a mobile 7-footer with length, that can block shots, and has improved every year.

8) Roy Hibbert - C - Georgetown - I've never been a huge fan of Hibbert, and nothing changed after a solid but unspectacular senior season. There will no doubt be a place on the end of someone's bench for a sure-handed good guy with a 7'2" frame, but I never see him being anything more than a career reserve. For the 8th best center that's not a bad thing, but he lacks the starting potential of other guys higher on this list.

9) Joey Dorsey - PF/C - Memphis - You never hear much about Dorsey in Draft circles, because he's ancient (24), undersized (6'9"), and has virtually no offensive game. Still, he's a presence blocking shots, especially from the weak side, and could find a place in the league now that zone has taken over.

10) DeVon Hardin - PF/C - California - Last year, I had Hardin 8th in my Center rankings before he withdrew. A year later, and there's been virtually no improvement on his part. He's basically the same intriguing body and athlete that he was then, just a year older. If Hardin was 18 or 19, he'd be a legit top 20 pick, but now there's little reason to think he'd be a productive pro.

Summary: I don't see any future all-stars in this group, and its conceivable that not one of these guys ever even makes it as a long-time starter. Still, there's also a lot of solid reserves and role players in this mix and Hardin is a better prospect than the #10's at other positions.

Last Year's Siegel's Take - SF Ranking
1) Greg Oden
2) Spencer Hawes
3) Tiago Splitter
4) Ante Tomic
5) Sean Williams
6) Aaron Gray
7) Marc Gasol
8) DeVon Hardin
9) Stanko Barac
10) Kyle Visser

Waiting Game: Team Futures Hinge on Key Decisions

Jason Brubaker — Fri, 30 May 2008 09:51:59 -0700

To stay or go: Futures Hinge on Player Decisions

Even with the draft order now set, and player workouts getting underway, it’s still tough to predict which players will ultimately stay in the draft this year. According to ESPN’s Chad Ford, 69 underclassmen declared for the draft this year, including surprises like Oregon State’s CJ Giles, who has now been kicked off two college teams, and Alabama’s Ronald Steele, who didn’t even play last season due to injury.

But while it was a no-brainer for guys like Michael Beasley, Derrick Rose and OJ Mayo to declare and sign with an agent, other players are on the dreaded bubble about staying in. While they struggle with their decision and try to improve their stock through workouts, their college teammates and coaches are sitting at home, wondering if they’ll be back. Here’s a look at some teams who are anxiously awaiting decisions from key players.*

*Players have not signed with an agent as of May 29

North Carolina

Waiting on: Wayne Ellington, Danny Green, Ty Lawson

Perhaps no team stands to gain as much should all of their players decide to return. With National POY Tyler Hansbrough already coming back, the return of starters Deon Thompson and Marcus Ginyard, and a terrific three-man recruiting class on the way, the Heels will be good no matter what. But the return of these three puts the Heels on the short list of national title contenders next year. Looking through various mock drafts, none of the three are first-round locks, and all could stand to improve through another year in college. Lawson is rumored to be the most likely to stay in the draft, meaning UNC better hope Bobby Frasor’s is ready to play next year. Green and Ellington are both likely to return, as both could climb into the first round next year in what is thought to be a weaker draft class. Should any or all of these guys come back, look for Carolina to begin the year atop the polls.

Alabama

Waiting on: Richard Hendrix, Ronald Steele

The Tide already received one break when ultra-athletic forward Alonzo Gee pulled his name out of the draft. Now, they’re just hoping for the same thing from Hendrix and Steele, both of whom would be better suited to return to school. As previously noted, Steele didn’t even play last season because of a knee injury, so declaring for the draft seemed like a bit of a stretch. When healthy, he’s one of the better point guards in the country, but he needs to show he is fully recovered. Hendrix is a beast down low, but he’s a bit small for the power forward position in the NBA. It’s conceivable that he could climb into the mid-late first round with solid workouts, but another year of college ball would help him expand his offensive game. However, he has nothing to lose by declaring and getting some feedback from NBA scouts, so it was a wise decision on his part. If both players return, the Tide will challenge for the SEC West title next year.

UCLA

Waiting on: Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, Josh Shipp, Russell Westbrook

Bruins’ fans know that Westbrook is likely as good as gone, as he’s projected as lottery pick after his breakout sophomore season. It would be a shock to see him back in Westwood next year. However, Shipp and Mbah a Moute both could return, giving the Bruins some veteran experience to go with a stellar recruiting class. Mbah a Moute can still play himself into the first round with a strong draft camp. He’s got the versatility that scouts like, but his game could still use more polish, especially on the offensive end. Shipp is a long shot to be drafted, and he almost certainly will return for his senior year. A solid shooter with good athleticism, he’s battled injuries and inconsistency his entire career, and a big senior season could go a long way toward erasing that. With Darren Collison coming back, the return of these two would make the Bruins a safe bet for another Final Four trip.

Kansas

Waiting on: Mario Chalmers

The Jayhawks knew they’d be looking at a different team next year after winning the title this year. But should Chalmers decide to keep his name in the draft, the only returning players of any significance would be Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich. Seniors Russell Robinson, Sasha Kaun and Darnell Jackson are all gone, and underclassmen Brandon Rush and Darrell Arthur will stay in the draft. Chalmers, the hero of the national title game, is on the first round bubble, and likely would be a second round pick. He’s not a pure point guard, and could use his senior year to show off his playmaking skills. He’s a terrific on-the-ball defender and has a high basketball IQ, so it’s not inconceivable that a team drafting late in the first round could take a chance. But KU fans would love to see him back in Lawrence to help the growing pains of a young team.

Kansas State

Waiting on: Bill Walker

The Wildcats knew they’d only have Beasley for one season, but losing Walker at the same time would hurt just as much. Walker didn’t have quite the same impact as Beasley, but he’s a still a fantastic athlete who is capable of putting up 20 points when he wanted. Unfortunately for K-State, Walker has looked great in workouts, and he’s likely going to stay in the draft. He reportedly has lost the extra weight that plagued him after his surgery, and his jaw-dropping explosiveness is back. He likely will be a mid-late first round pick, and could end up being a steal going that late. If he does return, he would be a big asset for Frank Martin’s team, who will be looking for a consistent scoring threat. But without Walker or Beasley, K-State will once again be looking up at the Big 12’s elite teams.

Others

Arizona: Chase Budinger

He’s considered a late lottery pick, so it’ll be a surprise if he returns. Although he rarely dominated games the way his talent allowed him to, he still was a great player and his return, along with the addition of PG Brandon Jennings, would help the Wildcats climb back to the top of the Pac 10 after a rocky season.

West Virginia: Joe Alexander

Like Budinger, Alexander is unlikely to return to school, after finishing a strong season by leading WVU to the Sweet 16. A terrific athlete with good size for the small forward position, he’s on the lottery bubble, and could even climb near the top 10 with good workouts. Without him, the Mountaineers will find last year’s run hard to duplicate.

Cal: Ryan Anderson

New coach Mike Montgomery would love the chance to coach the versatile Anderson, who is considered a late first rounder right now. A power forward with a sweet shooting stroke would certainly help the Bears next season as they try to forget a disappointing 2007-08 season. Anderson could climb the boards with good workouts, but look for him to return.

Florida: Marreese Speights

Speights is considered a mid-late first rounder right now, and word is that he’s likely to stay in the draft. Speights has great talent, but his conditioning and work ethic are questionable, and he often found himself in Coach Billy Donovan’s doghouse last year. With big men Kenny Kadji and Eloy Vargas coming in next year as part of a five-man recruiting class, the Gators should be able to move on without a ton of adjustment.

Poll: Who is the Draft's Top Center Prospect?

Shawn Siegel — Mon, 12 May 2008 08:24:58 -0700

Russell Westbrook: NBA Draft Profile

Jeff Fox — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 10:41:48 -0700

Russell Westbrook

College: UCLA

Class: Sophomore

Position: PG/SG

Height: 6’3”

Weight: 189lbs

Accolades: Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year (08), Pac-10 All-Defensive Team (08), Third Team All-Pac-10 (08).

Scouting Report: An NBA-level athlete able to play both backcourt positions.

Strengths: Versatile – can ably play both point and shooting guard positions. Tremendous athlete. Can jump out of the gym. Great defender – had 63 steals his sophomore year. Very good assist man who takes good care of the ball. Has three-point range on his jumper. Capable scorer. Long wingspan. Big hands. Got to practice against some very good guards his two years at UCLA. Great work ethic. Game seems to vastly improve with each year – late bloomer.

Weaknesses: Very inexperienced – didn’t play many minutes his freshman year. Will need more experience playing the point guard spot. Needs to become a more consistent outside shooter. Still quite inconsistent and streaky. Is he a dreaded “tweener” (no real position)?

Projected 2008 Draft Range: Lottery pick.

Consensus: Westbrook is an NBA highlight reel type of athlete that excels at both ends of the floor. His ability to play both guard positions makes him even more valuable, however, due to his size he will have to become more of a pure point guard. With his skills and athletic ability the sky is the limit.

CHN's Six-Star Ranking System

= Superstar/All-NBA Potential

= Potential NBA All-Star

= Consistent NBA Starter

= 6th Man/Fringe Starter

= Career Reserve

= Fringe NBA Player/12th Man

0 stars = Life in the Minor Leagues

More 2008 NBA Draft Profiles

Current NBA Mock Draft Position

Complete NBA Draft coverage

Kevin Love: NBA Draft Profile

Jeff Fox — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 10:40:25 -0700

Kevin Love

College: UCLA

Class: Freshman

Position: PF/C

Height: 6’10”

Weight: 260lbs

Accolades: Wooden All-American (08), First Team All-American – AP (08), First Team All-American – USBWA (08), First Team All-American – CHN (08), First Team All-Freshman – CHN (08), Pac-10 Player of the Year (08), First Team All-Pac-10 (08), Pac-10 Freshman of the Year (08), Pac-10 All-Freshman Team (08), Honorable Mention Pac-10 All-Defensive Team (08), Male High School Player of the Year – Naismith, Wooden, USA Today, McDonald’s, Parade, National High School Coaches Association (07), McDonald’s All-American – high school (07), First Team Parade All-American – high school (07), Gatorade National Male Athlete of the Year – high school (07), First Team Parade All-American – high school (06).

Scouting Report: A man among boys in the post his freshman collegiate season.

Strengths: Extremely strong and solid – gets position down low and is impossible to move. Very smart player. Supremely talented passer – excels leading fast breaks with long inbounds passes. Very strong passer also – can chest pass the full length of the court. Good low post scorer. Wide body. Has range on his jumper out beyond the collegiate three-point line. Good genes – his dad was an NBA player. Has proven to be a winner at the collegiate level. Solid free throw shooter.

Weaknesses: Not an NBA athlete – not much of a leaper, not super quick getting up and down the floor. Lacks explosiveness. Very inexperienced with only one year of college under his belt. Will be short for the post in the NBA – may only be 6’9”. Lacks foot speed to guard the athletes in the NBA. Doesn’t have the “upside” you’d hope to get with a lottery pick. Needs to get his body into better shape for the NBA.

Projected 2008 Draft Range: Lottery Pick

Consensus: While it must be very difficult to pass up a chance to be a NBA lottery pick, Kevin Love may regret giving up his last three years of college eligibility. Love had the chance to go down as one of the best players to ever suit up for UCLA, but instead he will enter the NBA where his lack of height, athleticism and explosiveness will limit him. While he probably won’t be a star in the pros, his smarts, strength and passing ability will allow him to carve out a career in the NBA.

CHN's Six-Star Ranking System

= Superstar/All-NBA Potential

= Potential NBA All-Star

= Consistent NBA Starter

= 6th Man/Fringe Starter

= Career Reserve

= Fringe NBA Player/12th Man

0 stars = Life in the Minor Leagues

More 2008 NBA Draft Profiles

Current NBA Mock Draft Position

Complete NBA Draft coverage

Early 2008-09 All-Freshman Projections

Shawn Siegel — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 09:42:30 -0700

Following my 2009 Field of 65 & Projected All-Americans, here is an early look at the 2008-09 All-Freshman Team.

First Team
G - Jrue Holiday - UCLA
G - Brandon Jennings - Arizona
G - Tyreke Evans - Memphis
F - Greg Monroe - Georgetown
F - Samardo Samuels - Louisville

Second Team
G - Demar DeRozan - USC
G - J'Covan Brown - Texas
F - Tony Mitchell - Alabama
F - Drew Gordon - UCLA
C - BJ Mullens - Ohio State

Third Team
G - William Buford - Ohio State
G - Willie Warren - Oklahoma
G - Scotty Hopson - Tennessee
F - Devin Ebanks - ?
C - J'Mison Morgan - LSU

Fourth Team
G - Chris Singleton - Florida State
F - Al-Farouq Aminu - Wake Forest
F - Luke Babbitt - Nevada
F - David Lobeau - Texas A&M
C - Jeff Withey - Arizona

Final Four Review & Finals Preview

Jason Brubaker — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 13:39:23 -0700

OK- raise your hand if you saw this coming, because if so, I've got a few lottery numbers that I need help picking.

The matchup in Monday night’s championship shouldn't be too surprising, considering both Kansas and Memphis entered the season as national title favorites, and have a combined 74-4 record. But the relative ease with which they dispatched UNC and UCLA was somewhat shocking, considering the level of competition. Kansas jumped all over UNC from the get-go, racing to a 40-12 advantage and making the Heels look slow and timid. Memphis meanwhile, simply overwhelmed UCLA all game, holding a comfortable margin the entire time. Here’s a look back at the weekend.

Memphis-UCLA

Perhaps the defining moments of the game occurred with about four minutes left, and Memphis holding a nine-point lead. Fabulous Tigers' freshman Derrick Rose penetrated and lobbed a soft pass up near the basket for Joey Dorsey to throw down, a play Memphis runs a few times each game. Dorsey bobbled the pass and blew the dunk, with the ball eventually landing in the hands of UCLA guard Russell Westbrook, perhaps the only Bruin athletic enough to compete with Memphis on this night. Westbrook raced down the floor, weaving in and out of traffic, and he rose for a lay-up that would cut the lead to seven, and give the Bruins some momentum. Just as he released it, Dorsey, who sprinted the length of the floor to atone for his bobble, took off a few feet behind Westbrook. He extended a giant left paw, swatting the shot out of the air just before it reached the backboard, saving the basket, and deflating UCLA's slim hopes. He said at the post-game press conference that he "just knew he had to make up for missing the dunk."

The play was typical of Memphis all night, as they just seemed a step faster everywhere on the court. Outside of Westbrook, UCLA looked timid on the perimeter, unsure of how to attack the Tigers. Bruin point guard Darren Collison looked like a scared freshman who was asked to scrimmage with the varsity team, not looking for his own shot and turning the ball over five times. Worse yet, the Bruins couldn't seem to get the ball to Kevin Love, who scored just 12 points, and only two in the second half. After all the talk of the Bruins being only a post player away from a title the past two seasons, they couldn't get him shots when it mattered most.

Meanwhile, the Tigers backcourt of Rose and Chris Douglas-Roberts continued to play lights-out, combining for 53 points on 16-33 shooting. Rose simply gets better each game, as he got into the lane at will against the Bruins’ guards. Right next to him, CDR was a monster match-up problem with his height and speed, and it was his emphatic left-handed dunk over Love that punctuated the victory. Even the Tigers’ alleged weakness, free-throws, was forgotten for the third straight game, as they went 20-23. To be blunt, when Memphis plays like that, they're unbeatable, and the Bruins will attest to that. Another effort like this, and the Tigers will be cutting down the nets on Monday.

UNC-Kansas

The talk leading up to the game, besides UNC Coach Roy Williams going against his former school, was that both teams played an up-tempo game, and scoring would be early and often. Well that turned out to be only half-true, as Kansas came out and just blew the doors off UNC, opening up a 40-12 lead on the strength of an 18-0 run. The Jayhawks made the ultra-quick Heels look like they were running in quicksand, getting to every loose ball and getting any shot they wanted both in transition and in the half-court offense. On defense, they never let UNC establish a comfort zone, doubling Tyler Hansbrough in the post and coming up with weakside steals and blocks again and again. Keep in mind, this is a UNC team that entered the game at 36-2, and had won 15 straight games, yet they went over nine minutes without a field goal.

In the second half, the Heels mounted a valiant comeback, closing the gap to four behind Hansbrough, Wayne Ellington and Danny Green. Showing more effort on defense and more patience on offense, the Heels looked like they were on the verge of a historic comeback. But just as they got close, the Jayhawks found their second wind, pushing the lead back out and closing out the game on a 17-5 run. Guard Brandon Rush (25 points) was magnificent, as was the three-headed point guard tandem of Mario Chalmers, Russell Robinson and Sherron Collins, as they limited Ty Lawson to just nine points and two assists. Inside, two and sometimes three defenders constantly swarmed Hansbrough, and he never got into the rhythm he found against Louisville. Carolina showed a lot of heart in battling back when it appeared nothing could go right, but in the end, Kansas was just the better team.

Looking Ahead: Kansas-Memphis

This one should be fun. Both teams run, defend and have a ton of depth to keep everybody fresh. Both coaches are looking for their first national title, and both have silenced some doubters along the way. Kansas' guards will be giving up size to Rose, CDR and Antonio Anderson, but their defensive prowess may make up for that. Robinson and Chalmers are outstanding one-on-one and help defenders; meaning Memphis can't get careless with the ball. Off the bench, Collins is fearless, attacking the basket and using his strength to finish around bigger players. Kansas also has enough inside to match up with the Tigers, between Darrell Arthur, Darnell Jackson, Sasha Kaun and Aldrich. Look for them to go at Dorsey early and try to get him in foul trouble.

The key for Memphis will be handling the Jayhawk pressure and running their dribble-drive offense. The Tigers are a confident bunch right now, and they feel they're capable of beating anyone. Rose has been fantastic, and if he's on, there's no defender that can stay in front of him, even veterans like Chalmers or Robinson. CDR has been just as good, and his match-up with Brandon Rush should be great. The Tigers also bring an impressive collection of athletes off the bench in Shawn Taggert, Doneal Mack and Willie Kemp, guys who can continue pressuring the ball and pushing the tempo. If Memphis can continue to get contributions from Robert Dozier and Anderson as the defense focuses on Rose and CDR, they'll be tough to beat.

In the end, Memphis wins this game much they did against UCLA, getting out to a solid lead and maintaining it throughout. Kansas played brilliantly in the first 15 minutes against UNC, but it's doubtful they'll get open looks like that against Memphis. Additionally, after putting so much energy into holding off the furious Tar Heel comeback, how much juice do the Jayhawks have left in the tank? If they get down 10 or 12 early, can they come back? Look for an exciting game with plenty of action, but when it’s all said and done, it will be the Memphis Tigers watching “One Shining Moment” on the Alamodome floor.

Consolation prizes

Both UNC and UCLA had fantastic years, unfortunately marred by poor endings. On the bright side, both teams could return virtually intact next year, in addition to adding stellar recruiting classes.

If Love, Westbrook and Collision decide to stick around, they'll be aided by a great four-man class led by Jrue Holiday, a big point guard who gives the Bruins some much-needed size in the back court. The class also includes do-everything guard Malcolm Lee, and big man Drew Gordon, which should improve the Bruins’ depth. Shooting guard Michael Roll will also be available again, after missing the season with injuries, giving the offensively-challenged Bruins another weapon from outside.

For the Heels, its possible they’ll lose only back-up point guard Quentin Thomas heading into next year. If Hansbrough, Lawson and Ellington come back, they'll join a three-man recruiting class that gives the Heels more size (Tyler Zeller), more athleticism (Ed Davis) and another shooter (Larry Drew). They'll also return a guard from injury, as Bobby Frasor should be back and ready to go.