AFFLALO IS BACK TO FORM REAPPEARING ACT FOR UCLA STAR IN WIN.

Byline: STEVE DILBECK

Staff Writer

SACRAMENTO -- UCLA coach Ben Howland is not exactly the gloating type, but he couldn't help but mention he said this would happen.

That Arron Afflalo's disappearing act in UCLA's last game would prove a one-game abnormality.

That if Afflalo's disappointing performance against Cal wasn't a freak of nature, it was at least a freak of college basketball.

So there was Afflalo on Thursday, looking very much like the player who had starred for the Bruins all season, and not one bit like the player who couldn't find his game in UCLA's loss to Cal last week.

He was aggressive on both ends of the floor. He led everyone with 22 points and eight rebounds, and threw in a pair of assists.

He looked amazingly like the Arron Afflalo seen in just about every UCLA game all season, save for that last one against Cal.

"Yeah, he had a poor game in our last game," Howland said. "Everybody talked about it. We've already been through that.

"I expected him to play well. Obviously he did. I mean, he's had one poor game I can remember in three years. That's it. That's over.

"Arron Afflalo is first-team All-American, most valuable player in the Pac-10 Conference. That's a body of work there. That says it all, and that's voted on by others. That speaks volumes."

Howland, on a roll now, even had another prediction. One Indiana will no doubt be paying heed.

"He's a great player and a great competitor -- and he'll play better on Saturday," Howland said.

Afflalo missed his first two jumpers Thursday, but did not slow to wonder if he was about to struggle through another 1-for-7 performance as he had against the sub-.500 Bears.

He made eight of his next 13 shots, including three of five 3-pointers. He converted his only three free throws. He played a complete and impressive game as the Bruins ran away from Weber State 70-42 to open the NCAA Tournament.

"I wouldn't say I'd easily put (Cal) behind me," Afflalo said. "But as far as a team concept, I believe it was overblown.

"It's an individual thing in a team sport. Of course I want to play well. The better I play, I feel, the better the team is."

With Afflalo back to his typical play, it was not surprising the Bruins were quickly back in form.

For Howland, it was good to see Afflalo back, not that he ever had any doubts.