BRUINS ARE GETTING BACK IN THE SWING; HOSTING NCAAS IS BIG OPPORTUNITY.

Byline: Marc J. Spears Daily News Staff Writer

In 1965, UCLA's tennis program wasn't exactly the friendliest of hosts during the NCAA Division I men's championship.

The Arthur Ashe-led Bruins humiliated the competition, broke records and easily earned their eighth tournament title.

Ashe won the singles title and teamed up with Ian Crookenden to beat teammates David Reed and David Sandelin for the doubles crown.

UCLA claimed the highest team point total ever at that time (31) and the biggest team point differential with 18 more than Miami.

There has been no Arthur Ashe and no homecourt advantage for UCLA the past 32 years. In the last two decades, the University of Georgia has hosted the competition 18 times.

Beginning Saturday and running through May 25, the NCAA men's tournament comes to the Los Angeles Tennis Center in Westwood.

The No. 1-ranked and top-seeded Bruins are hoping to win their 16th NCAA championship and first team title since 1984. Just as important to the school, however, is a well-attended and successful event that could keep the tournament in Southern California and away from Georgia's tight grasp.

``It will be strange this May,'' said Georgia tennis spokesman Christopher Lakos, whose school will host the event next year.

The last time the tournament, which includes the top 16 teams, 64 singles and 32 doubles teams, was held in Southern California was in 1990. It was hosted by USC and was held outside Palm Springs instead of Los Angeles. Attendance was poor.

Barbara Gerken-Kuhl, UCLA's special event tournament coordinator, believes there are several factors that will ensure the event's success.

Keeping the action on campus.

Having UCLA (23-2) as the top seed.

Corporate sponsorships like Planet Hollywood.

Free tickets for youngsters in the ``I'm Going To College'' program to boost attendance and atmosphere.

``We're doing this for the West Coast,'' said Gerken-Kuhl, an ex-UCLA and pro tennis player who says ticket sales are ``going well.'' ``We're doing this to demonstrate to the NCAA and to Georgia that this can work and we can do a great job. Hopefully, our ticket sales will be enough that it will be successful.''

``Everyone that I have spoken to, unless they have lied to me, is really excited about coming to Los Angeles,'' she said. ``Although they say they'll miss Athens, the continuity and the town, they're excited to be in a new place. We have host families assigned to each team to display our Southern California hospitality. We're doing things to bridge the gap and make them feel comfortable.''

The No. 1 spot in team play is a familiar one for the Bruins. Last season, top-seeded UCLA advanced to a NCAA title match in Athens with a 27-0 mark and a bout with rival Stanford. But the Cardinal, which is the third seed behind Mississippi and ahead of Georgia this season, put a blemish on the Bruins' perfect season by upsetting them 4-1.

The 1997 Bruins are optimistic about their title chances and are grounded after last season's collapse. But an early fall by UCLA in the '97 tourney would not only be disappointing, it would also put a dent in attendance, which is already hurt by the failure of USC and Pepperdine to qualify.

``My re-occurring nightmare through about February was that we finally have the championships here and we don't qualify,'' said UCLA coach Billy Martin. ``That was my first real nightmare. My second is that we can lose early, and that is certainly a possibility.

``It is important to run a good tournament to show the NCAA and the teams around the country that UCLA is a great host and a great place for the championships. Then we will have a good chance of getting it back here. If we don't do a good job, it might be a long time before we see it come back. We feel that pressure.''

Despite the pressures of playing at home and hosting a tournament, Martin won't let his players lose focus on the crown. While UCLA's basketball and football teams stay in hotels prior to home games, Martin won't do the same for his players. The ex-UCLA tennis star, who won the 1975 NCAA men's singles championship, believes that keeping them in familiar surroundings is better than being cooped up in a hotel room. ``Business as usual is as good of a policy as any,'' he said.

``The pressure is always there,'' said UCLA tennis player Eric Taino, who is ranked 10th nationally in No. 1 singles. ``I don't know how we will deal with it once the tournament comes. But we are used to dealing with (pressure), and being at home makes us more comfortable.

``When we make a mistake, we know that most of the people will be rooting for us. It kind of calms you down and helps us.''

Tom Jacobs, the NCAA director of the event, said: ``Whenever anyone takes the task of hosting a national championship, they want to put their best foot forward. The (NCAA tennis) committee and I are confident that UCLA will put on a great event. We are real excited about going there.''

NCAA MEN'S TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS 

At the Los Angeles Tennis Center

Saturday: Team-Eight dual matches (8 a.m.-7 p.m.).

Sunday: Team-Four dual matches (Noon-7 p.m.).

Monday: Team-Semifinal (2 p.m & 6 p.m.).

Tuesday: Team-Final (6 p.m.).

Wednesday: Individual-One round of singles (9 a.m-7 p.m.).

May 22: Individual-One round of singles and doubles (9 a.m.-7 p.m.).

May 23: Individual-Two rounds of singles and one of doubles (9 a.m.-7 p.m.).

May 24: Individual-Singles semis and doubles quarterfinals and semis (10 a.m.-6 p.m.).

May 25: Individual-Singles final followed by doubles final (1 p.m.).

Tickets-Adults: reserved ($10 day, $50 tourney pass); general admission ($7 day, $30 tourney pass). Students/youth: reserved ($6 day, $35 tourney pass); general admission ($4 day, $20 tourney pass).

NOTE: Sunset Courts will also be used during the first two days of competition.

CAPTION(S):

Photo, Box

Photo: (color) ``It is important to run a good tournament . . . If we don't do a good job, it might be a long time before we see it come back. We feel that pressure.''

- Billy Martin

UCLA tennis coach

Box: NCAA MEN'S TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS (see text)