FINALLY, NO. 1 UCLA LOOKS SUPER IN VICTORY.

Byline: STEVE DILBECK

The Bruins didn't just win Saturday, they soared. Played like they should have been wearing a cape. Did everything but stop to save babies and cure cancer on the way to the hoop.

They didn't just beat Michigan 92-55, they annihilated the Wolverines.

Dominated every aspect of the game. Left a team that came in 11-1 embarrassed, vacant and strange.

When you're considered the top-ranked team in the country, you're supposed to have games like this, only against the likes of SamHouston State and Oakland.

The Wolverines were no match for the way the Bruins played, though in truth maybe no team this side of the San Antonio Spurs would have been.

``I'm not sure many people could have beaten them the way they performed today,'' Michigan coach Tommy Amaker said.

It easily was the most impressive victory of 11-0 UCLA's season, and the perfect little tune-up before it opens Pacific-10 Conference play at home Thursday against Washington State.

Any defects in UCLA's game will have to be exposed in conference play, because against Michigan the Bruins were nearly flawless.

The Bruins forced turnovers (23)and hit 3-pointers (55percent). Ran the court and ruled the inside. Made the extra pass and drove to the hoop. Double-teamed and rotated with lightning speed. Had their first real sellout crowd igniting Pauley Pavilion.

Even hit free throws.

Perhaps most important, and most encouraging, they completely shared the ball.

``I love the unselfishness of our team,'' UCLA coach Ben Howland said.

He loved a lot of things Saturday, and a lot of Bruins. Josh Shipp led a balanced scoring attack with 18 points, Arron Afflalo added 17, Darren Collison had 15 (6-of-7 shooting) and eightassists and Luc Mbah a Moute had 13 points and seven steals.

``They're all doing well, I can't single out one guy,'' Howland said. ``It's a team effort, collective.

``It's a fun group of really good kids that really work hard and like each other and are playing for one another. It's just so fun to watch.''

The Bruins are the No.1team in the country, yet play without apparent ego. Play team ball, play hard and with a competitive zeal that should serve them well in the more important games to come.

From the outside, they seem unconcerned about being ranked No.1. They recognize how far the road is, how long the journey before this team can seriously consider a return to the Final Four.

``You can't worry about being No.1 or staying undefeated,'' Collison said. ``Today was a good game.

``But we're going to be a target regardless. At the end of the day, we just have to play our game.''

The Bruins might never play a better overall game than they did Saturday. They opened with a pair of Mbah a Moute steals and a couple of Afflalo 3-pointers. It was 8-0 before Michigan was done counting banners.

The UCLA defense, and particularly the double-team brought by Mbah a Moute, forced 15 Michigan turnovers in the first half, several turning into easy fastbreaks.

``I knew they were an outstanding team, but I'm just amazed at their overall team speed and quickness,'' Amaker said. ``We couldn't handle that.

``They've played some other quality games, but I'm not sure if anything rivals what they did today.''

UCLA led 36-23 at the half, and Michigan felt fortunate to be that close.

``Given the turnovers and the way that we played, I couldn't even imagine that with one possession to start the second half, it could be at a 10-point game,'' Amaker said. ``But they opened it up in the second half right away. They jumped right on us. It went the opposite way.''

The Bruins duplicated their outstanding start by opening the second half with a 10-2 run. Suddenly they were up by 21.

And they didn't let up. Reserves just kept it up. The Bruins made eight of their first 14 3-pointers. They converted 15 of 19 free throws. They had 18 fastbreak points to Michigan's two. They might as well have blown kisses to the crowd.

Michigan, starting fourseniors and a junior, could never even dream of making a run. The Wolverines did everything wrong but call an extra timeout.

``We have not played like that all season and hopefully won't ever again,'' Amaker said. ``Certainly there's a lot to be said for how they played, but there's disappointment on our side.

``I expect more from us, given the veterans we have. I was hoping our veterans would be able to help us through a tough afternoon -- the way the Bruins are playing, the crowd -- but that wasn't the case.''

Last season, on the way to the NCAA title game, the Bruins beat the Wolverines 68-61 at Ann Arbor.

That was a game. Saturday, it was a UCLA clinic.

``We're a lot better than last year,'' Mbah a Moute said. ``We're a year older. We have everybody back.''

Everybody but those threeformer starters now in the NBA (Jordan Farmar, Cedric Bozeman, Ryan Hollins).

Michigan's 11 victories have come against lower-rung programs most people never have heard of, and all but one came at home. This was a different world for the Wolverines. Apparently, a foreign one.

``Today it seemed like the bottom fell out,'' Amaker said.

Today, the Bruins are feeling pretty good about starting conference play. For one day, at least, they looked a lot like a No.1 team.

[e-mail]

[phone]

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) UCLA's Lorenzo Mata slams home two points for the top-ranked Bruins in their game against Michigan.

(2) UCLA's Darren Collison, left, and Lorenzo Mata celebrate during their game against Michigan. The Bruins won 92-55.

Tom Mendoza/Associated Press