SOMETHING BRUIN UCLA IS PAC-10 CHAMP AGAIN, BUT AFFLALO SAYS THERE'S ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.

Byline: BRIAN DOHN

Staff Writer

SEATTLE - A few minutes after UCLA guard Arron Afflalo's latest well-rounded performance, he leaned against a hallway wall, about 30 feet from the Bruins' locker room, let out a deep sigh and smiled.

It was a rare moment of relaxation for Afflalo, UCLA's unquestioned leader, as he absorbed the significance of a 53-45 defeat of 13th-ranked Washington State as the Bruins clinched their second straight Pacific-10 Conference title.

Like in so many of second-ranked UCLA's 26 wins this season, Afflalo was the central figure, offensively and defensively. And as it has been since he announced he was returning for his junior season, he is the one who measures the heartbeat of the Bruins best.

So it was striking when Afflalo said that there are shortcomings, on a team that is 26-3, and 15-2 in the Pac-10, that still needed fixing.

"You're never going to be perfect, but you strive for it and there are some things we still need to work on," Afflalo said. "We have a few lapses on the way we execute offensively, and then (with) our intensity defensively. There were times last year where we were just focused in and it seemed like every possession was hard for the other team. Every shot was contested, every pass, every move, was complicated for the other team. You could tell.

"This year, we still have some little lapses. I think if we take care of those things, we'll be fine when the time is right."

Today's contest at seventh-place Washington (17-12, 7-10) has no bearing on the conference race, but still has great meaning for the Bruins. UCLA likely will be the No. 1 seed in the West when the NCAA Tournament begins in less than two weeks, but a few more wins would go a long way toward securing it.

By the time the NCAA Tournament rolls around, UCLA wants to iron out a few other issues. The Bruins still have too many possessions in which point guard Darren Collison is dribbling out of trouble as the shot clock winds down, and it usually ends in a hurried shot. Also, the post play of center Lorenzo Mata, power forward Luc Richard Mbah a Moute and the player who backs up both of them, Alfred Aboya, remains inconsistent.

A left knee injury to Aboya is UCLA's latest concern, and his availability for today's contest against the Huskies will be a game-time decision.

The defensive lapses Afflalo speaks of have recently been evident in the opposition's shooting percentage. Before shutting down Washington State in the second half (holding the Cougars to 29 percent shooting), opponents had shot 50 percent or better in five consecutive halves against UCLA.

However, during a season in which highly-ranked teams are routinely defeated and no dominant team has emerged, dissecting UCLA's faults may be nit-picking.

"I think we're playing our best basketball," UCLA coach Ben Howland said. "We are better (than last season), and part of that is the experience of having last year. (Now it is) 'We're going to win on the road. We're going to win close games. This is what we do.' That's their mindset."

UCLA has won five straight overall and eight consecutive conference games.

Collison said playing seven of the last 12 games on the road is helping mold a closer team.

"Everybody is real unselfish, our chemistry is improving every day, and that's all it takes to win a national championship," Collison said. "Your chemistry really has to be at a high standard. I think this team is doing a good job of playing well together."

UCLA's ability to work hard every game illustrates its maturity, which began to blossom during last season's run to the title game.

The Bruins do not get unnerved in pressure situations. The only instance UCLA lost its composure, and only for a brief spell, came last month at West Virginia, when Collison did not play because of a shoulder injury and freshman Russell Westbrook was running the team.

"Our toughness is probably the best thing about this team, these kids' mental toughness," Howland said. "I'm so proud of them. I love it. I think it's helped us all year, the fact that the nucleus of this year's team was on a very good team a year ago. There's no question that success breeds success."

And last season's success is the measuring stick for the present.

In winning the Pac-10 regular season and tournament titles, in advancing out of the Oakland regional and into the Final Four, where UCLA lost to Florida in the title game, the Bruins gained an understanding of how well they must play to return to the championship game.

Afflalo said UCLA is not yet at that level.

"I do think we're getting better, on both ends of the floor," Afflalo said. "We still have our lapses, but I hope we're not peaking. We need to make more improvement in more areas to guarantee we continue to play for another month.

"I don't want to get complacent, don't want to get comfortable, but we're playing good basketball."

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Photo:

(1 -- color) The play of Luc Richard Mbah A Moute, left, and Alfred Aboya have been key to UCLA winning its second straight Pacific-10 Conference title.

(2 -- color) UCLA's Arron Afflalo, the team's leader, says the Bruins can get better.

Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images