SOMETHING IS FALLING FOR AFFLALO.

Byline: STEVE DILBECK

SAN JOSE - His shot is not falling, but his NBA stock must be. The sky is not falling, mostly because his team is not.

These are oddly both good and conflicting times for Arron Afflalo.

He has again led the Bruins on another NCAA Tournament run. Has the Bruins in the Elite Eight, one victory over Kansas today from returning to the Final Four.

It's a big reason why he decided to return to UCLA for his junior season after initially declaring for the NBA draft. Just not the only reason.

Afflalo wanted to refine his game, improve his shooting consistency and make himself a more polished and desirable NBA candidate.

And he had a truly marvelous regular season. Led the Bruins in scoring, was named the Pacific-10 Conference Player of the Year and made All-American teams.

Yet at the end of the season his jumper has deserted him -- again. His shooting touch suddenly foreign and as distant as Mars.

UCLA has won anyway, in no small measure because of his stifling defense, his finding his way to the free-throw line, his hitting the boards and his unquestioned leadership. He has still found a way to be a vital contributor.

Just not exactly the one envisioned when he decided to return to UCLA for his junior year, who hoped to rain 3-pointers and fall-away jumpers through the tournament.

Instead, he was 2 for 11 against Indiana and 3 of 11 against Pitt. After shooting .467 in the regular season, he is at just .260 in his past five games (three in the tournament).

His shot is all over the place. Sometimes it misses left, sometimes right. It looks flat or just short or long or something. He struggles mightily to create his shot.

Afflalo admits it plays on his mind, frustrating him at a time when he can least afford it.

"That's part of it, because in my heart and mind I know I can make every shot I've taken," he said. "Now you're not going to, but I believe when I shoot it's going in and when it doesn't, it kind of creates something within me that wants to go do it again to prove it.

"But at this point and time, it can't really be about that. It has to be about winning first. That's something you work on as an individual later."

He could be shooting himself right back to the Bruins for a senior season, which would hardly be a bad thing for all, including Afflalo.

Before the season began, most might have suspected this would be his last year as a Bruin. By the season's end, maybe it was 50-50.

But his NBA stock has to be slipping with each postseason game he goes out and struggles to find the net.

Afflalo tries not to think about his NBA future during a NCAA Tournament run. He wants to remain focused, yet knows how he and the Bruins perform could have an impact on his immediate future.

He just can't be certain what impact.

"I don't know," he said. "I really don't think about it too much at this point and time. I'm so caught up in the tournament run that we're having.

"Obviously whenever I leave UCLA, next year or this year, it's all about leaving on the best positive note possible. Winning a championship is my goal. I don't know how much that will affect my decision, but it's nothing I really think about at this point."

He came within one game of a national championship last year. In UCLA's Final Four games, he went 3 of 11 against LSU and 3 of 10 against Florida in the title game.

Indeed, in the 10 tournament games he has played in while at UCLA, he's shot just .339 from the field. His career average is .459.

UCLA coach Ben Howland said he's unconcerned that Afflalo's shooting struggles will affect the rest of his game.

"Arron is about winning, about making his team win," Howland said. "You do so many other things to help your team win than just shoot the basketball. For the layman, that's all they see, someone making points.

"But Arron gets it. Arron defends. He had seven rebounds (Thursday) night."

When his outside jumper was off the mark against Indiana, he started driving and getting fouled.

Against Pitt and Indiana, he was a combined 16 of 17 from the line.

He does all this while always drawing the opposing team's best perimeter player. This afternoon he will be matched up against Brandon Rush, who went 6 for 6 from the field in Kansas' Sweet 16 victory over Southern Illinois.

"I wouldn't necessarily say I'm a great defender, I just don't like being scored on," Afflalo said.

He likes scoring, too, from all over the floor, but particularly when it matters most. He took the Bruins' first loss of the season hard, particularly since he did not get a chance at a tying, last-second shot at Oregon.

The next week when a huge basket was needed in the final moments for UCLA to defeat USC, it was Afflalo draining the jumper.

"Arron's our leader," UCLA forward Luc Mbah a Moute said. "All the shots just show how competitive he is. We've been relying on him.

"He knows he can make those shots, and we know he can make those shots. We have faith in him. We're going to do everything we can to get him open, so he can make those shots."

Yet should his NBA stock suffer with this postseason run, returning for his senior season could pay serious dividends.

He would have an opportunity to play with center Kevin Love, the high school sensation Howland already calls the best collegiate passing center since Bill Walton, opening up the perimeter more for Afflalo.

He could be a two-time All-American, possibly even the college player of the year. He would likely finish in the top five all-time in UCLA scoring, probably even third. It would all cement his UCLA legacy, which is important to him.

UCLA needs Afflalo to hit right now, though missing might bring him back. UCLA and Afflalo, winning and conflicted.

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UCLA guard Arron Afflalo was 2 for 11 against Indiana and 3of 11 against Pitt.

Paul Sakuma/Associated Press