SPEED KILLS (OFFENSES) BRUINS' DEFENSE FORCES TEAMS TO PLAY FAST, LOOSE.

Byline: BRIAN DOHN

Staff Writer

It is now a postgame ritual for UCLA opponents, and involves more than taking off a jersey for the season's final time. An opposing player will sit in the locker room with his head bowed, often cursing himself under his breath.

Players search for the inexplainable -- why so many layups and two-foot jumpers were missed -- then shake their heads in disbelief because this did not happen in the 30 or so previous games. On the surface, it appears to be poor shooting. But there might be another explanation for UCLA's perceived good fortune of every opponent experiencing an incomprehensibly miserable day of missing easy shots.

"We got sped up," Kansas' Brandon Rush said. "That's what they do to you. They make you shoot quicker. We missed a lot of layups because we were sped up."

UCLA is always well-prepared and tenacious on defense. More important, though, the way the Bruins play defense, mixed with a reputation that now precedes them, gets in the heads of their opponents.

The question is whether UCLA can have that effect on Florida in the NCAA Tournament's Final Four on Saturday in Atlanta. A year ago, the Gators passed out of double-teams, rebounded with a fury and scored on an array of dunks and layups as they defeated the Bruins.

UCLA's four opponents in this year's NCAA Tournament each shot markedly below their season average from the field, and each scored at least 16 points below their season average. The Bruins' four opponents are shooting 36.3 percent and averaging 50.2 points.

Kansas, which was eighth in the nation in shooting percentage (49.4), shot 41.1percent from the field against UCLA in the West Regional final, and seemed to miss more layups and chip shots than it made.

Pittsburgh's 7-foot center Aarron Gray opened the West Regional semifinal by missing a pair of layup chances, and never recovered en route to being a non-factor in a game he could have dominated because of his size and strength.

"I think UCLA's strength is their identity -- they are tough," said Indiana coach Kelvin Sampson, whose Hoosiers shot 32.7 percent and scored 49 points in a second-round loss to the Bruins. "That's what they do. They beat you up, and they do it in a way that makes it tough on you. They are so strong at every position."

The strength allows players like guard Arron Afflalo and center Lorenzo Mata to dictate the physical play, but there is much more. Low-post players, such as Gray and Indiana's D.J. White, spend all season successfully dealing with double-teams, and believe they can handle UCLA's with ease.

Yet, when the Bruins sent lengthy 6-foot-8 power forward Luc Richard Mbah aMoute to join Mata on a double-team, neither Gray nor White were able to recognize it and pass out of it rapidly enough. Passes to an open teammate are either high or intercepted, or a poor shot is taken.

"I think our pressure defense forces teams to get sped up, and I don't think they're used to that pressure," Bruins wing Josh Shipp said. "It's hard to simulate that every day in practice. It's something they've never seen."

UCLA's defensive speed begins on the perimeter with lightning-quick Bruins point guard Darren Collison. He is rarely beaten off the dribble, but when an opponent gets by him, the play is hardly over because a physical conclusion usually awaits.

Mata, backup Alfred Aboya and Mbah a Moute, depending who is in the game, challenge every shot close to the rim. And the Bruins are so aggressive when it comes to defensive rebounding, opponents know a missed shot won't be offset by an offensive rebound and easy putback. Thus, there is more pressure on the shooter.

"We can't reduce anybody's shot (total)," Collison said. "We're just trying to reduce their percentage, try to contest shots and try to get a hand in their face. When they drive, our post players do a good job of taking charges."

Kansas was averaging 78.4points per game, and was beaten 68-55. Pittsburgh was scoring 71.3 points per game and shooting 47.2 percent, and was defeated 64-55 and shot 36.4 percent.

Indiana, which was shooting 44.6 percent from the field and averaging 70.2points, shot 32.7 in the 54-49 loss to UCLA. And Weber State, which was averaging 70.8 points and shooting 48.9 percent, lost 70-42 and shot 34.2 percent.

After each game -- a vastly overmatched Weber State aside -- opponents lamented missed open shots, particularly layups, in trying to assess a loss.

"It must be God standing behind the basket or something," Mbah a Moute said with a smile. "I think it's our defense. I think when we pressure a team, it makes them want to drive more and I think they get out of control. And that's part of playing defense."

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CAPTION(S):

photo, 2 boxes

Photo:

(1) Lorenzo Mata, left, and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute help give UCLA a defense that pressures opponents constantly.

Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images

Box:

(1) (2) GEORGETOWN (30-6) vs. (1) OHIO STATE (34-3)

(2) (2) UCLA (30-5) vs. (1) FLORIDA (33-5)