THESE BRUINS SCRATCH AND CLAW.

Byline: STEVE DILBECK

OAKLAND - T-hey are the scruffy mutt that somehow still seems adorable, something foreign yet vaguely familiar, that despite appearances demands attention.

These are not your grandfather's Bruins, or John Wooden's Bruins or even Jim Harrick's Bruins.

They do not run like gazelles, play with the clearly superior athletes, score points as if breathing air. They are not always polished and shiny and proper.

These are your hardhat Bruins, an increasingly amazing defensive-minded team that brings its lunch pails and tenacity and then gets right in your face.

And then wins.

Wins like no team at UCLA since its last national championship in 1995, wins in its own way, with its own style.

The winning is ultimately what is most like the 10 teams Wooden coached - the '95 team Harrick led - to national titles.

These 2006 UCLA Bruins won again Saturday, beat and stunned a Memphis team most recognized as having the greater athletes, 50-45, to advance to next week's Final Four in Indianapolis.

They won without apologies, won by holding a team that had averaged 82 points a game to a season-low 45.

Won by riding hips and bumping and challenging every shot. Won by smothering the Tigers' explosive fastbreak until it was but a final gasp. Won by being mentally tough, by never allowing Memphis a whisper of offensive rhythm.

Once again, it was not a thing of beauty. It can be hard to watch this team at times, its own offense struggling while clamping down so tightly on defense the Tigers seemed to struggle for breath.

``I don't mind agreeing, but a win is a win whether it's ugly, pretty, exciting or slow-down,'' said UCLA guard Arron Afflalo. ``All that matters is that we won.''

UCLA won and will advance to play LSU on Saturday in Indianapolis.

The Bruins won despite leading-scorer Afflalo going just 2 for 9 from the field, with No.2 scorer Jordan Farmar hitting only one of his nine shots. Won despite being outrebounded (41-36), with starters Cedric Bozeman and Luc Mbah a Moute going a combined 0-for-7. Won despite missing 19 of 39 free throws.

And did not care one twit. They donned their regional championship T-shirts and hats, cut down Oakland Arena nets and planned new conquests.

``It doesn't matter what goes on in the game,'' Jordan said. ``I went 1 for 9 and shot 50 percent from the free-throw line and couldn't be any happier right now. I wouldn't have it any other way.

``For any guy in our locker room and in our program and in our family, that's all that matters. Nobody cares about individual accolades. And that's why we're still playing.

``And we're not done yet.''

LSU will be favored, and the Bruins will not care. They can have Baby Shaq or the full-grown article and will still come believing they can tighten their defense and advance into the championship game.

These Bruins are fully sold on coach Ben Howland's commitment to defense. They have become more tenacious, more stifling defensively as the season has worn on.

No one has to convince Memphis. The Tigers won an earlier matchup on Nov. 23, 88-80. Almost ran the Bruins off the floor. Led by as many as 20 points before a belated UCLA rally made the final score close.

Saturday could not have looked less like their first meeting. The Tigers could never get their running game going. Could never dictate the pace of the game. Could never take command inside.

``It surprised me because I thought we'd be more physical than them, and we weren't,'' said Memphis coach John Calipari.

Senior center Ryan Hollins, whose up-and-down time at UCLA had been largely disappointing, continued his maturing play. He led the Bruins with 14 points and 11 rebounds, despite missing 9-of-11 free throws.

No other Bruin made more than two field goals. And they won. Beat 33-4 Memphis, led almost the entire way.

They led with their defense, a claim maybe no other UCLA or Pac-10 Final Four team has ever made.

``We're just trying to give ourselves a chance to win,'' Howland said.

``I think this team embodies the spirit of what Coach (Wooden) is all about - teamwork, unselfish play, a commitment at both ends of the floor to play together, team defense, team offense, giving yourself up for your teammates.''

This team has arrived a year earlier than most, probably even Howland, expected. Next year, starting forward Josh Shipp is expected to return, the program will be in its fourth year under Howland, Afflalo and Jordan will be seasoned juniors.

This team would not wait.

The offense remains inconsistent, but they contest every shot, keep up constant pressure, refuse to take a possession off.

``We just grind it out, grind it out and hopefully they crack,'' Bozeman said. ``And they did and it gave us the edge.''

Howland has the Bruins playing at such a high level defensively that they can go from playing the nation's leading scorer, Adam Morrison and a Gonzaga team that relies on execution on Thursday, to the high-flying, run-the-floor Tigers on Saturday and still have the same result.

``It wasn't one of our better performances,'' Calipari said.

Of course it wasn't, but credit has to go to UCLA refusing to buckle less than Memphis missing consistently open jumpers.

``The last time we played them they killed us on transition,'' Bozeman said. ``Even after made baskets, they killed us. We wanted to make sure we stopped that and it gave us a good chance to win.''

They are still winning, still moving on. Maybe not the prettiest team left standing, maybe not the most familiar-looking UCLA team, but they're taking their lunch pails to Indianapolis.

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo:

(color) UCLA's Alfred Aboya leaps over Memphis' cheerleaders during the second half.

Jeff Chiu/Associated Press

Box:

LOWEST SCORING REGIONAL FINALS

- Associated Press