UCLA BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK: OFFENSIVE WOES PLAGUING BRUINS.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

UCLA made four baskets in the second half against Memphis and scored 50 points, matching a season-low. UCLA's 35 percent shooting from the field was a season-low, and came two days after the Bruins made just 40.4 percent in beating Gonzaga.

Indeed, UCLA's offense has stalled again, but playing a high level of defense has offset those woes.

``We weren't satisfied by the way we were executing on offense,'' UCLA guard Darren Collison said.

The last time UCLA's offense had this sort of trouble was in the early throes of its current 11-game winning streak, when it had trouble scoring 30 points in the first half.

The Bruins have averaged 70.4 points per game and are shooting 49.2 percent from the field during the streak, but there is no denying the offense is more efficient when UCLA plays up-tempo.

``We're running our plays pretty good,'' Bruins guard Arron Afflalo said. ``Everything is really falling into place, and I think we're a better offensive team when we are running, transitioning a little better.''

UCLA's lack of offensive production doesn't worry point guard Jordan Farmar, primarily because any recent difficulties were largely due to opposing defenses playing well.

``We have a lot of players that can do great things offensively,'' Farmar said. ``Myself, I can make plays for others. Arron can always knock down shots. Ced (Bozeman) is a great playmaker. (Ryan) Hollins is doing (his thing). We definitely feel we're a good offensive team. At this stage of the game, everybody's not trying to go home. Everyone's playing great defense.''

Bruins coach Ben Howland said the least of his concerns is scoring against LSU, which is holding opponents to 64 points and 39.8 percent shooting per game.

``I'm concerned about out-boarding them, not getting beat up on the glass,'' Howland said. ``I'm concerned about taking care of the basketball. We'll score. We'll get points in the basket.''

--Planting the seed: The Bruins are the top-seeded team in the Final Four, ahead of No. 4 seed LSU, No. 3 seed Florida and No. 11 seed George Mason, but players and Howland dispelled the notion UCLA should be the favorite heading into Indianapolis.

Hollins, UCLA's senior center, said reaching the Final Four is the Bruins' target.

``It's not over,'' Hollins said. ``I think that's a feeling a lot of our other guys have. We've got another game to play, so not to get too high on ourselves and stay very humble and get ready for LSU.''

--Potential Fey sighting: Howland said one-time starter and now little- used backup center Michael Fey could play a role against LSU, particularly given the size of Tigers center Glen ``Big Baby'' Davis.

Davis, the reigning Southeastern Conference player of the year, is 6-foot-9, 310 pounds and averaging 18.7 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. The biggest body the Bruins have to matchup with Davis is Fey, who is 7 feet, 270 pounds.

``His big body can definitely be a factor for us when we're talking about Big Baby,'' Howland said. ``We need big bodies. Mike Fey will be called upon to be ready to go.''

--Gone from the Golden State: The Bruins' 11-game winning streak brought them Pacific-10 Conference regular season and tournament titles, and a berth in the Final Four, but it never took them out of California.

That finally happened when UCLA boarded a plane and traveled to Indianapolis on Wednesday.

In fact, UCLA hasn't been out of the state since a Feb. 11 loss at Washington. After a loss at USC, the winning streak began with home wins against Oregon State and Oregon. A trip to Cal and Stanford came next, followed by the Pac-10 Tournament at Staples Center, the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament in San Diego and last weekend's regional semifinals and final in Oakland.