UCLA BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK: RECRUIT FOLLOWS RUN CLOSELY.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

INDIANAPOLIS - UCLA's unexpected run to the Final Four will impact the decision-making process of its top recruiting target, who is also one of the top juniors in the nation.

Kevin Love, a power forward for Oregon state champion Lake Oswego High, added the decision by former UCLA star Walt Hazzard to allow him to wear Hazzard's retired No. 42 jersey ``continues to illustrate the class of UCLA.''

``Of course, UCLA getting to the Final Four impacts my decision,'' Love wrote in an e-mail to the Daily News. ``How couldn't it? I've known for three years that UCLA was going to get there, and it was only a matter of time.

``You could always see the fire and sense of purpose in Coach (Ben) Howland and (assistant) Coach (Kerry) Keating. I had the opportunity to watch a UCLA practice in November, and they are fun to watch. The coaches are so hands on, and they really work hard with each player.''

Love, a 6-foot-9, 250-pounder and the son of former Lakers forward Stan Love, watched each of UCLA's NCAA Tournament games on television, but with a caveat.

``I have to admit that when UCLA was down big to Gonzaga at the half, I stopped watching,'' he wrote. ``After the game, my mom put on the tape, and we ate dinner while watching the second half. It was insane ... I can't wait until this weekend. Of course, I'm going to be rooting for the Bruins, even though Big Baby (LSU center Glen Davis) is a friend of mine.''

As for Hazzard's gesture, Love showed his sense of humor by asking whether maybe other UCLA recruits wear No. 42. He then wrote: ``it just continues to illustrate the class of UCLA. You can see it everywhere. They are UCLA. They don't need to impress me. I need to impress them.''

Love is considering UCLA, North Carolina and Duke.

--Mata breaks nose: Bruins backup center Lorenzo Mata broke his nose during Wednesday's practice at IUPUI, but he will play Saturday against LSU in the national semifinals.

``He was seen by a specialist (Thursday) and the broken-nose diagnosis was confirmed,'' Bruins coach Ben Howland said. ``Lorenzo will now wear a mask to protect the injury and he will play on Saturday.''

It's the second time Mata broke his nose this season. He left a Jan. 7 game at Arizona State with a broken nose, but played a few nights later against Washington State.

--Three's a charm: Howland experienced success in his third year as coach at Northern Arizona, Pittsburgh and UCLA, but there was no timetable for the Bruins to reach the Final Four.

``You don't have a clear picture of how that's going to work,'' UCLA athletic director Dan Guerrero said. ``Just like you don't have a clear picture of whether you pay a coach $2, or $2 million, whether it's going to happen. You talk to any great CEO of an organization, and they're going to say you fit the person to an organization, you fit the person to a philosophy.

``The important thing about Ben is, Ben and I share the same core values in our organization. We want to do it the same way.''

For the record, Howland falls in the middle of Guerrero's price range. Howland made slightly more than $1 million last year.

--Defense, defense: Maybe it is a sign of UCLA's great defense, or what ails the Bruins in the half-court offense, but point guard Jordan Farmar said the Bruins' penchant for winding down the 35-second shot clock is nothing new.

``You guys should watch some of our practices,'' Farmar said, knowing they are closed to the media. ``We can't score against each other. It's just ridiculous. There's shot-clock violations almost every practice.

``We know when we decide to play defense, we can really play defense. It doesn't matter who we're going against. Athletic ability, and all that, can be negated by tough defensive ball and effort, and really wanting to do that together.''

--Odds and ends: UCLA players and coaches attended Thursday's Indiana Pacers-Phoenix Suns game. Former Bruins standout Reggie Miller had his No. 31 jersey retired by the Pacers at halftime. ...

Bruins reserve center/power forward Alfred Aboya could serve as an unofficial tour guide. When he came to the United States from Cameroon, he arrived in Indiana. He spent several summers playing for the Indiana Red AAU team. ``I was in Bloomington, but I've been to Indianapolis,'' Aboya said. And, no, Aboya said he was not recruited by the Hoosiers.

Brian Dohn, [phone]

brian.dohn(at)dailynews.com