UCLA BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK: WOODEN WON'T MAKE TRIP TO INDIANAPOLIS.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

John Wooden was born in Indiana, played his high school and college ball there and even coached in the Hoosier state at South Bend Central High and what is now Indiana State before heading to Westwood.

However, UCLA's legendary coach said he will not be returning home to watch the Bruins play LSU in the Final Four at Indianapolis' RCA Dome on Saturday.

``No, I'm not going to be able to make it this year, even though it's in Indianapolis,'' the 95-year-old Wooden said Monday. ``You'll find out when you get to be 95, travel doesn't go as easily.''

When the Bruins won their last national championship in 1995, Wooden made national headlines by attending the game in Seattle.

UCLA coach Ben Howland said he received a congratulatory phone call from Wooden for reaching the Final Four, and an explanation why Wooden wouldn't be attending.

``It's just too much travel for him,'' Howland said. ``It's not real great for you to be riding around in planes all the time. And then when he gets back there, he's so gracious, everybody is wanting to get close to him, touch him, get an autograph.

``I'm actually, for his sake, totally behind it 100 percent. He'll watch. He'll enjoy the games on TV. This is his program, first and foremost.''

--Hazzard-ous Love: It's no secret Lake Oswego (Ore.) High junior power forward Kevin Love is UCLA's top recruiting target for the 2007 class, and it appears Howland is pulling out all the stops in trying to land the nephew of Beach Boys singer Mike Love.

Howland received permission from two-time all-American Walt Hazzard for Love to wear Hazzard's retired No. 42 jersey.

According to NCAA rules, Howland is not allowed to talk specifically about recruits, which he did not in discussing the situation.

``We're recruiting a player right now - kids get attached to a number, which is understandable - who wears No. 42,'' Howland said. ``So I asked permission from Walt and explained who this kid was, who I can't mention right now because it would be illegal, but he was great and very gracious. (He said) absolutely, whatever is going to help the program get a good player. That's what he wanted.''

Love, who is also looking at Duke and North Carolina, is trying to keep a low profile during the recruiting process, and through a family member an interview request was politely declined.

However, in discussing the significance of the gesture, a source close to Love said ``as a recruit, you'd have to be flattered for a school to do that.''

--Free-throw woes: UCLA was 5 of 13 from the free-throw line in the second round against Alabama, and then an embarrassing 20 of 39 against Memphis in Saturday's regional final.

``We're working on it,'' Howland said. ``Free-throw shooting is all a routine.''

But Howland also mentioned UCLA's success late against Memphis when the Bruins made 6 of 8 in the final minute.

``Our guys are going to make their free throws,'' Howland said, ``especially when it comes down to the last five minutes of the game because they're clutch. They're tough.''

--Also: UCLA took Sunday and Monday off and will return to practice today, but not at Pauley Pavilion. Setup is underway for the Nickelodeon's 19th Annual Kids Choice Awards on Saturday at Pauley, so the Bruins will practice at the men's gym. They depart for Indianapolis Wednesday. ... UCLA is on spring break this week, meaning no classes for the players. But it also means a lifeless atmosphere on campus. ``There's no one here. Anybody you see says, `Good luck,' but other than that, the campus is not buzzing,'' Farmar said.

Staff writer Jill Painter contributed to this report