The methodical dismantling of Xavier was over, and UCLA found itself in a familiar place, standing atop a makeshift stage in the center of U.S. Airways Center celebrating a record 18th trip to the Final Four.
This time it was a 76-57 defeat of the third-seeded Musketeers that got the Bruins to the national semifinals for the third consecutive season, continuing coach Ben Howland’s dominant run since arriving in Westwood in 2003.
And oddly enough, it was a player with no Final Four experience who led the Bruins on Saturday night to San Antonio.
Freshman Kevin Love had 19 points and 10 rebounds, with four assists and two blocked shots to earn most outstanding player of the West regional.
Love celebrated throughout the game with uncharacteristic displays of emotion after battling in the paint with the Xavier big men. And the passion appeared infectious, as Love’s teammates followed his lead with a fiery exhibition, particularly on the defensive end, that held the Musketeers to 36 percent shooting for the game.
“It’s unbelievable,” Howland said of reaching three consecutive Final Fours. “This is by far the best team we’ve had because we have a key ingredient on the inside that can score and rebound with anyone else in the country.”
Without Love the last two seasons, UCLA came up short in the Final Four, losing to Florida in the title game in 2006 and again to the Gators in the semifinal in 2007.
With Love, the Bruins appear to have a more promising opportunity to finally turn this trip into a national title.
Point guard Darren Collison matched Love’s 19 points Saturday, adding four assists, and as a team the Bruins were 28 of 52 from the field (54 percent), including 7 of 15 from three-point range.
But UCLA’s trademark since Howland arrived has been defense, and Saturday it was at its disruptive best.
The Bruins made their decisive run at the start of the second half, beginning the second half on a 15-4 run, capped by a Love three-pointer, that stretched a nine-point halftime lead to 48-28 with 14:57 remaining in the game.
“They are physical, they blitz and trap every pick-and-roll you set,” Xavier coach Sean Miller said. “The team that cracks UCLA’s defense is probably going to be hitting on all cylinders.”
Love certainly wasn’t alone in his offensive efforts. Besides Collison’s 19 points, sophomore Russell Westbrook added 17 points and junior forward Luc Richard Mbah a Moute put up 13 points with 13 rebounds.
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But it is Love’s presence that gives the Bruins an element they didn’t have in their last two Final Four trips, a go-to player in the post who can create easy baskets for himself while still keeping his teammates involved.
“Kevin Love is that really special player that UCLA didn’t have in the past that could really put them over the top,” Miller said.
Love heard chants of “one more year” from Bruins fans hopeful their prize freshman isn’t NBA bound after this season.
“I’m just having fun right now,” Love said. “I’m living in the now, living in the present.”