Memphis teaches UCLA lesson in hoopin’

SAN ANTONIO

Hoopin'.

There is no formal definition. Webster's doesn't recognize it as a word. But to a Memphis basketball player, it defines everything the Tigers are about. It's what makes them so darn dominant. It puts the S in their swagger.

It's also what Memphis freshman guard Derrick Rose called what his Tigers did to UCLA in the first of two Final Four games Saturday at the Alamodome.

Routin' is more like it. Killin'.

"It still hasn't hit me that we won, and yet we knew before the game we were going to win," Rose said. "We were just out there hoopin'. Call plays, whatever. If you're hoopin', you got nothing to worry about."

The Tigers will pursue their first national title Monday night against Kansas because what some might regard as an arrogant approach is instead an uninhibited display of confidence supported by outstanding skill.

It's nothing personal. Memphis just comes with a fairly simple game plan: Kick butt and move on.

It sent UCLA home from its third straight Final Four without a title and did so in such an effortless manner, the 78-63 final doesn't completely describe how much of a men-against-boys scuffle it was.

The Bruins are used to such reality. Florida was much better in eliminating UCLA from the last two Final Fours. Memphis was on Saturday.

Maybe this is as far as UCLA can go under coach Ben Howland. Maybe there will always be a quicker, longer, more explosive opponent in the semifinals or final. Maybe someone will always be better at hoopin'. Maybe opportunity is getting tired of knocking and the Bruins not being talented enough to open the door.

UCLA reached this point three straight times on its defense, on the truth that its ability to get stops and frustrate offenses and rebound with authority has been better than how 95 percent of the nation's teams might counter.

But there is little defense for Memphis' length and athleticism. It's different when you see the Tigers live. It's much different trying to stop it.

"I thought this was our best team, our best chance," said Howland. "But there is a reason Memphis is 38-1. They are very, very good."

Here's the thing: When a national championship sits two wins away, exceptional point guard play can propel a team more than any one area.

Rose didn't outplay UCLA junior Darren Collison. He embarrassed him. In his first and presumably last Final Four before making NBA millions, Rose scored 25 points and had four assists to one turnover. In his third Final Four, Collison had two points on 1-for-9 shooting and four assists to five turnovers before fouling out.

Collison in three trips to this immense stage has combined numbers of 10 points on 4-for-26 shooting. He hasn't been near elite enough yet to drive the Bruins to a championship, and if Saturday's mismatch against Rose doesn't convince Collison to remain in school for his senior season, someone is deceiving himself.

(Note to the junior: NBA guys also tend to be really long and athletic.)

"To get here three times and not ... it's devastating," Collison said.

But never surprising when the clock has expired, not the way Florida and now Memphis outclassed UCLA. It was so one-sided Saturday, Bruins sophomore guard Russell Westbrook (22 points) was the only UCLA player that appeared on athletic par with Memphis players.

Collison obviously didn't, and freshman center Kevin Love (12 points, nine rebounds) was a nonfactor for the final 30 minutes, his strengths becoming more and more ineffective as Memphis increased its lead.

No excuse sticks. UCLA missed some shots that would have made things tighter in the second half. It had turnovers at the wrong time. It didn't get Love enough touches. None of it matters.

The truth is, Memphis players swear the Bruins were gassed and done with less than eight minutes left in the first half. They knew it, believed it, and were just as confident about it when leading by three at halftime.

"(CBS's) Billy Packer said our (38) wins is the most (in a season)," Tigers coach John Calipari said. "My team didn't know, so I told them, 'No, no, you have to get 39 wins to have the most.' Hopefully, we have one more in us.

"I'm coaching a Dream Team that gets along, respects coaching, takes on roles. I've got a good team that plays together, takes care of the ball, rebounds. Got a good team."

It's hoopin'.

Which apparently can be defined as dominatin'.

Ed Graney's column is published Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. He can be reached at 383-4618 or egraney@reviewjournal.com.