Eliminated UCLA Bruins could be back at Final Four yet again

ATLANTA (AP) - This time, at least, the future seems brighter for UCLA.

The Bruins headed home from the Final Four for a second straight year having had their season end with a disappointing performance against Florida. But they also enter a second straight off-season knowing the returning nucleus is strong enough that another shot at a national championship is well within reach.

"We were beaten both years by Florida. You have to credit them, a great team," Bruins coach Ben Howland said minutes after Saturday's 76-66 loss in the semifinals meant the Gators would have a chance at a second straight title and UCLA would not be able to add to its record 11th.

Almost a year to day, it had been a 73-57 loss to Florida in the national championship game that ended the Bruins' season.

Though the second loss was tougher to take, there was cause for hope.

"I'm excited about our team next year," Howland said. "We have no seniors in the program. I'm thinking that we're going to be a very good team and competitive next year, especially with the addition of Kevin Love, who is one of the top players in the country, if not the best kid in the country. He gives us a very good inside presence.

"Then also we're getting the Los Angeles city player of the year in Chase Stanback out of Fairfax, who did a great job again leading his team this year to the state championship and city championship."

The addition of the six-foot-10 Love and 6-7 Stanback is certain. The return of All-America guard Arron Afflalo is the biggest question facing the program in the off-season.

The 6-5 Afflalo entered his name for the NBA draft after the loss to Florida in 2006, but withdrew and returned to lead the Bruins in scoring.

He also was their best defender and their leader on and off the court in a season that saw them reach No. 1 for six weeks and never fall out of the top 10. The Bruins won the Pac-10 regular season title for a second straight year and went unbeaten at home for the first time in 32 years.

They were the No. 2 seed in the West Regional and put on an impressive defensive performance on the way to the Final Four, holding opponents - including No. 12 Pittsburgh and No. 2 Kansas - to 36 per cent shooting and 50.2 points.

That was all forgotten in a hurry after Afflalo struggled through foul trouble in the loss to Florida. He played just five minutes in the first half, and all his 17 points came in the final six minutes when the Bruins got no closer than 10 points.

Afflalo was disconsolate after the game. His decision about returning for a senior season, and perhaps another run at a national title, won't be made for a few weeks, but his immediate thoughts made it sound like a possibility.

"I love these guys a lot, and I don't want to end on a sour note," he said. "At this point, I'm all about my team. I came to UCLA with the intent of winning a championship.

"The university's done a lot for me, and sometimes you have to make sacrifices for some good things. I don't know. It's something I'm going to have to think about, but that was my sole purpose and I'm still intent on doing that."

Darren Collison was a first-team All-Pac-10 selection in his first season as a starting point guard. Josh Shipp rebounded with a good season after missing all of 2005-06 with a hip injury. Big men Lorenzo Mata and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute steadily improved throughout a 30-6 season.

Even if Afflalo decides to leave for the NBA, there is plenty coming back for a possible third straight Final Four.

"We had a pretty successful season, but we came up short again," Mata said. "I love all these guys. They are like family to me and we're going to try and keep this team together for another season. We've still got work to do."

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