UCLA must be a quick study

When UCLA beat Memphis, 50-45, two years ago in the NCAA West Regional final and advanced to its first of three consecutive Final Fours, it was partly because of the Bruins' hard-core defense and a little bit because of some quick, disheartening scores while beating the Tigers' press, according to Santa Clara Coach Kerry Keating.

But it was also about adrenaline, said Keating, who was one of Ben Howland's UCLA assistants until this season.

"I think the biggest difference preparation-wise as opposed to two years ago," Keating said Sunday, "was the emotions and the adrenaline. Because of the way we beat Gonzaga and with having just one day in between, there was no way we were going to lose. We just weren't going to lose that game."

UCLA (35-3) will play Memphis (37-1) Saturday at 3 p.m. in the first of two Final Four games at the Alamodome in San Antonio. Memphis won its South Regional final Sunday, 85-67, over Texas. North Carolina will play Kansas in the second semifinal, and the winners will play for the national championship April 7.

Among the key players for the Tigers who played against the Bruins in the regional final two years ago are 6-foot-6 junior guard Chris Douglas-Roberts, 6-6 junior guard Antonio Anderson, 6-9 senior forward Joey Dorsey and 6-9 junior forward Robert Dozier.

The newest difference-maker is 6-4 freshman guard Derrick Rose.

"Rose is a really special talent," Howland said. "At the end of the day Derrick Rose and [UCLA's] Kevin [Love] are the two best freshmen in the country in terms of how they performed along with Michael Beasley and O.J. Mayo. Rose is a great point guard."

Tim Floyd's USC team played Memphis once and UCLA three times this year. Saturday's game will match two teams that, the Trojans coach said, "as far as I know, neither has played a second of zone defense this year. They are both man-to-man teams. Both teams really guard you. The strength of both teams is defense and rebounding."

Floyd said one of the things he'll watch for in the game is defensive matchups.

"It will be fascinating," he said. "Does Darren Collison guard Rose or does Russell Westbrook? Will Josh Shipp or Luc Richard Mbah a Moute guard Douglas-Roberts? Matchups will be intriguing through the course of the game."

Memphis averages 80.3 points a game, and John Calipari's Tigers have gained a reputation as a fastbreaking, high-octane offensive team. "That won't happen against UCLA," Floyd said. "I don't see that happening, Memphis scoring 80 or 90 points."