UCLA Looking to Get Back to Glory

NBA?

As it is, especially without Love in the middle, the Bruins have had to change their offensive attack. UCLA could run their offense through Love last season, who could score a variety of ways or be a brilliant passer out of the post to set up easy baskets for his teammates. This UCLA edition doesn't have a post scorer -- Alfred Aboya is fine at cleaning up some messes near the basket, but he's not a primary option.

So, UCLA is perimeter-oriented, easier to get out of its offense, even with a veteran such as senior Darren Collison at the point. At one point in a January home loss to Arizona State, the Bruins went eight minutes without scoring. It doesn't help that, without Love and Mbah a Moute, UCLA has gone from an exceptional to an average rebounding team.

OK, then, so what do the Bruins have? Well, Collison is savvier and more in control than ever. UCLA has a wide array of shooters, including junior reserve Michael Roll, who just needs a tiny bit of air space to launch any shot. And the Bruins are well versed in coach Ben Howland's passion for toughness and defense, which is particularly effective pressuring the perimeter. Yep, it always comes back to the perimeter for this team.

Another banner freshman class didn't make a Love-like immediate impact, but combo guard Jrue Holiday was a starter from day one and will be a star. UCLA is athletic in the freshman class, but Howland tends to give that up for experience -- such as Roll and Nikola Dragovic -- in tight games.

UCLA could be a second-weekend team in the NCAA Tournament, but it will need the right matchups to get back to the Final Four.