UCLA tops Pitt to set up showdown

By Ryan Wood     Mar 23, 2007

? Who’s ready for another NCAA Tournament game laced with history?

It’s coming, because Kansas University and UCLA’s basketball teams will collide in the West Regional championship game. The two will meet at 6:05 p.m. Saturday in the HP Pavilion.

Winner goes to the Final Four, and while that’s a cool accomplishment, it’s hardly unprecedented for these two programs. Kansas has been to 12, UCLA to 16.

The Bruins will have another chance thanks to a 64-55 victory over Pittsburgh in the late semifinal Thursday. Kansas beat Southern Illinois, 61-58, in the earlier game.

“They’re as talented as anyone in the country,” UCLA coach Ben Howland said of the Jayhawks. “I mean, you look at their overall talent, it’s absolutely incredible.”

UCLA, seeded second in the West, made it to the Elite Eight with stingy defense and the utilization of depth – traits Kansas (33-4) often takes advantage of in its contests. But the Bruins also clinched Thursday’s game with help from the free-throw line, an edge they hold over the Jayhawks heading into Saturday’s game.

UCLA (29-5) hit 23 of 26 free throws against Pitt, and the game never was decisive enough for any of the charities to be pointless. Arron Afflalo was 10-for-10 from the stripe, while Darren Collison hit all six of his. Even Lorenzo Mata, arguably the worst free-throw shooter in the country, swished both of his tries.

They all proved crucial. The Panthers (29-8) were atrocious in converting close-range layups, but three-pointers kept them breathing. Specifically, Levance Fields and Ronald Ramon each hit clutch treys late to draw Pitt within five with 1:22 remaining.

“We never really pulled away,” Afflalo said. “That team kept competing. They did a great job of staying in the game. We were very fortunate tonight.”

The Bruins managed to shut the resisting door and now prepare for the Jayhawks in what should be a highly anticipated battle for the Final Four invitation.

Both Afflalo and Josh Shipp recalled KU’s victory over Florida in November when asked about the Jayhawks, a sign that the two programs have been eyeing each other for some time.

“We’ve watched them all year long,” Afflalo said. “That team’s very competitive, very fiery, got a lot of talent and a lot of elite-level athletes.

“We’re going to have to do our best job to try to contain them and negate the athleticism a little bit. Just play tough.”

Shipp, who had 16 points against Pitt, agreed.

“Definitely a great team,” Shipp said. “They have great players. It’s going to be another war out there.”

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