Love Is In The Air
Kevin Love that is #42 UCLA Bruins.
You have to see Kevin Love throw the long ball to understand. Love, UCLA’s 6- foot-9 freshman center, is a wondrous talent. He’s the only UCLA freshman to average a double-double in points and rebounds. Love is a terrific shooter and defender. He’s a smart, confident kid who used to stand in front of the mirror when he was 8 and practice being interviewed.
It’s no coincidence. Love’s father, Stan, played in the NBA with the Bullets and Lakers. He was a teammate of Wes Unseld, a 6-7 center who was regarded by many as the best passing big man of all time. Love was so fond of Unseld that he gave Kevin the middle name “Wesley.”
Love, who grew up in Lake Oswego, Ore., isn’t lacking for personality or ego. His uncle, Mike Love, was the frontman for the Beach Boys. “In Oregon, they don’t have an appreciation for it,” Love said, “because it’s raining nine months of the year. But once I got to Southern California and started realizing what ‘California Girls’ was all about, it was really nice.”
“He has everything you could ask for in a big man,” said senior point guard Darren Collison. “He has great basketball IQ, a great shot, he screens well, and he rebounds. He does so many things well.”
Before the season, UCLA coach Ben Howland said Love would be the first Bruins freshman to average double figures in points and rebounds (Lew Alcindor and Bill Walton couldn’t play as freshmen). Love is averaging 17.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists. He’s shooting 56.5 percent from the field (36.3 percent from three) and 76.4 percent from the foul line.
Love has been even better in the NCAA Tournament, raising his numbers in every category. He’s blocking 4.3 shots, more than twice as many as the regular season. He thrives on the big moment.
“It’s like he’s a seasoned veteran, a senior in college,” Howland said, “someone who’s been around instead of a 19-year-old in his first year.”
Love doesn’t know if he’ll turn pro after the season. Scouts aren’t sure his skills translate well to the next level.
“People can say what they they want,” Love said. “Steve Nash once said people were more focused on what he couldn’t do, rather than what he could do. . . . Look at him now. He’s a two-time MVP and one of the best players in the league.”
Love was asked Friday how he’d respond to the pressure of his first Final Four, knowing he’s expected to take UCLA over the top — to a 12th national title. He said he wouldn’t know until he stepped on the floor for to-night’s semifinal.
A half-hour later, at the end of UCLA’s workout, Love stood at one end of the Alamodome court and began firing two-handed chest passes toward the other end. Time after time, the ball hit the opposite backboard. Finally, Love banked one in off the glass. He turned and bowed to the roaring practice-day crowd.
Something tells me he’ll handle the pressure just fine.
You have to see Kevin Love throw the long ball to understand. Love, UCLA’s 6- foot-9 freshman center, is a wondrous talent. He’s the only UCLA freshman to average a double-double in points and rebounds. Love is a terrific shooter and defender. He’s a smart, confident kid who used to stand in front of the mirror when he was 8 and practice being interviewed.
It’s no coincidence. Love’s father, Stan, played in the NBA with the Bullets and Lakers. He was a teammate of Wes Unseld, a 6-7 center who was regarded by many as the best passing big man of all time. Love was so fond of Unseld that he gave Kevin the middle name “Wesley.”
Love, who grew up in Lake Oswego, Ore., isn’t lacking for personality or ego. His uncle, Mike Love, was the frontman for the Beach Boys. “In Oregon, they don’t have an appreciation for it,” Love said, “because it’s raining nine months of the year. But once I got to Southern California and started realizing what ‘California Girls’ was all about, it was really nice.”
“He has everything you could ask for in a big man,” said senior point guard Darren Collison. “He has great basketball IQ, a great shot, he screens well, and he rebounds. He does so many things well.”
Before the season, UCLA coach Ben Howland said Love would be the first Bruins freshman to average double figures in points and rebounds (Lew Alcindor and Bill Walton couldn’t play as freshmen). Love is averaging 17.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists. He’s shooting 56.5 percent from the field (36.3 percent from three) and 76.4 percent from the foul line.
Love has been even better in the NCAA Tournament, raising his numbers in every category. He’s blocking 4.3 shots, more than twice as many as the regular season. He thrives on the big moment.
“It’s like he’s a seasoned veteran, a senior in college,” Howland said, “someone who’s been around instead of a 19-year-old in his first year.”
Love doesn’t know if he’ll turn pro after the season. Scouts aren’t sure his skills translate well to the next level.
“People can say what they they want,” Love said. “Steve Nash once said people were more focused on what he couldn’t do, rather than what he could do. . . . Look at him now. He’s a two-time MVP and one of the best players in the league.”
Love was asked Friday how he’d respond to the pressure of his first Final Four, knowing he’s expected to take UCLA over the top — to a 12th national title. He said he wouldn’t know until he stepped on the floor for to-night’s semifinal.
A half-hour later, at the end of UCLA’s workout, Love stood at one end of the Alamodome court and began firing two-handed chest passes toward the other end. Time after time, the ball hit the opposite backboard. Finally, Love banked one in off the glass. He turned and bowed to the roaring practice-day crowd.
Something tells me he’ll handle the pressure just fine.