A Natural Born Ben Ball Warrior

"Coach Wooden says, `Be your best when the best is needed,"' Love said. "And today, I think we did that as a team."

No one did it better Saturday than Love, who displayed a range of offensive moves (jump hooks, fadeaways, 3-pointers, follow-ups), tenacity under the boards and dogged defense.

"I keep saying this - I said it last week - he had the best game of his career today," UCLA coach Ben Howland said. "I hope he keeps having the best games of his career as we move forward. He was an absolute beast."

Certainly at first, Love does not come off as some monster in the paint, physically does not appear to be a creature from the basketball laboratory. He is listed at 6-foot-10 and 270 pounds, and is nothing if not solid. Yet his body does not scream of countless days in the weight room. He might never be confused with a Dwight Howard or Alonzo Mourning. He'll never set a record for his vertical leap.

Still, as obvious as many of Love's talents are - soft but strong hands, court vision, maturity beyond his years - there is a certain appreciation that comes from watching him regularly, nuances noticed with consistent viewing.

Love has now assured himself the title of the best big man in the Pac-10, and one of the handful best in the country. He had a career-high 27 points, 14 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 blocks, and played very good post defense. It's amazing how far he's come in just 17 games of college basketball, and very exciting to think about where he'll be by NCAA tournament time.

We knew he was this good as a scorer and passer, and we can't necessarily say that he's improved in these areas because he was already pretty darn good at them before he ever became a Bruin. It is phenomenal, though, how much he's improved defensively. He was pretty spotty defensively just 10 games ago, but now he's shown he can defend any post player the Pac-10 can throw at him. His new sense of position on D, to use his wide body, stay on the ground and make his opponent have to shoot over him, has been successful in limiting some very good offensive post players. Aron Baynes, WSU's 6-11 and 275 pound center, had been working every defender he faced before this game - in much the same way Love does, getting good position close to the basket and then using his wide body and a patented jump hook in a way that defenders can't touch the ball. But Love, first, showed he's big enough to move out Baynes from position, and he's big enough to knock Baynes off balance so he can't get off a good shot. Baynes worked USC and Washington down low, but in this game he had 8 points, below his 12-point average, which is becoming commonplace for Love to do (keep post players below their averages). Baynes only took three shots and made one and was flustered throughout the game by Love.

Love is playing himself into first-team All-American status, and he's truly showing just how talented he is, being able to out-play opponents who are bigger (Baynes), more athletic (DeVon Hardin), or both (the Lopez twins) because, when it comes down to it, he has such a great natural feel and ability to play basketball.

UCLA coach Ben Howland decided to start working Love's 3-point shooting into the offense over the past few games. After shooting just 4-of-13 from 3-point range in 13 nonconference games, Love entered Saturday 2-for-6 on 3s in the first three Pac-10 games, a stat he was well aware of after the game as he recited his shooting stats. Expect him to get even more looks after Saturday's performance.

"He's in better condition [now]," Howland said. "He missed some 3s [earlier this season]. He was tired. He's in the best shape of his life right now. He's a big-time player."

"That's why those NBA guys all look at him, because he can pick and pop all day long," said Howland after a game played in front of 27 scouts from 23 NBA teams.

North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough gets praised for his relentless work on the offensive glass. But let's start shifting some of those accolades out West. Love worked the offensive glass for four boards and key buckets Saturday.

And his free-throw shooting continued to be critical for the Bruins. He was 7-of-10, with the final 2-for-2 needed to stave off an improbable WSU comeback.