Wrist Injury Won’t Sideline Afflalo

OAKLAND — X-rays on the right wrist of UCLA guard Arron Afflalo, taken after Saturday night’s Oakland Regional final, were negative.

Afflalo said he was hurt in the first half of UCLA’s 50-45 victory over the Memphis Tigers, although he wasn’t certain exactly when or how.

He was certain, however, of one thing. He was going to be on the court next Saturday when the Bruins face Louisiana State in the RCA Dome in Indianapolis.

“There’s no way I’m missing the Final Four,” he said. “Not a chance.”

Afflalo, who iced the wrist at halftime and again after the game, said it was sore, but the injury had not impeded him from doing anything on the court.

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“I knew that with the work ethic of [Coach] Ben Howland, we would turn this program around,” said UCLA Athletic Director Dan Guerrero, who hired Howland three years ago after the Bruins endured a 10-19 season. “I knew this moment would come. But to do it in such a short period of time is absolutely incredible.”

Asked if he agreed with those who labeled Saturday’s defensive struggle an ugly game, Guerrero said, “There are no ugly wins.”

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Afflalo has become UCLA’s designated comforter. When Gonzaga’s Adam Morrison collapsed in tears at midcourt after his team was beaten by the Bruins on Thursday, it was Afflalo who came over to console him.

And again on Saturday, when Memphis’ Rodney Carney, whom Afflalo guarded much of the game, hunched over in agony at midcourt after the final buzzer, Afflalo was there again.

“I wasn’t going to overdo it,” Afflalo said. “I didn’t want to do anything dramatic, like hug him for an hour.”

-- Steve Springer

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If you don’t think the regional final was a little bizarre, check out the all-tournament team.

UCLA center Ryan Hollins overcame missing nine of 11 free throws in the Bruins’ victory over Memphis to earn the regional’s most outstanding player award.

Hollins, of course, did have a strong game otherwise, with 14 points and nine rebounds.

Joining Hollins on the team were Farmar, who made only one of nine field-goal attempts on Saturday, and Afflalo, who was two for nine.

Memphis guard Darius Washington was also selected to the team, despite making only four of 10 shots Saturday with no assists and five turnovers.

Gonzaga’s Morrison, who did not play Saturday, rounded out the all-tournament team. He scored 24 points in Thursday’s loss to UCLA.

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UCLA advances to the Final Four for the 16th time in school history, tying North Carolina for most appearances. UCLA will play its record 29th Final Four game next Saturday. The Bruins lead all teams with 24 Final Four wins; Kentucky is second with 17.

-- Chris Dufresne