Basketball edition looking back on the 2007 season

The 2007 season would be the best team that Ben Howland would be able to put together. They went 35-4, won the Pac-10 and now had a good offense with their dominating defense. Kevin Love was first team All-American; Russell Westbrook was Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year. Then you had Darren Collison and Josh Shipp as steady presences who could get you buckets. This was the team to make it happen, they had it all and were one of the favorites to win the title.

Love was a double double machine and impressed every night with at least one full court pass. Westbrook took that next step to becoming a star, as he averaged 12.7 points per night and locked up the opponents' best players. This duo would go on to be top picks in the 2008 NBA Draft. Collison had the most efficient season in the history of UCLA with a shooting line of 48.1/52.5/87.2 while being a stingy defender that would guard all 93 feet.

The team stormed out to a 16-1 start and their full court defense was a sight to see each night. It takes buy in on defense and Howland did it as well as anyone in the nation. They went into March Madness and held Mississippi Valley State to only 29 points. Regardless of opponent, that is a very good defensive stat. UCLA was the No. 1 seed out West. They were on a crash course with Memphis who held another star freshman in Derrick Rose. They would meet and UCLA would struggle all game losing 78-63 with another Final Four exit.

The Bruins had made three straight Final Four appearances with nothing to show for it other than a national title loss. It was disappointing but also a rare feat. But people remember championships and not the disappointments. UCLA was bound for regression after seeing Westbrook, Love and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute leave after this season. Leaving many wondering if that title window was now closed shut.