INDIANAPOLIS “”mdash; Prior to this season, UCLA’s Luc
Richard Mbah a Moute had watched only one Final Four.
That was in 2003, when some freshman named Carmelo Anthony led
Syracuse to the national title.
“I loved it,” said Mbah a Moute, the freshman
forward. “I was thinking one day I could play there too. I
was thinking it had to be great. I was thinking one day that could
be me.”
Three years later in 2006, it is him. And according to Mbah a
Moute, it is great.
The freshman was everywhere that UCLA wanted him to be Saturday
““ including at the core of LSU’s frustration ““ as
he keyed an easy 59-45 Bruin victory over the Tigers in the Final
Four with game-highs of 17 points and nine rebounds.
“I told (people) in the beginning of the year how good he
was going to be, that he doesn’t even know that,”
sophomore point guard Jordan Farmar said. “That’s the
scary part. He has no clue.”
Nor did he understand the significance and the magnitude of the
NCAA Tournament prior to this season. On Selection Sunday, when
most of his teammates admitted their hearts were pounding in
anticipation of UCLA’s seeding, Mbah a Moute said his
remained calm.
And Saturday in the Final Four in Indianapolis, many LSU players
appeared nervous, taking very deep breaths even before the opening
tip. Not being accustomed to the NCAA Tournament, Mbah a Moute
didn’t know to be nervous.
“In a certain way, it does help,” said Mbah a Moute
about his unfamiliarity with the tournament. “I’m not
scared of anything. That’s what my dad always taught me. So
nothing scares me.”
Thus he didn’t fret about all UCLA asked of him Saturday
against LSU.
Could he supply some much-needed offense? No problem.
Mbah a Moute tied his career-high with 17 points and made his
first five shots from the field. To open the second half, he
delivered two rim-rattling dunks that demoralized the Tigers, who
said just minutes before that they were fired up in the locker
room.
Could he compete on the boards with explosive Tiger freshman
Tyrus Thomas? No problem.
Mbah a Moute pulled down a game-high nine boards, while Thomas,
who was so impressive in the Sweet 16 and the Elite Eight that he
was pegged as a lottery pick in this year’s NBA Draft,
snatched six rebounds and sat on the bench for most of the second
half.
Could he, at 6-foot-7 and 224 pounds, defend LSU’s Glen
“Big Baby” Davis ““ a 6-foot-9, 310-pound giant
and the reigning SEC Player of the Year? No problem.
Mbah a Moute’s active defense coerced a frustrated Davis
into one of his poorest offensive performances of the season,
making only 5 of 17 shots. “Big Baby” scored a measly
five points in the first half, an inconsequential 14 points by
game’s end, and was so frustrated that he shoved Mbah a Moute
in front of the referee to pick up his fifth and final foul.
“I don’t know how much better I can play in 48
hours,” Mbah a Moute said.
But if he does play better in tonight’s national
championship game against Florida, don’t count his teammates
or his coaches as among those surprised.
“I knew this kid would be something,” senior center
Ryan Hollins said.
“Luc is doing a great job,” Farmar said. “When
everybody was coming together in the beginning of the year, they
asked me who should they look for, who is going to contribute. The
first one that I noticed was Luc.”
Now, like Carmelo Anthony in 2003, Mbah a Moute may be among the
first players remembered from the 2006 NCAA Tournament.