Star recruit exhibits confidence, readiness for season at media day

It took maybe a full five minutes of talking for Kevin Love to win over the L.A. media.

The 6-foot-10-inch, 271-pound freshman center is heralded as the next great Bruin big man, but at UCLA media day yesterday, he showed nothing of the pressure.

“I was never taught to be shy,” Love said. “I had my speech class earlier today and I had to be loose so I threw a couple of jokes in there. I hope that my personality rubs off on these guys, because we’ve got a great group of guys and I hope I can step in and be a leader.”

Love is the biggest recruit of the Ben Howland era, and if he plays nearly as well as he answers questions from the media, he may prove to be one of the most important players.

But the media-savvy Love stopped short of saying he was going to be the final piece in pushing UCLA to a championship.

“I’m not going to say that (I’m the final piece in the puzzle),” Love said. “You look at those Florida teams, they were pretty good. They had a couple of great runs. We’re just trying to get back to the Final Four and see where we go from there.

“As for being the missing piece, I’m just trying to come in where I fit in and I know coach Howland is going to put us in a position to succeed.”

Love’s strengths are things that UCLA has lacked under Howland. He is a true inside scoring presence, as well as a big man with fundamental passing and rebounding skills.

Love may also give the Bruins something they haven’t had much of: a fast break. With his reportedly bullet-like outlet passes, Love hopes to initiate more transition this year.

“We’ve got Darren Collison, who is one of the fastest players in college basketball and probably will be one of the fastest in the NBA,” Love said. “So I’m really looking forward to that.”

C NOTE: UCLA trotted out in their new uniforms, which look a lot like their old uniforms, except for one small change.

Instead of all blue lettering on the UCLA on the front of the jerseys, the C will now be in gold to denote the 100th national championship that UCLA won this past spring.

There is no border around the C, so the gold coloring blends into the white background of the uniform.

“I like it,” redshirt junior forward Josh Shipp said. “It’s something different. I’m just playing. It doesn’t matter. I don’t look at the jersey.”

INJURY REPORT: Guard Michael Roll is suffering from turf toe on both of his feet.

Lorenzo Mata-Real sprained his foot but is expected to practice with the team on Friday.

James Keefe is expected to return from shoulder surgery by Dec. 15.

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