Kevin Love expected the worst when coming back to play in McArthur Court, and Oregon’s Pit Crew did their best to not disappoint. With the intense atmosphere, and the 80-75 victory, UCLA coach Ben Howland said it was one of the best wins he’s ever been a part of.
Several students painted their chests with anti-Love remarks. “Love has love handles” and “Love me gently” were among the less vulgar. Some of the student section’s signs were taken away before the start of the game because of their obscene nature.
Some were even directed at Love’s father, Stan Love, a former Oregon basketball player.
Despite it all, it didn’t affect Kevin Love too much. He finished the game with 26 points and 18 rebounds on 8-of-11 shooting, including two three pointers. Howland called it dominating.
“It felt good,” Love said. “I got a good ovation from the crowd. They said a lot of nice things about me and we came out and got the win.”
Oregon coach Ernie Kent was impressed with Love’s ability to battle throughout all the negativity.
“Tip your hat to Kevin. I really feel that so much of this stuff is so, so overblown,” Kent said. “People need to be proud of that kid. He’s a state product. I thought through everything he had to go through playing in this hostile environment, he battled very, very well in the game.”
Love didn’t think the crowd was too hard on him, saying he tried to tune out most of it, noting that he didn’t look at any of the signs, although what he did hear only inspired him to play better.
“One thing you don’t want to do is wake me up,” he said. “I came out and tried to rebound as best as possible and try and get easy shots for myself.”
To him, there was only one thing he failed to accomplish.
“I did miss four free throws. That was my fault,” Love said.
Howland said the team prepped Love plenty for the hostility directed at him and said Love never let remarks affect him. Even the days before the game, Love said he received plenty of messages from Oregon fans on his cell phone, though the Bruin student body sent out false numbers to misdirect Duck fans.
“I did get a lot of calls,” he said. “We outsmarted them a little bit. I had some people back at The Den (UCLA’s student section) mess with them a little bit, so I felt good about that. I’m real proud all the way.”
Although most of the crowd was against Love, booing or creating vulgar chants about him at every opportunity, he enjoyed the game throughout with all of his friends, family and even disgruntled Duck fans watching.
“It was a fun game and a fun atmosphere,” he said.
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