This was certainly no repeat of 1973, when the Tigers — then known as Memphis State — got routed 87-66 by UCLA in the title game. Bill Walton hit 21 of 22 shots and scored a record 44 points that night. But the big man has hip and back problems and wasn’t able to make it to the Alamodome. Fact is, the taller Bruins were in trouble the entire way.

Russell Westbrook led UCLA with 22 points.

The Tigers spent the whole season aiming at getting back to San Antonio. They lost to Ohio State on this same court last March in the regional final and adopted “Remember the Alamodome” as their motto this season.

In the first Final Four to feature four No. 1 seeds, Rose and Memphis cruised while Love could do little to stop them.

“At this stage, I feel like Memphis is definitely the best team we’ve played,” Love said.

The star freshmen needed no introduction. Rose and Love have played with and against each other since seventh grade, and the UCLA center reintroduced himself late in the first half, giving his old pal a hard shoulder on a solid screen.

The first half featured a series of bursts and ended with Memphis leading 38-35.

Josh Shipp ended his shooting slump with a pair of early 3s that put UCLA ahead. Memphis, which never trailed in trouncing Texas to reach the Final Four, struck back as Douglas-Roberts hit his first four shots.

Then it was time for Rose to take over.

Howland stood the whole game, occasionally bumping into an official as he called out defenses. He kept shouting “Up! Up!” at his team, trying to cut down on open looks to no avail.

The UCLA band and cheerleaders broke out their Beach Boys medley midway through the first half. Love’s uncle, Mike, is an original member of the surfin’ group and a big fan — he played a show Friday night in London and couldn’t make it to this game.

Dorsey was the only senior Memphis had on the floor. Backup guard Andre Allen was suspended this week for violating team rules, and several players wrote his No. 15 on their shoes.

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