Each day this week, we’ll be previewing one of this year’s Final Four participants, little gunners that they are. Oops, we’re about to drop something. What? Knowledge. (That’s powerful, but true.) But since we’re babbling idiots, we found another blogger who knows a lot more about the team than us. We’ve already handled UNC and Memphis; today – the UCLA Bruins, with the help of Jamie from Bruin Scoop.

We’ve been saying for a while now that we think that UCLA is the most talented team in the country, but that we’d believe they could win the national championship when they hoisted the trophy and cut down the nets in San Antonio. While you wouldn’t know it from their schedule sheet (not too many close final scores), the Bruins have let a ton of teams hang around far deeper into the game than the pregame matchup would suggest. Add the pressure building from two straight years of playing bridesmaid to the Gators, and we feel justified in our skepticism even while amazed by their skills.

But are Bruins fans feeling the same? We talked with Jamie from Bruin Scoop, who was kind enough to offer a ground level perspective. Her answers to our questions are after the jump.

How many heart attacks have you had watching this UCLA team? We can’t remember a team that played in so many closer-than-they-should-be games.

You have no idea. Not only was it the heart attacks watching the games, but it was the heart attacks in anticipation of the games. For a team as good as the Bruins, those games should never have been that close. I’m still recovering from the Texas A&M game.

Do UCLA fans feel like they’ve just gone all in at a poker table? Given the high expectations, can victory possibly be as sweet as losing would be crushing? (Forgive us – we were born in Cleveland, so we’re fatalists when it comes to sports.)

Victory would be extremely sweet, especially after making it this far for the past two years, but faltering when it mattered most. The only time I could say that a loss would be ultimately crushing would be if Kevin Love went to the NBA following this season. This is the team that has the potential to win it all, so a loss would definately drive a dagger into our hearts, but only more so if Love doesn’t return.

Even with all that pressure, and all those close calls, here you are in your third straight Final Four. People gush over Ben Howland, but what is it that he’s doing to keep the wins rolling in? Is it preparation, strategy, in-game strategy, etc.

Ben Howland has been utilizing the same game-plan he has used since day one. The man isn’t afraid to take chances. The Bruins are usually a defense-first team. The Bruins aren’t always known for putting points on the scoreboard, but they keep the opposition from scoring. (Sorry Mississippi Valley State!) Howland also always has his teams well conditioned. Kevin Love and Darren Collison play almost every minute of every game, and yet they are always the leading scorers.

It seems like every member of this team has gotten a load of media attention. Is there a player who has flown under the radar who is key to the team’s success? (And Russell Westbrook is off limits – once you get pimped by Simmons, it’s over.)

I think it might be Luc Richard Mbah a Moute. Josh Shipp is another that is overlooked, but Mbah a Moute is one member of the team who has been to all three Final Fours. He was UCLA’s big man before Kevin Love came in. When he went down with a sprained ankle, you could see the Bruins weren’t functioning as a whole. I believe one of the big reasons why the Bruins played in close games in the tournament was because he wasn’t at 100%. In the game against Xavier, Mbah a Moute threw down a double-double, and the Bruins won by 19 points.

(Ed. – As a Hoya alum who cheered for Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje while he was in school – the man so nice they named him twice! – we endorse the selection of Mbah a Moute on name alone.)

Obviously, Collison and Westbrook are skilled defenders, but Derrick Rose and Chris Douglas-Roberts are tough matchups given their speed and size. How will UCLA slow down Memphis’ scorers?

Honestly, there isn’t many ways you can stop them-only Tennessee has done it. The Bruins need to get off to a fast start, in hopes of frustrating the Tigers, who seem to get that way a lot. My only opinion is to have Kevin Love help guard them on the perimeter, and let Mbah a Moute guard Joey Dorsey in the paint. Love is a skilled defender, and double-teaming them might be the only option.

Fill in the blank – If Josh Shipp can put points on the board in the first half, I’ll be confident that UCLA will beat Memphis.

Fill in the blank – If Kevin Love can’t score against Joey Dorsey in the first half, I’ll be extremely worried.

(Ed. – Interesting to us: both Jamie and Sadie said that losing the Dorsey-Love matchup was their main worry. So watch the post tomorrow night, folks.)

Last one – describe your optimal celebration on Monday night if UCLA takes home the title.

At the age of 19, I can’t answer this truthfully without legal repurcussions. Let’s just say that I won’t be attending class the next morning!

We think we understand what’s she’s driving at.