SAN ANTONIO — As he has at UCLA's other NCAA sites, Bruins center Kevin Love earned a huge ovation from fans at Friday's open practice when he sank a length-of-the-court shot, after warming up with a basket from the far free-throw line.

Coach Ben Howland later joked those shots had something to do with Love's success as a 3-point shooter the latter half of the season.

"You know, Kevin can really, really shoot the basketball," he said. "I've been working with him on that half-court and full-court shot all year, and it's starting to pay dividends."

Unshining moment: Love certainly wasn't serious throughout Friday's media sessions, particularly when he and Darren Collison started talking about the traditional montage to the song "One Shining Moment" that closes the network telecast of the championship game. The Bruins had a chance to preview this year's video — minus the Final Four part — at a banquet Thursday night.

"The video itself was kind of cool," said Collison. "But personally, I'm kind of tired of the music. I'm not trying to be mean. It's just like, you know, you hear it so many times."

Which prompted Love to start singing, "The ball is tipped and there you are " before adding, "As you can see, I didn't get the singing gene from my Uncle Mike." (Mike Love was a founding member of the Beach Boys.) Still, Love said, "That sent chills up and down my spin, even though, like Darren said, the song is a little cheesy. When it says, Will you be next?' That was pretty cool."

Wondered Collison, "How long have they had that music? Anybody know? Can they change it? Have a little hip-hop?"

Painful end: Friday's open practices led to at least one casualty. Kansas guard Rodrick Stewart, a transfer from USC, suffered a broken kneecap in a fall at the end of the team's 50-minute open practice at the Alamodome.

"He'll have surgery when he gets back to Lawrence," said Kansas coach Bill Self. "So not a great start to our day. He did that at the end when he slipped on a wet spot. I don't know how exactly it will affect the guys other than the fact that it was a subdued locker room when I told them what the injury was and how bad it was."

Stewart's teammates were saddened by the news the guard's season was over.

"It's going to be tough for us," said forward Darren Arthur. "We're going to try to surround him with our love and try to support him the whole way."

Said Sherron Collins: "Rod worked so hard to get to this point. This is his senior year. He's been through a lot of stuff his whole career. It (stinks) for him to go out like this, not even be able to participate in the Final Four."

Familiar question: As has been the case since the Final Four was set, North Carolina coach Roy Williams faced another round of questions Friday about facing Kansas, where he coached for 15 years before taking the Tar Heels job.

"You know, there's no question that I am tired of it. I hope I didn't really insult somebody. But there was a camera that was in front of me on Wednesday night as soon as we got off the bus. The first question was, Coach, what about this Kansas thing?' I said, You got to be more original than that. I've only answered that about 700 times.'

"But I am glad that not only is that question over with, I'm glad that we can get to coaching and getting ready to play the game."

Part of this, apparently, is that some Kansas fans are still upset Williams left for Chapel Hill.

"Somebody said the other day that, you know, if Kansas wins, they're going to forgive you," Williams said, to laughter. "Guys, I'd rather them not forgive me."

Of course, they might not anyway. Spotted Thursday night on the Riverwalk was a T-shirt reading, "Kansas: The birthplace of North Carolina basketball."