"We have absolutely no excuses," he said of the Jayhawks' 68-60 loss to defending champion UCLA in the NCAA semifinals. "We didn't play as well as we had hoped we might. But UCLA capitalized on their opportunities and we didn't."

Owens correctly guessed the difference was at the free throw line, where UCLA hit 22 of 30 to Kansas' 12 of 23.

"I don't mean they had a lot more free throw opportunities than we did," he said. "But they took advantage of their opportunities and we didn't."

HE ALSO POINTED TO UCLA'S 42-39 rebound edge as a factor in KU's second loss in 29 games.

Ted thought the big play came early in the second half after the Jayhawks had charged form a 32-35 halftime deficit to a 33-all tie. Dave Robisch scored what would have been the go-ahead basket, but was called for traveling.

"That took some of the heart out of us. I thought Dave's basket wold give us momentum, but the official thought he traveled. Then UCLA came back and played a smart game and we never got back in it.

"I don't think we played up to our potential, but I'm still proud of our boys.

"We thought we had a good chance to win, especially at the half. We had played poorly then and still were only seven points down. I thought we could win if UCLA played the same way in the second half, but they didn't."

UCLA coach Jim Wooden was happy for that. "I was pleased with the outcome of the game, but not our play," said Wooden.

But it turned out the was referring mostly to the Bruins' 14 first-half turnovers. "I was pleased with our defense," he said. "And I was satisfied with our offense aside from the turnovers. But turnovers are a pretty big part of the game."

One of the key factors in UCLA's improved second-half play was the Bruins' handling of KU's full-court zone press.

"I WOULD LIKE TO USE WICKS against any player his size on the press," said Wooden. "I wouldn't say he did a particularly good job against the press. I've seen times when he would take it right to the basket. But I certainly wouldn't say he did a bad job."

Asked what his practice plans were for Friday, Wooden said, "I told the players I detested third-place games but if they wanted to get out of practice go ahead and lose. I wouldn't have put a curfew on them or made them practice tomorrow if they had lost."

Both KU and UCLA will practice Friday. Owens isn't that set against third place games perhaps because he has to play in one against Western Kentucky at 1 p.m. Saturday.

"I think it's always difficult to get up for third-place games," said Owens. "But our players have terrific pride. I would be disappointed if they weren't ready to play. But I don't think I'm going to be disappointed.

"I think third place in the national is different than third place in the regional. There's a difference between third and fourth in the national."