FRESH FIVE

A season after Kevin Durant was the national player of the year and another freshman, Greg Oden, became the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, a new group is making an impact. A weekly look at how UCLA’s Kevin Love and USC’s O.J. Mayo stack up against the best of the freshman class:

Michael Beasley, Kansas State

* Season stats: 24.9 ppg, 13.9 rpg.

* What he’s done lately: Beasley had a team-high 24 points and 10 rebounds in an 87-60 victory over Florida A&M.;

* What’s ahead: Saturday vs. Winston-Salem State.

Eric Gordon, Indiana

* Season stats: 24.4 ppg, 50.9% three-point shooting.

* What he’s done lately: After missing the last game because of a bruised tailbone, Gordon returned against Western Carolina and scored 26 points, making his first five three-point shots and six of 11 in the game.

* What’s ahead: Saturday vs. Coppin State.

Kevin Love, UCLA

* Season stats: 16.7 ppg, 10.0 rpg.

* What he’s done lately: The Bruins center had 17 points and nine rebounds in an easy victory over Idaho State, finishing one rebound shy of his sixth double-double in only 25 minutes.

* What’s ahead: Tonight vs. Western Illinois, Saturday at Michigan.

O.J. Mayo, USC

* Season stats: 19.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg. * What he’s done lately: Making five of six shots, Mayo had 12 points in 29 minutes against Delaware State.

* What’s ahead: Saturday vs. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

Derrick Rose, Memphis

* Season stats: 14.4 points, 3.9 apg.

* What he’s done lately: The Tigers point guard scored only four points while playing 23 minutes in an easy victory over Middle Tennessee and has been limited to single-digit scoring in three of the last four games.

* What’s ahead: Wednesday at Cincinnati, Saturday vs. Georgetown.

-- Robyn Norwood