These Bruins have turned Pauley into a flashpoint again

The only thing this town loves more than a winner is a flashy winner, and that would be the description of the 2006-07 UCLA Bruins.

Not only are the top-ranked Bruins undefeated, they’re capable of uncorking offensive displays such as Sunday’s 96-74 victory over Washington.

The Bruins never managed to score 88 points in a game last season (I use that number as the cutoff because of its special place in UCLA history). Thirteen games into this season they’ve already hung double-eights or better on the scoreboard five times, leading Ben Howland to gush: “This is the best offensive team that I’ve coached in the last eight years.”

Now some might wonder just how much offense Howland coached in the past, especially after the Bruins reached the NCAA championship game last year with back-to-back scores in the 50s. That also led some basketball folks I know to muse that Howland could win games with this style, but could he win over recruits?

Yes, sometimes fashion is as important as function, at the ticket office and in living-room sales pitches.

The Bruins have the best of both worlds right now, winning games with a crowd-pleasing, recruit-enticing style. But it’s happening because Howland is as defense-oriented as ever.

Sunday’s blowout started with foot-moving, hand-waving defense. Washington’s first three possessions ended with turnovers. The Huskies finally managed a shot on their fourth try. It was blocked.

It all fueled transition baskets and an early 13-2 lead.

Washington’s second half started the same way, with turnovers and deflected passes. Just like that, UCLA was up by 20, and the Huskies never got closer than 11.

It’s like the stories I’ve been reading about how the late, great James Brown was so demanding of his band. By mastering the basics they were able to follow him wherever he led them in concert and put on some mind-blowing shows. (No, I’m not expecting Howland to get on the good foot.)

“It seems like Coach Howland and his staff helped them understand that this is the way we’re going to play,” Washington Coach Lorenzo Romar said. “We’re going to defend and we’re going to control this basketball without turning it over. We’re going to be a physical team. Once they learn that -- ‘cause that’s what wins games for you -- now you can learn the fun things.”

Fun like a hammer dunk by Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, or a fastbreak led by -- Lorenzo Mata.

“We don’t anticipate that anymore,” said Arron Afflalo, who had 27 points and eight assists.

I thought the 13 turnovers UCLA forced in the first half was an impressive stat, until the Bruins shot 72% in the second half.

We should expect more big numbers from the UCLA offense, and maybe the Bruins will top that 100-point mark that means free fast food for the hopeful student section.

Two things make this team better. The first is the return of Josh Shipp, who missed most of last season because of a hip injury.

Having Shipp back is like having Afflalo times two. The numbers entering the game were so similar. For Afflalo, 15.8 points a game, 46.1% field-goal shooting and 77.4% free-throw shooting. Shipp: 14.6 points, 46.2% on field goals, 77.3% on free throws. You could argue Shipp more than makes up for that point-a-game difference by outrebounding Afflalo by almost three a game.

“We have two wing players that can run the court well,” point guard Darren Collison said. “I’m not the only one that’s pushing the ball.”

But he is running the offense well and getting into the lane. Which leads us to the second improvement. Didn’t think we’d be saying this a year ago, but Jordan Farmar is actually well suited for the Lakers’ triangle offense and Collison is a better fit for what the Bruins want to do.

The Bruins seem to get better every week -- yes, I’ll concede they look like a No. 1 squad now -- and step on the court with confidence. Sometimes they’re a little too confident, leading to three-pointers jacked up early in the shot clock.

Apparently, even those are cool with Coach.

“As long as they’re good shots, that’s fine,” Howland said.

Said Afflalo: “I don’t think Coach Howland prefers us to score in any area. He just wants us to win.”

But to the fans, there is a difference in the way teams win. The official attendance Sunday was 12,042, a number that was surpassed at Pauley Pavilion only once last season (against USC). Now it feels like a home-court advantage again. Visiting teams can give up six to eight points just by walking in the building.

“The energy in here is great,” Afflalo said. “With Luc’s dunk, I felt the fire go through me, and I’m sure everybody else did.”

Defense is good and all, but nothing gets people excited like a high-flying offense.

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J.A. Adande can be reached at j.a.adande@latimes.com. To read more by Adande go to latimes.com/adandeblog.